Research Associate in Particle Physics on LHCb

Benefits: 30 days holiday + 8 bank holidays + 2.5 privilege days + exceptional pension + excellent work life balance 

Contract Type: 2 year fixed term contract

Location: Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Harwell, Oxfordshire

Come and do the kind of science that got you into physics in the first place. Work with ground-breaking tech and world-leading scientists and engineers. Discover the impact you can make when you're equipped, encouraged and inspired to perform to your very best.

About Us

The Particle Physics Department (PPD) at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) of Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), is one of the largest Particle Physics groups in the UK. We design, construct and operate some of the most sensitive scientific instruments in the world, collaborating with partners in academia, industry and international laboratories such as CERN. We currently work with the ATLAS, CMS, LHCb, DUNE, Hyper-K, T2K, MICE, Lux-Zeplin, DEAP-3600, CERN RD50, Electron Ion Collider and AION collaborations.

The PPD LHCb group works on the RICH particle identification subdetector, the LHCb Mighty Tracker project and provides the UK Tier 1 computing liaison. PPD works closely with STFC’s Technology Department (TD) on the development of new sensor technologies and mechanical structures. The group is also engaged in physics analysis, primarily measuring the CKM angle gamma and searching for Lepton Flavour and Lepton Number Violation in charm and beauty decays.

About the role

Applications are invited for a post-doctoral Research Associate position in Experimental Particle Physics within the Particle Physics Department (PPD) to work on the LHCb experiment at CERN and the LHCb RICH Upgrade II project. The post is for two-years.

The LHCb experiment is planning for a series of upgrades over the next decade. The RICH system, part of particle identification, will be upgraded during LS4 (2032). In preparation for this, the PPD LHCb group is now entering an R&D phase on sensors for particle identification with timing and accelerated computing for computer simulations.

The selected candidate will be expected to contribute to the LHCb Upgrade 2 activities that include characterisation and evaluation of SiPMs and evaluation of new RICH detector designs using simulation. The candidate will also take part in the operation of the existing LHCb experiment and will have the opportunity to engage in physics analysis, if desired.

About you

You must have a Ph.D., or equivalent, in Particle Physics or in Electronic Engineering and must have a strong interest in Experimental Particle Physics. You will have experience in working on large particle physics experiments, some knowledge of detector testing and evaluation and some programming experience. You must have the ability to undertake original research and work with a large international collaboration.

Essential:

• A Ph.D. in Particle Physics or in Electronic Engineering (S)
• Experience of data or physics analysis (S&I)
• Knowledge of C++ or Python (S&I)
• Experience of working with electronics hardware (S&I)
• Ability to undertake original research (S&I)
• Ability to work independently and organise appropriate work plans (I)
• Ability to work with large groups of people from many different countries (S&I)
• Good communications skills (S&I)
• Ability and willingness to acquire whatever knowledge is missing (I)
• Ability to work on several activities in parallel (I)
• Fluent English (S&I)
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently to CERN (I)
• Willingness to work at RAL (I)
• Willingness to work occasionally in a radiation environment (I)
• Willingness to undertake on call and occasional shift work (I)

Desirable:

• Experience with detector simulation, especially using Geant4 (S&I)
• Experience of working with photon detectors (S&I)
• Experience of DAQ systems and test-beams (S&I)
• Experience of working on a large particle or nuclear physics experiment (S&I)
• Experience of working with complex electronics systems (S&I)

How to apply

Please supply the names and addresses of three referees when applying. For an informal discussion about this role please contact: Dr. Antonis Papanestis (Antonis.Papanestis@stfc.ac.uk)

We are offering a 2 year fixed term contract with a whole host of benefits including:

• 30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days).
• Flexible working hours.
• An excellent defined pension scheme.
• Employee shopping/travel discounts.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.
• Visa Sponsorship for candidates applying outside of the UK.

We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. We are invested in creating an environment that is welcoming and supportive of all. In this regard, we encourage applications from under-represented groups.

We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers and business-support team explore the unknown across every field you could think of. And they turn what they find into work that changes the world around us.

What could you achieve with the world-leading facilities and experts of one of Europe's largest research organisations by your side? Join us and discover what's possible.