You will assist waste producers from the LHC experiments and participate in the operation of the CERN radioactive waste treatment centre, gaining experience in assessing the technical and financial impacts of end-of-life management for the engineering of radioactive components.
This involves developing the ability to advise waste producers on the safe, effective, and efficient handling, packaging, interim storage, and transport of a wide range of spent experimental equipment, from extremely low-activated items to intermediate-level waste.
Your responsibilities
- Advise radioactive waste producers.
- Assist with the reception of radioactive waste items.
- Measure the physical properties of radioactive waste items affecting their safe handling, interim storage, and elimination.
- Ensure traceability of radioactive waste characteristics and of the actions performed on them (measurements, transport, processing).
- Define appropriate interim storage conditions and processing pathways.
- Monitor and control radiation protection and the technical operability of radioactive waste interim storage and processing facilities.
- Contribute to the radiological classification of waste packages.
- Verify compliance of final waste packages with applicable specifications.
- Draft engineering and technical documentation in English and/or French.
Your profile
- Educational background in health physics or radiation protection, with a solid understanding of radiation protection principles and applicable regulatory frameworks.
- Hands-on experience using radiation detection and measurement instruments, acquired through academic laboratories, internships, or early professional assignments, including detection and quantification of ionising radiation.
- Introductory experience with quality management systems (QMS), including basic control, verification, traceability, and documentation practices.
- Foundational knowledge of operational process analysis, including consideration of performance, risk, and safety aspects, developed through academic projects or initial professional experience.
- Exposure to radioactive waste management and/or decommissioning projects would be considered an asset.
Skills
- Strong foundation in health physics, with particular emphasis on radiation protection principles and regulatory compliance.
- Solid knowledge of radiation detection and measurement techniques, including interpretation of measurement results.
- Good understanding of quality assurance principles and tools, including documentation control, traceability, and basic verification processes.
- Understanding of engineering process performance and safety assessment methodologies, with attention to risk analysis and operational safety.
- Ability to prepare clear and structured technical documentation, including procedures, reports, and technical notes.
- Spoken and written English or French, with a commitment to learn the basics of the other language.
Eligibility criteria:
- You are a national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State.
- By the application deadline, you have a maximum of two years of professional experience since graduation in Radiation Protection (or a related field) and your highest educational qualification is either a Bachelor's or Master's degree.
- You have never had a CERN fellow or graduate contract before.
- Applicants without University degree are not eligible.
- Applicants with a PhD are not eligible.