FOSTER Summer Placement - Cryogenics Interface Testing

The FOSTER programme's enhanced internship scheme provides students an opportunity to gain work experience within the growing UK fusion industry. The FOSTER programme is looking to build the talent pipeline into the industry. Over the past three years, 83 students have participated in placements in 20 host organisations around the UK, with many receiving offers of employment after their graduation.

Tokamak Energy are fully committed to building talent within the fusion industry and excited to offer internship opportunities across our business. The placement will give you valuable experience working within a commercial fusion company alongside talented experts within the field, building both your technical and business knowledge.    

Placements at Tokamak Energy also give students the opportunity to regularly collaborate not only with our employees, but crucially with other members of your cohort. We recognise the value of creating a supportive learning environment to enable you to explore the subjects and skills that you are passionate about. This is your chance to dive into the world of Fusion Energy and help shape the future of sustainable energy!

This role would sit within TE Magnetics, which is TE’s commercial HTS business division. HTS magnet systems commonly have a requirement to make an interface which is thermally conductive but electrically resistive between the current leads and the cryocooler. There is an opportunity to improve how we make these joints. We have a test rig in the lab for measuring interfaces samples for thermal conductivity data, and ideas of how we could make better joints. We would be looking for a student to learn how to use the test rig, test a number of samples, and document their learning.

In this role, you will:

• Work in a mixed team of engineers, physicists, designer and technicians.

• Learn how to operate our bespoke cryocooler cooled test rig
• Use the test rig to test several interface samples at cryogenic temperatures
• Collate the data into an accessible data store
• Literature search
• Communicate the learning in a written report
• Make recommendations on further work required (if any)
• Contribute where appropriate to related lab work

Requirements

• Studying a Engineering or Physics Degree or Masters
• Ideally some knowledge of thermal transfer and electric circuits
• Motivated and enthusiastic with ability to work independently 
• Good communication skills with ability to work collaboratively with team members 
• Good planning and organisation skills 
• Communicating and relating to others (oral / written)
• Decision-making, problem-solving, planning and organising
• Analysis and research

Benefits

• 6 days holiday (plus bank holidays)
• The placement has a maximum duration of 10 weeks.
• The salary is £23,809 per annum, pro-rated and paid monthly.
• Accommodation cover aren't offered for the student placements.
• Cohort experience
• This is a fantastic opportunity to get a closer look at what we do, the work environment, and the exciting roles we have available.
• Advert closes 31 March 2025.
• Please check you are eligible via this link on the UKAEA website: https://careers.ukaea.uk/early-careers/foster-summer-internship/