Princeton University is seeking a postdoctoral or more senior researcher as part of a new multi-institution initiative ‘Hidden Symmetries and Fusion Energy’ funded by the Simons Foundation. The goal of the initiative is to build a mathematical and computational foundation for the design of Stellarators for magnetic plasma confinement. Our multidisciplinary team includes experts in physics, mathematics, and computer science, specializing in areas such as magnetic field line flow, particle confinement, magnetohydrodynamics, multi-objective stochastic optimization, and scientific computing. The role of the Princeton researcher in this project will be to develop computational and analytical tools for optimizing magnetic field and coil shaping to achieve particle confinement, maximizing integrability and quasisymmetry.

Applicants should have a PhD in physics or a related area. Candidates will be expected to be proficient with analytic methods as well as able to program in Fortran and/or C. Previous experience with Stellarators is not essential. The initial appointment is for one year, with the expectation of renewal for a second year. Salary and rank will be commensurate with experience. The start date is negotiable. Note this position would be based at Princeton University; for opportunities with the Simons team at other institutions, please refer to the information below. Applicants must apply online and submit a CV, cover letter and contact information for three references at: https://www.princeton.edu/acad-positions/position/29162. Letters of recommendation will also be handled through this site.
Application materials:
•    1-3 page cover letter, describing your previous research, future research goals and career plans, and interest in the Simons project. Please comment on your experience with both analytic methods and scientific computing.
•    CV, including complete list of publications.

We are seeking to recruit from as diverse a pool of talent as possible, and endeavor to preserve the Department of Astrophysical Sciences’ reputation as a pleasant workplace with a lively and friendly scientific atmosphere which recognizes that technical innovations are an important intellectual contribution to the science produced.

Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis as they are received. Applications should be submitted by March 31, 2023 for full consideration, but applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled. Further information about the ‘Hidden Symmetries and Fusion Energy’ project can be found here: https://hiddensymmetries.princeton.edu/. This position is subject to Princeton University’s background check policy.

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Professor James Meiss at the Department of Applied Mathematics at the University of Colorado, Boulder encourages applications for a two-year PostDoctoral Research Associate. The PRA will work as part of an international collaboration funded by the Simons Foundation to study “Hidden Symmetries and Fusion Energy” for the design and optimization of stellarator plasma confinement devices.

• The project is to explore the optimal design of toroidal magnetic confinement devices for plasma that have (nearly) integrable guiding-center dynamics (to maximize the confinement) and no externally driven current (to minimize associated instabilities and the need for current drive); such devices are called stellarators. The latter condition requires significant deviation from axisymmetry, which would otherwise be the straightforward way of achieving the former and is the principle of the tokamak. Integrability is guaranteed, however, under a condition called quasi-symmetry, and confinement under a more general symmetry called omnigenity.
• The goal is to develop criteria to maximize the degree of integrability of the field line and guiding center motion that will then be used in optimization codes being developed by collaborators at other institutions.
• The postdoc will be expected to help develop these ideas and the computer codes to test them, as well as write and contribute to the writing of manuscripts submitted for publication.

Apply here: https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/?jobId=42193