NETL - Undergraduate Research Assistant

NETL - Undergraduate Research Assistant

Hiring Department: Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering

Position Open To: All Applicants

Weekly Scheduled Hours: 10

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Earliest Start Date: Immediately

Position Duration: Expected to Continue Until Dec 31, 2025

Location: PICKLE RESEARCH CAMPUS

General Notes

As a top-10 engineering school, the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin has been a global leader in technology innovation and engineering education for over a century.

The Nuclear and Radiation Engineering (NRE) area within the Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering includes six faculty, along with researchers and students, in the study and application of nuclear and radiation engineering, including imaging, robotics, high-performance computing, reactor design and materials development. The groups provide a supportive community striving to solve the most pressing challenges of the 21st century through world class research, unsurpassed student education, and dedicated service to the community.

The Digital Molten Salt Reactor Initiative (D'MSRI) is a program funded by the state of Texas to develop a long-term research program at UT that centers on the use of digital twins to enable the licensing of innovations for advanced reactors in Texas.

Purpose

The undergraduate research assistant (URA) will support ongoing research in data acquisition for the TRIGA reactor. The URA will develop, build, and test, and install equipment for the Digital Twin project. The URA will be responsible for equipment that will be used to install neutron detectors. The URA will work closely with faculty, senior researchers, and other students from the University of Texas (UT), providing an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience in cutting-edge research and develop valuable skills for both academic and professional advancement.

The ideal candidate will be a student at UT who has experience in design for manufacturing using SolidWorks and has previously worked with heavy machinery. The ideal candidate will also have experience implementing their designs for industrial use. Finally, the ideal candidate is a self-starter, a good communicator, and drives their work to completion.

Why is this important?

We will be using your design to install neutron detectors such as mini fission chambers. Mini fission chambers are used to collect data on neutron flux within the TRIGA reactor, which is essential for the success of the Digital Twin project.

What You Will Learn

• TRIGA operations at NETL
• Applied research and design work
• Testing and troubleshooting designs
• Iterative design process

Responsibilities

• Designing mechanical components to support installation of miniature fission detectors.
• Selecting and working with vendors and contractors.
• Building, testing, and installing mechanical and electrical hardware
• Machining simple components as needed.
• Collaborating with faculty, senior researchers, and other students to ensure the successful completion of the project.

Required Qualifications

• Undergraduate student with 3+ semester completion
• Experience using SolidWorks
• Comfortable working with minor oversight
• B+ or higher GPA
• Able to regularly travel to and work at the NETL facility located at the J.J. Pickle Research Campus in North Austin
• Comfortable working with heavy machinery and power tools
• Comfortable lifting heavy equipment, possibly up to 40 lbs at times.
• Comfortable working in a controlled facility as a radiation worker

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with metal such as steel and aluminum.
• Experience selecting materials and designing metallic components.
• Design for manufacturing experience

Hourly Rate

$18 + based on experience

Working Conditions

• Research lab environment
• Industrial environment (machine rooms)
• Use of manual dexterity
• Work with energized equipment and heavy machinery
• Work is performed in radiation areas

Work Shift

10-20hrs per week, self-scheduled

Required Materials

• Resume/CV
• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
• Letter of interest