Research Associate

The School of Physics, Engineering and Technology brings physicists and engineers together to push the frontiers of knowledge, foster innovation and meet the grand challenges facing society. Our aim is to deliver world-leading research in both fundamental and applied areas whilst developing new technologies that work for the public good, in an environment where everyone can thrive.

As a School, equality, diversity, and inclusion are central to our culture and we strive to provide a working environment which allows all staff and students to contribute fully, to flourish, and to excel. We aim to ensure that there is a supportive and egalitarian culture at all levels and across all staff groups and offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, staff engagement forums, campus facilities and services to support staff from different backgrounds. We are proud to hold Juno Champion and Athena Swan bronze awards, which recognise our commitment to creating an equitable and fully inclusive environment in which staff and students can thrive. We aim to inspire young people to engage with science and engineering through our outreach work.

The York nuclear physics group is one of the largest groups in the UK, with 14 academic staff leading a range of experimental and theory programmes. The group is diverse and focused on investigating strongly interacting matter over a wide range of distance scales - from quarks, through atomic nuclei to astrophysical objects such as neutron stars. The Hadron physics group at the University of York utilises world-leading electromagnetic beam facilities (Thomas Jefferson Laboratory, MAMI, and EIC) to address fundamental questions on the nature of strongly interacting matter.

Role

We are currently seeking a 2-year Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA), with the possibility of a 1 year extension. This role will contribute to and lead science aspects relating to our current measurement programmes in the excitation spectra of strange baryons, the hyperon-nucleon interaction, exotic hybrid mesons and hexaquarks. The successful candidate is expected to work closely with our collaborators at Thomas Jefferson Laboratory (USA) and MAMI (Germany), including other postdocs and students. The work will comprise lead in the data taking for key measurements as well as data analysis and physics interpretation. There will be opportunities for diversification of the PDRA role in emerging science areas as well as applications, such as in our extensive medical physics initiatives.

Skills, Experience & Qualification needed

You will have:

• A PhD in Experimental or Theoretical Particle or Nuclear physics, or a closely related field by the appointment start date
• A good level of understanding and communication in English
• Knowledge of the Linux environment and coding in C/C++ or a similar language and experience with software development
• Experience with scientific software (e.g. ROOT) and high-level analytical skills
• Experience with high-level analysis of large data sets
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to effectively communicate physics outputs in conferences and collaboration meetings

Interview date: Tbc

For informal enquiries: Please contact Professor Dan Watts at daniel.watts@york.ac.uk or contact pet-hr@york.ac.uk

The University strives to be diverse and inclusive – a place where we can ALL be ourselves.

We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented at the University.

We offer family friendly, flexible working arrangements, with forums and inclusive facilities to support our staff. #EqualityatYork

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