| Needed | Enthusiastic STEM students to work as summer interns focussing on advanced sensing systems for applications in Nuclear Fusion. We’ll be delighted to accommodate one or perhaps two students. |
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| Location | Fareham Innovation Centre, Lee–on–the–Solent, Hampshire, PO13 9FU |
| When | At least 8 weeks between ~early June and end of August. Monday–Friday, 37.5 hrs per week. |
| Salary | £20,000 – £25,000 p.a. pro rata. |
| How to apply | Apply through your university jobs board, or contact 3-Sci directly at info@3-sci.com. Applications close on 28th April 2023. |
| Other information | This will be a very interesting, technically–challenging and fast–paced summer internship working with 3–Sci’s experienced scientists and engineers. As usual, we’ll be hoping that people who join us could be an excellent fit for our business at some stage in the future. This internship is in collaboration with the UKAEA, whose Fusion Industry Programme aims to encourage talented people to join this growing sector. |
About us
3–Sci is a small company comprised of scientists, engineers and business professionals pursuing research and development in new concepts in advanced instrumentation, communication and control. Our team incubates our concepts in our laboratories and workshops and then moves on to field–trial the prototypes, certify the emerging products and sell and install the new products and system globally. Our core technical expertise comprises of: novel sensors, materials science, electricity and magnetism, electromagnetism, ultrasonics and acoustics, wireless communications, antenna designs, electronic control systems, data management, displays and graphical user interfaces. 3–Sci manufactures many of our sensors and systems ‘in–house’. In essence, we strive to provide a service than spans all product development stages.
Project description
The students will be working on the implementation of Ultra–High Temperature Electrical Distributed Sensing (UHTEDS). During summer 2023, we’ll be designing, fabricating and testing to lead to ‘first of class’ prototypes and initial product systems. This project will therefore involve developing a good understanding of the underpinning physics, the materials science, the electrical excitation mechanisms, data acquisition procedures and sensor system fabrication techniques. The project would therefore suit undergraduate and/or perhaps post–graduate students focusing on: physics, electrical and electromagnetic properties of materials, radio frequency devices and propagation. Students with good practical hands on skills and skills in data acquisition will be most ideally suited to this project.
For several years, 3–Sci has been developing the new techniques to create advanced sensing capability from radio frequency transmissions and reflections in waveguide structures. These innovations provide the opportunity to quickly acquire data from large numbers of locations and to create sensing structures that are physically robust and can be tailored for use in many different environments. Whilst this project will focus on specific manifestations for use in fusion reactors, the general principles being developed will therefore be applicable to other sensing systems that 3–Sci is creating.
Specific relevance to nuclear fusion
The specific focus is the development of sensing systems that can be used at very high temperatures. Initial emphasis is on the measurement of temperatures approaching or exceeding 3000 °C, with the intention that temperature sensing can be achieved as close as practicable to the plasma, placed directly on, or embedded inside, the fusion reactor plasma facing components. Complementary activities will be conducted to examine further, the possibility of using the distributed sensing techniques to measure other parameters of interest at highest–possible temperatures, such as magnetic field intensity and strain.
Responsibilities
Daily, the students will liaise with and report to 3–Sci’s project technical leader. Primarily, the students will be responsible for:
- Contributing towards fabrication and assembly of experimental and prototypes systems.
- Setting up test apparatus – mechanical and electrical assemblies and instrumentation.
- Executing evaluations on the UHTEDS sensing systems’ performances.
- Operating high temperature (>1000 °C) furnaces
- Collating and reporting data.
- Maintaining workshop and laboratory environments in clean, safe conditions.
- Working in a safe and responsible manner – engaging daily with other engineers and scientists in 3–Sci who will either also be contributing to this project and/or also using adjacent workshop space and laboratory facilities.
3-Sci abides by stringent health and safety procedures, operates an ATEX-accredited (preparation of instruments or use in explosive environments) and an ISO9001-accredited environment. Students will be required to conduct all their activities accordingly. The nature of the role will require that the students are present at 3-Sci’s offices and workshops most working days. However, some remote working and/or flexible working hours may be accommodated, providing such arrangements are consistent with smooth and efficient execution of the project.
The ideal intern?
A background in physics, radio-frequency engineering, electromagnetism, applied mathematics, materials science or similar engineering backgrounds would be ideal. We’ll need you to have a strong academic background, be able to execute carefully-planned experiments and keep detailed records, demonstrating good written and verbal communication skills to explain your progress.