Plasma Science, Fusion Energy Research Massachusetts Institute of Technology in United States

Posting Description

POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATE , Plasma Science and Fusion Center (PSFC), to carry out fundamental and applied research in support of the Fusion Energy Data Ecosystem and Repository (FEDER) FIRE collaborative, targeting the creation and implementation of a scalable data infrastructure for fusion energy research; work in the Disruptions group (https://disruptions.mit.edu/) and focus on data management and workflow development, integrating diverse data sources (including simulation, experimental, and engineering data), and ensuring compliance with data standards, besides leading/supporting applications development and experiment realizations on DIII-D and international tokamaks; support the creation and validation of machine learning models, particularly in areas like plasma disruption and stability, and plasma-material interaction, and ensure these models are fully integrated into FEDER for use across the fusion energy community; make original research contributions to the PSFC program; produce work for publication, present work at scientific conferences, and mentor graduate and undergraduate students.

Job Requirements

REQUIRED : Ph.D. in Physics, Nuclear Engineering, Plasma Science, Computer Science, or a related field; familiarity with large-scale data management, curation, and FAIR data principles; experience with plasma physics, MHD stability, or fusion energy research preferred; experience conducting original scientific research as well as publishing in scientific journals; demonstrated skills in scientific programming (Python preferred), workflow automation, and/or control system integration; strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in a multi-institutional environment, including staff and students from MIT, other universities, national laboratories, and private industry; and commitment to mentoring and outreach in support of a diverse research community.

Application material should include a cover letter, CV, and the names and contact information of three references.  This material should be submitted as a single PDF in the resume field of the application.

The appointment is initially for two years and renewable annually, based upon satisfactory performance.

This position will be 100% off-campus at General Atomics (GA) in San Diego, CA, working in close coordination with GA researchers, MIT collaborators, and the broader FEDER FIRE community.

10/20/2025