Director of Nuclear Reactor Program (NRP)

The Nuclear Engineering Department at NC State is one of the premier nuclear engineering departments in the United States and home to the first university-based nuclear reactor for teaching and research. The department has a rich and varied research portfolio organized into four major tracks: (1) radiation and radioisotope engineering including nuclear security, (2) fission engineering, (3) plasma and fusion engineering, and (4) cross-cutting areas including nuclear computational science and nuclear materials science. The Nuclear Reactor Program operates a 1 MW pool-type reactor PULSTAR and it houses world class facilities such as neutron diffraction and imaging, and positron annihilation spectrometer.

Over the years, the Department's academic and research programs both at the undergraduate and graduate levels have made significant impacts at the national and international stage. The Department continues to build on its rich and unique history through dynamic leadership roles in the Consortium for Advanced Simulation of LWRs ( CASL) and the Consortium for Nonproliferation Enabling Capabilities ( CNEC). CASL is funded as an energy hub through the Department of Energy ( DOE) for developing science-based modeling and simulation technology for predicting and improving the performance of nuclear reactors. CNEC is supported by the National Nuclear Security Administration ( NNSA) to develop critical technologies for meeting the grand challenges of nuclear non-proliferation. Student and faculty strength has continued to increase over the past decade and opportunities exist for continued growth.

For more information on the organizational unit please see: http://www.ne.ncsu.edu/

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The Department of Nuclear Engineering at North Carolina State University invites applications for the position of Director of the Nuclear Reactor Program ( NRP). The Director will hold the rank of Associate Professor or Full Professor with tenure and will contribute in the realms of teaching, research, and professional service. As such, the appointment duties include research, service, and instruction duties in the department are scaled according to the apportionment of the appointment. As NRP director, the candidate responsibilities include: 1.) oversee day-to-day operations to maintain facility excellence in research, teaching, and outreach, 2.) interface with regulatory agencies such as university environmental health and safety ( EHS) and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ( NRC), 3.) manage the NRP as an accessible facility to internal and external users to leverage the unique capabilities of NCSU's Pulstar reactor and adjacent facilities, and 4.) identify and implement new capabilities to enhance NRP's capacity for discovery and application in the coming decades.

The Department of Nuclear Engineering at North Carolina State University, the only nuclear engineering program in the State of North Carolina and one of the premier stand-alone departments with one of the most utilized university nuclear test/research reactor in the United States, offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in Nuclear Engineering ( http://ne.ncsu.edu). Through collaborative efforts with various stakeholders, the department is increasing its footprint on the national and global levels in both advanced nuclear energy systems and nuclear science and engineering applications in emerging areas.

This position targets both the anticipated growth of advanced nuclear technologies (internationally, domestically in general, and in the State of North Carolina in particular). The State of North Carolina has adopted a new energy policy ( House Bill 951) with an accelerated clean energy strategy to complete the transition to net-zero by 2050 by including nuclear energy as part of the clean energy mix. North Carolina is committed to supporting engineering education and research in the state (a state legislative initiative named Engineering North Carolina's Future) by expanding the College of Engineering at North Carolina State University to meet the rapidly growing needs of talents with advanced engineering skills in emerging areas.

The selected candidate is expected to strengthen the Department of Nuclear Engineering as well as to build synergies with other departments and colleges at NCSU for interdisciplinary activities within emerging engineering clusters in broad categories (e.g., interconnectivity, automation, machine learning, and real-time data). The applicant should have the ability to build an externally funded research program as well as to demonstrate outstanding research and scholarship through peer-reviewed publications and technical presentations. The positions also entail teaching both undergraduate-level and graduate-level courses and supervising graduate students. Applicants must have a Ph.D. (or equivalent) degree in Nuclear Engineering, other Engineering fields, or Natural Sciences such as Physics, Chemistry, etc. We are seeking applicants who have strong interdisciplinary interests and who can collaborate across engineering and science disciplines.

Review of applications will begin on August 31 2025 and will continue until the position is filled. Applicants are encouraged to submit their application materials before this date.Applications must be submitted electronically through the North Carolina State University portal.

Other tasks and responsibilities may be assigned based on the needs of the organization and evolving priorities.

Application materials should include a curriculum vita, letter of intent, a statement of research, and a statement of teaching philosophy, as well as a list of three professional references.

NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.

If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

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