DIFFER: Science for future energy
At the Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER) we work on a future in which clean energy will be available to everybody, anywhere in the world. DIFFER’s mission is to perform leading fundamental research on materials, processes, and systems for a global sustainable energy infrastructure.
Our research focuses on two major energy themes: fusion energy as a clean, safe and sustainable energy source and chemical energy. We work in close partnership with (inter)national academia and industry. DIFFER is one of the ten research institutes of the Dutch Research Council (NWO).
Within our institute physicists, chemists, engineers, and other specialists work together in multidisciplinary teams to accelerate the transition to a sustainable society. DIFFER’s workforce is currently composed of ~160 scientists (of which 60 guests and interns), supported by ~40 technicians and ~40 support staff members.
The global nature of the energy challenge is apparent from the international representation of our employees, who originate from over 30 different countries. To strengthen our commitment to diversity, we formed a task force to design, implement, and monitor diversity and gender equality initiatives.
DIFFER is looking for a PhD Plasma interaction with flowing liquid metals
In a fusion reactor its walls must endure intense heat fluxes as well as a constant bombardment of neutrons and plasma species. Traditionally solid materials such as tungsten have been the primary candidates chosen due to its high melting point, good thermal conductivity and low erosion rate. However, transitioning to the long-term timescales and high reliability required for commercial fusion means tungsten armour faces significant hurdles due to erosion, neutron degradation and irreversible damage from transient plasma events.
Liquid metals offer a radical departure from solid state armour. By utilizing a self-healing, renewable surface, liquid metal walls bypass many of the degradation mechanisms that plague solids. Liquids are mostly immune to neutron damage. They can operate beyond conduction to handle high heat loads and control heat to the divertor via plasma-vapour interaction. Additionally, they self-heal, avoiding the irreversible damaging effects when control of heat exhaust is imperfect which would necessitate replacement for solid components.
At DIFFER we are developing liquid metal wall solutions that utilize these benefits. While much research has focused until now on static liquid metal solutions, real systems will use flowing liquid metals to replenish lost material, to advect heat and implanted fuel ions away, and to prevent the formation of gas bubbles in the liquid which form in static setups. This brings with it a new set of physics challenges however. Flowing liquid metals are a conductive fluid in an environment with high magnetic and electric fields, leading to magnetohydrodynamic instabilities and induced braking forces. Additionally the plasma has many localized effects such as implantation and erosion and acts itself as a fluid at the liquid metal-plasma interface. We have recently developed a new flowing liquid metal experiment which will explore this regime as part of our Liquid Metal Shield Laboratory (LiMeS-lab) project, which is also building LiMeS-PSI, a linear plasma device specifically dedicated to flowing liquid metal and plasma interaction. DIFFER also operates Magnum-PSI, our high flux linear plasma device which replicates the expected heat and particle fluxes expected at the wall of a fusion reactor. This PhD position will use these unique setups to address questions such as: how well do flowing systems perform their designed tasks? To what extent do they trap fuel ions? Under what circumstances will flowing surfaces remain stable during plasma exposure? As a result the technological maturity of such flowing systems can be strongly advanced.
This project will be hosted in the Plasma Material Interactions (PMI) group of DIFFER, group leader and main supervisor dr. Thomas Morgan, with co-supervision by dr. Hanneke Gelderblom (Eindhoven University of Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Science Education, group Fluids and Flows).
Position and requirements
Responsibilities of the PhD candidate include:
- Carrying out experiments using flowing liquid metal systems in LiMeS-lab using pumped liquid metal flow - plasma interactions to explore bubble formation, fuel ion trapping and surface stability
- Leading the design and construction of an internally circulation liquid metal system that will be implemented in the Magnum-PSI linear plasma device, and use this to evaluate the performance of flowing systems under steady-state and transient high-flux loading conditions
- Implementing this into the advanced LiMeS-PSI setup to explore realistic and long-timescale performance.
- Working together with a team of scientists and technicians to realise these goals
- Developing and sustaining collaborations with international colleagues
- Supervising student projects on related topics.
- Following the mandatory PhD-trainings provided by our parent organisation NWO.
- Presenting project progress at (international) conferences.
- Producing a PhD thesis (with associated peer reviewed papers) within four years.
To get started on this PhD position, it is important that the candidate has:
- A master’s degree in (applied) physics or a closely related field
- Basic knowledge of plasma physics, fluid dynamics, and preferably of nuclear fusion energy.
- Experience with managing one’s own scientific research project (research planning, independence, communication with stakeholders).
- The ability and motivation to work in a collaborative, multidisciplinary research institute and community.
- Proficiency in written and spoken English.
Terms and conditions
This position is for 1 FTE, will be for a period of 4 years and is graded in pay scale PhD (19), starting with a gross monthly salary of € 3.115,- at the beginning of the Phd contract and ending with € 3.989,- in the last year. The position will be based at DIFFER (www.differ.nl) and the working location will be at TU Eindhoven. When fulfilling a position at DIFFER, you will have an employee status at NWO. You can participate in all the employee benefits NWO offers. We have a number of regulations that support employees in finding a good work-life balance. At DIFFER we believe that a workforce diverse in gender, age and cultural background is key to performing excellent research. We therefore strongly encourage everyone to apply. More information on working at NWO can be found at the NWO website (https://www.nwo-i.nl/en/working-at-nwo-i/jobsatnwoi/)
Information and application
For more information concerning the position please contact Thomas Morgan via [email protected]. For more information concerning the proces please contact Robin Delenclos-Olijslagers via [email protected] . To apply for this position, please click the button underneath:
The first interviews are scheduled to take place in week 36 (31/8 - 4/9)
The second round of interviews is scheduled to take place in week 37 (7-11 September)
Closing date
August 23, 2026
