2025 Winter Student - Materials Science

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories is bringing together the finest minds to form a diverse, vibrant and dynamic workforce culture energized by the innovative capacity of students, new graduates and mid-career professionals, underpinned by senior world-renowned experts. We hire numerous students from colleges and universities each semester to support our research and perform other assignments.

If you are looking for interesting and challenging work this Winter, then keep reading, and if you meet the requirements of this role, apply today!

Fuel Fabrication Science and Technology (FFS&T) section under Advanced Fuels and Reactor Physics (AFRP) branch plays an integral part in the development of future opportunities for reactor design in the nuclear industry. It is here that new fuel concepts are tested. The FFS&T utilizes the infrastructure at CNL's Chalk River Laboratories (CRL) for testing, and the development and fabrication of fuel and fuel components. The FDL has the unique resources to work alongside other on-site services at CNL, such as fabrication facilities, engineering services and analytical sciences. It carries out fuel research and development and provides the science and technology necessary to develop new fuels. The Fuel Fabrication Science and Technology (FFS&T) section has been performing nuclear fuel development research supporting the CANDU reactors and more recently advanced fuel concepts for the Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). The FFS&T section performs a wide range of work encompassing conventional Powder Metallurgy (PM) technologies ranging from conventional sintering to Spark Plasma Sintering and Additive Manufacturing.

This is a very exciting opportunity for a young scientist and we look forward to working with the student hired as they grow their skills in our lab.

Department: Advanced Fuels and Reactor Physics
Number of Positions: 1
Duration: 8 months (January-August)
Field of Study: Chemistry, Materials Science, Nanotechnology, Nuclear Engineering, Mechanical Engineering.
Year of study: All years

If you are interested, we invite you to submit a resume, cover letter, and copy of an up-to-date transcript by the posting close date of October 16th at 11:59 pm EST, to ensure consideration for student employment. All students applying for student positions at CNL must be returning to full-time studies upon completion of their work term. Exceptions will be made for students who require a work term in order to graduate.

What you will be doing:

• Preparing nuclear fuel and surrogate material samples using advanced manufacturing techniques such as additive manufacturing and Spark Plasma Sintering.
• Performing testing on as-fabricated nuclear fuel samples.
• Performing oxidation experiments on graphite using Thermogravimetric analyser.
• Supporting the fabrication trials of TRISO based nuclear fuel materials.
• Designing and fabricating tooling for advanced fuel fabrication trials.
• Performing characterisation on as fabricated and precursor nuclear fuel samples.
• Providing support for documenting research.
• Other duties as assigned by your manager

What we are looking for:

• Education & Experience
  • Students in a 1-4th year or higher University program within the following studies; Chemistry, Materials Science, Nanotechnology, Nuclear Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
• Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
  • Laboratory experience is essential, as is experience conducting scientific experiments.
  • Must be able to work as part of a team.
  • Must have excellent oral and written (especially technical writing) communication skills.
  • Must be proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Security Clearance Eligibility Required
  
  • Reliability Status with Site Access Security Clearance (SASC), which has a minimum requirement of 3-5 years of verifiable history in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and/or the United Kingdom. CNL implements security screening in accordance with the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat's "Standard on Security Screening" and the "Policy on Government Security."

Why CNL?
Does working with a team across Canada to advance nuclear science and technology for a clean and secure world speak to you? We're reinventing ourselves to be the pacesetters so we can lead the charge in solving the problems that matter, like building the next generation of clean nuclear and hydrogen energy solutions, developing new and better-targeted cancer treatments, and continuing to lead the world in environmental remediation.

We offer Students:

• Paid Statutory Holidays (within the working term);
• 1 Company Floating Holiday;
• Instead of accumulative vacation time, students receive an additional 4% of earnings on each pay

Do Our Priorities Resonate with You?

• Clean energy for today and tomorrow.
• Restore and protect the Environment.
• Contribute to the health of Canadians.

Location:
CNL's Chalk River laboratory is nestled in the Ottawa Valley and affords our employees an area that is environmentally pristine with extensive forests, hills and numerous small lakes, all of which support a variety of wildlife typical to the southern edge of the Canadian Shield. Many surrounding towns, such as Pembroke, Petawawa and Deep River provide you with unparalleled outdoor adventures at your doorstep!

CNL is committed to providing an atmosphere free from barriers that promotes equity, diversity and inclusion in achieving our mission. CNL welcomes and celebrates employees, stakeholders and partners of all racial, cultural, and ethnic identities. Read here further on our DE&I Commitment.

CNL also supports a workplace environment and a corporate culture that is built on our Core Values: Respect, Teamwork, Accountability, Safety, Integrity and Excellence which encourage equitable employment practices and career prospects inclusive of accommodations for all employees.

CNL is committed to being an equal-opportunity employer. If you require accommodation measures during any phase of the hiring process, please indicate via our ATS when applying. All information received in relation to accommodation requests will be kept confidential.

The Chalk River Laboratories site is located on the unceded and unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe people. As an organization, CNL recognizes and appreciates their historic connection to this place. CNL also recognizes the contributions that First Nations, Métis, Inuit and other Indigenous Peoples have made, both in shaping and strengthening this community in particular, and this province and country as a whole.