Internship - Programmatic Support and Technical Coordination for Research Reactor Safety Events

Duration

12 months

Internships

The IAEA accepts a limited number of interns each year. The internships are awarded to persons studying towards a university degree or who have recently received a degree (see Internship web pages for further details).

The purpose of the programme is:

• To provide interns with the opportunity to gain practical work experience in line with their studies or interests, and expose them to the work of the IAEA and the United Nations as a whole;

   

• To benefit the IAEA's programmes through the assistance of qualified students specialized in various professional fields.

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The duration of an internship is normally not less than three months and not more than one year.

Organizational Setting

The Department of Nuclear Safety and Security (NS) formulates and implements the IAEA's nuclear safety and security programme, which encompasses the Agency's activities to protect people and the environment from radiation exposure, and responds to the needs of its Member States related to nuclear safety and security.
The objective of the Division of Nuclear Installation Safety (NSNI) is to achieve and maintain a high level of safety of nuclear installations worldwide that are under design or construction or in operation. The Division does this by establishing standards of safety for the protection of health, including standards for nuclear power plants and other nuclear installations and facilities, and by providing for the application of these standards through, among other things, support for the IAEA's Technical Cooperation programme, the rendering of safety review services, the promotion of education and training, the fostering of information exchange and the coordination of research and development. In addition, the Division helps ensure safety at nuclear installations by supporting international safety instruments such as the Convention on Nuclear Safety and the Code of Conduct on the Safety of Research Reactors. NSNI comprises five Sections:

• External Events Safety Section

• Operational Safety Section

• Safety Assessment Section

• Regulatory Activities Section

• Research Reactor Safety Section

   

The Research Reactor Safety Section (RRS) works with Member States to develop an international research reactor and fuel cycle facility safety enhancement plan and regime. Activities in this area include monitoring research reactors subject to project and supply agreements, and assisting Member States possessing such reactors in fulfilling all the relevant safety obligations. The Section also covers a wide range of topics related to research reactor and fuel cycle facility safety, including siting, design, construction, commissioning, operation, utilization and decommissioning.

Main Purpose

The main purpose of the secondment internship is to assist the IAEA nuclear safety officers in the implementation of a coordinated research project on Design of Experiments for Fuels and Materials Testing in Research Reactors and to support in the implementation of technical meetings and workshops related to research reactor safety, including the International Meeting on Application of the Code of Conduct on the Safety of Research Reactors. The secondment internship is also expected to support the preparation of relevant statistics, presentations, and reports.

Functions / Key Results Expected

• Support the conduct of the coordinated research project on "Design of Experiments for Fuels and Materials Testing in Research Reactors", including review of the participants' research proposal (2026) preparation and conduct of a research coordination meeting, Vienna (2027). 

• Support the preparation and conduct of the Training Workshop for Reviewers of Future Integrated Safety Assessment of Research Reactor Missions, Virtual (November 2026), including preparation of the training materials.

• Assist in the preparation and conduct of the International Meeting on Application of the Code of Conduct on the Safety of Research Reactors, Vienna, (August 2027). 

• Assist in collecting and analysing data and preparation of relevant information reports on information on safety issues and trends for research reactors.

Qualifications and Experience

• University degree in nuclear engineering or physics. Excellent command of MS Office, especially MS Word and MS PowerPoint.

• Experience in using MS Excel, MS SharePoint, MS Teams and MS Copilot.

• Excellent time management skills, oral and written communication skills and attention to detail.

• Ability to gather and analyse information and data.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including ability to communicate orally and in writing.

• Ability to contribute to achieving team results.

• Knowledge in safety of nuclear reactors and nuclear reactor physics

• Knowledge on the IAEA safety standards is an asset.

• Excellent written and spoken English essential; fluency in any other IAEA official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian) is an asset.

Applicant Eligibility

• Candidates must be a minimum of 20 years of age and have completed at least three years of full-time studies at a university or equivalent institution towards the completion of a first degree.

• Candidates may apply up to one year after the completion of a bachelor's, master's or doctorate degree.

• Candidates must not have previously participated in the IAEA's internship programme.

• Good written and spoken English essential; fluency in any other IAEA official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish or Russian) an asset.

• Candidates must attach two signed letters of recommendation to their application.