In case that we have unspent research funding for hiring people, we will advertise here possible open positions.
A pilot project dealing with radionuclides that are difficult to measure in nuclear decommissioning wastes is being executed in co-operation with VTT during 2018. The main focus of the experimental work has been analysis of 55Fe and 63Ni in pressure vessel steel. M.Sc. work is being produced within the project by Taneli Iso-Markku. The results of the work will be presented in two conferences in 2018:
13th International Symposium on Nuclear and Environmental Radiochemical Analysis: ERA13
in Cambridge, UK, 17-20 September 2018
and
NKS-B RADWORKSHOP 2018
in Roskilde, Denmark, 8-12 October 2018
See you there!
The radioecology group participates to a new NKS-project "OPTIMETHOD", Optimization of analytical methods for simultaneous determination of important alpha emitting radionuclides in nuclear and environmental samples. An inter-comparison will be performed among Nordic laboratories participating to the project, using alpha spectrometry as determination technique. The projects starts in February 2018. Further information can be found at NKS's website.
The main goal of the thesis will be to determine the concentration of 241Am in human bones. 241Am is an artificial radioisotope that emits both alpha and gamma radiation. The working material will be already processed bones where 241Am has been separated to an oxalate precipitate. In this work the oxalate precipitate will be further processed and 241Am purified from disturbing matrix and other radionuclides. The purification will be perfomed by extraction chromatography, as column separations. The concentration of 241Am will be determined with alpha spectrometry.
The laboratory part requires careful and precise working attitude. The topic suits radiochemistry or other chemistry student interested in column separation techniques, since the radioactivity content of the bone samples is extremely low. In order to not losing any precious 241Am during the separations, a very careful person is needed.
The work could be started flexibly during April-June. If you’re interested, please ask further info by e-mail susanna.salminen-paatero@helsinki.fi, or visit my office A222, second floor in Chemicum.