Position under active recruitment:Research and development of real-time prediction and control of fusion plasma for optimal operation of fusion reactors

What are the key points of fusion-reactor optimal operation technology?

■Our goal is to achieve high-energy density and stable fusion plasma by utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to rapidly calculate the future plasma state and control it in real time.

■By introducing the technologies of the "Innovative Optical and Wireless Network" (IOWN), it will be possible to transmit a large amount of data acquired by sensors in experimental fusion reactors through a high-speed, large-capacity, and ultra-low-latency network with the aim of controlling plasma in real time.

■By utilizing failure-prediction technology for critical equipment in fusion-reactor plants, we aim to reduce overall plant downtime.

■In the future, aiming to optimize the entire reactor, we will construct fusion reactors in cyberspace by utilizing digital-twin computing to simulate various conditions.

Recruitment overview

1Fusion Research and Development Manager (Business development role)

Details of work

To accelerate the social implementation of the results of fusion research, you will be responsible for three main tasks:

• Planning and promotion of domestic and international collaborative research and partnership projects
  You will identify the latest research trends and technological seeds concerning nuclear fusion and discover opportunities for collaboration with universities, research institutions, and industries both in Japan and overseas. You will be responsible for the entire process, from creating proposals for new collaborative research projects to negotiations, contract conclusion, and project management, in a manner that expands the nuclear fusion-research network.
• Supervising external dissemination of research results and public-relations activities
  You will disseminate the results of fusion research obtained by our group widely to society through not only academic-paper presentations but also through press releases, websites, and events. You will also contribute to promoting understanding and gaining support by clearly communicating the importance and future potential of nuclear fusion to the general public and potential partner companies.
• Strategic planning for acquiring core technologies

Required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience

• Experience in planning, promoting, and managing R&D projects: A proven track record of leading R&D projects to their goals by collaborating with multiple stakeholders (including experience with the entire project lifecycle—from initiation and execution to completion—regardless of the project's scale)
• Experience in external collaboration and liaison activities in the science-and-technology field: Experience in collaborative research, industry-academia partnerships, or similar external collaboration with diverse organizations (such as universities, research institutions, companies, and government agencies) in conjunction with the ability to build and maintain relationships through smooth communication
• Presentation and document creation skills: The ability to present complex scientific and technical content logically and compellingly—in a way that is understandable to a non-specialist audience—and the ability to create high-quality proposals and reports

Desirable knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience

• Basic knowledge of nuclear fusion or related fields: Possessing fundamental knowledge of nuclear-fusion science and technology and an interest in the energy sector as a whole. (Specialized knowledge can be acquired after joining the company, but having a basic knowledge will facilitate a smoother integration into the role.)
• Experience in acquiring and managing government research funds: Practical experience in preparing applications for and managing/operating research funds from national or public institutions, such as competitive funds, and experience in large-scale projects.
• Experience in international collaborative research or business: In addition to English communication skills (oral and written), experience in collaborative research or business negotiations in a cross-cultural environment and a willingness to build an international network

Qualities we are looking for

• Exceptional communication and networking skills
  We are looking for someone who can build smooth relationships—both domestically and internationally—with researchers, business stakeholders, and government officials from diverse backgrounds. This person must be able to convey our laboratory's vision and research outcomes accurately to inspire engagement. Strong listening and speaking skills to explain technical content in an understandable way and to identify the needs of others are also crucial.
• Strategic thinking and project-promotion skills
  To deeply understand the current situation surrounding fusion research and to identify challenges and opportunities for its social implementation, strategic thinking is required. We also place importance on the ability to plan new collaborative research and funding projects independently, involve relevant parties, and lead them to concrete results.
• A strong passion for fusion energy and a desire to contribute to society.We welcome individuals who believe in the vast potential of nuclear fusion and can work with strong passion toward its realization. We are looking for someone who has a high level of awareness that their work contributes to the social implementation of fusion energy and can tackle difficult challenges tenaciously.

2Research and development of optimal operation technologies for fusion reactors using machine learning and data-driven approaches.

Details of work

• Building behavior-prediction models using experimental plasma and numerical simulation data
• Development of machine-learning (ML) analysis methods for optimizing operations of fusion plasma
• Design, implementation, and verification of optimal control algorithms (e.g., deep reinforcement learning and model predictive control)

Required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience

• PhD holder or candidate (field is open, but physics, applied mathematics, information science, or control engineering are desirable)
• Implementation experience in machine learning and data science (e.g., Python, PyTorch, and TensorFlow)
• Ability to publish and disseminate research results (e.g., at international conferences and in peer-reviewed journals)

Desirable knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience

• Knowledge and research experience in plasma physics and fusion engineering
• Experience in analyzing experimental data or in simulation
• Understanding of control theory (e.g., MPC and reinforcement learning)
• Ability to discuss and present research results, etc. in English

Qualities we are looking for

• Someone with an inquiring mind who seeks to grasp the essence of phenomena by moving back and forth between experiments, theory, and numerical values
• Someone who can communicate smoothly with collaborators both inside and outside the team and is conscious of sharing results with society
• An individual who finds it rewarding to create new value in a field that is not yet mature

Location

Musashino R&D Center（3-9-11 Midori-cho, Musashino-shi, Tokyo 180-8585）

Message

Established in July 2020, the NTT Space Environment and Energy Research Laboratory conducts research across a broad spectrum of environment and energy fields, including space-related technologies.
Our goal is to create a society with zero environmental impact through the creation of limit-breaking innovations such as nuclear-fusion power generation and space solar-power generation. We look forward to receiving applications from those who wish to build a society with zero environmental impact with their own hands.

Technology