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Data: 28/04/2011
Position and Grade: Analytical Chemist (P-3)
Organizational Unit: Nuclear Material Laboratory
Office of Safeguards Analytical Services
Department of Safeguards
Duty Station: Seibersdorf, Austria
Issue Date: 6 April 2011
Application Deadline: 17 May 2011
Type/Duration of Appointment: Fixed term, 3 years (subject to a probationary period of 1 year)
Organizational Setting
The Department of Safeguards is the organizational hub for the implementation of IAEA safeguards. The IAEA implements nuclear verification activities for more than 160 States in accordance with their safeguards agreements. The safeguards activities are undertaken within a dynamic and technically challenging environment including advanced nuclear fuel cycle facilities and complemented by the political diversity of the countries.
The Department of Safeguards consists of six Divisions: three Operations Divisions for the implementation of verification activities around the world and three support Divisions; and the Office of Safeguards Analytical Services. The Office of Analytical Services (SGAS) is responsible for the analysis of nuclear material and environmental swipe samples, as well as the coordination of logistics and the Network of Analytical Laboratories (NWAL). Located about 45 km south of Vienna in Seibersdorf, the office is organized into three sections: the Nuclear Material Laboratory including the On-Site Laboratory (OSL) in Japan, the Environmental Sample Laboratory and the Coordination and Support Section.
The Nuclear Material Laboratory is responsible for the chemical treatment and measurement of nuclear material accountancy samples and complementary access samples. A variety of wet chemical, radiometric and mass spectrometric techniques are applied under an ISO 9001:2008 certified quality system. The section includes the OSL Team, which is located in Japan and dedicated to the chemical treatment and measurement of nuclear material samples from the Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant.
Main purpose
Reporting to the Laboratory Head, the Analytical Chemist plays a major role within the Nuclear Material Laboratory (NML), preparing and processing accountancy samples of nuclear fuel materials using chemical techniques, as well as preparing secondary controls and standards used throughout the NML and in other facilities under safeguards (e.g. the OSL). The Analytical Chemist optimizes or develops chemical procedures so as to continually improve final measurement performance and timeliness, and reduce the production of radioactive waste.
Role
The Analytical Chemist is (1) a team player working with the other chemists of the NML and the OSL Team, as well as with staff in the instrumentation areas where final measurements take place, and (2) a technical specialist carrying out complex chemical procedures, improving existing procedures, and modifying or devising procedures for new applications when necessary.
Partnerships
The Analytical Chemist works closely with technical staff in the NML and the OSL to process and analyse a variety of nuclear material samples. A close partnership with the NML Analytical Services Office is also required in order to assure that measurement results are properly reported relative to pre-assigned quality control levels.
Functions / Key Results Expected
- Provide technical expertise and support in the processing of hundreds of nuclear material samples containing U and Pu, and ensure that analytical results meet pre-established quality requirements with regard to chemical controls, blanks and repeat analyses.
- Continually improve the chemical treatment of U and Pu samples such that processing times and quality are improved, and waste streams are minimized.
- Provide recommendations and options to the Laboratory Head for decisions on the chemical approach to take for non-routine nuclear material samples.
- Maintain a current knowledge in the wet chemistry field pertaining to U and Pu by communicating regularly with other members of the scientific community, vendors and other safeguards colleagues outside of the IAEA working in related fields.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- In-depth knowledge of one or more of the following techniques: analytical chemistry, U-Pu separation chemistry, Pu(VI) spectrophotometry, hybrid k-edge densitometry.
- Familiarity with isotope dilution techniques and the use of chemical traces for spiking U and Pu materials.
- Familiarity with working in a glove box.
- Familiarity with laboratory information management systems for data organization and reporting.
- Interpersonal skills:
- Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relations among lab staff and management;
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