Associate Professor Silicon Detector Instrumentation for Particle Physics (Research and Education)

Salary: As this vacancy has limited funding the maximum salary that can be offered is Grade 9, salary £65,814

Role Summary

The School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Birmingham (UoB) seeks to appoint a high quality, motivated academic with a specialisation in silicon tracking detectors, to help drive activity as part of the Birmingham Instrumentation Laboratory for Particle physics and Applications (BILPA). 

The post holder will play a role in all aspects of the BILPA work, including our ongoing experiments and R&D, as well as helping build new activities. An important priority will be to play a leading role in Birmingham work on the MAPS-based Silicon Vertex Tracker for the ePIC experiment at the US Electron Ion Collider (EIC). There may also be opportunities to contribute to directing the laboratory. 

The BILPA facility is a 200 m² suite of well-equipped clean rooms, supported by further substantial recently refurbished laboratory space. Its core user team currently includes two academics in addition to the appointee, four PDRAs, one engineer and four technicians, with numerous PhD students also engaging. Workstreams include:

• Major construction projects, currently including contributions to the silicon-strip detectors for the ATLAS ITk upgrade at the LHC and the MAPS-based silicon vertex tracker for the ePIC detector at EIC. 
• Strategic R&D into CMOS sensors and 4D tracking technologies for next generation facilities.
• Projects leading to wider societal impact, for example based on the use of particle tracking detectors for imaging and dosimetry in proton cancer therapy.
• Work towards the creation of a unique facility for radiation-hardness characterisation, based on proton and neutron beam facilities in Birmingham. 

The successful candidate will be expected to teach in our undergraduate degree programmes. Applicants are expected to demonstrate academic citizenship, develop and maintain mutually respectful and supportive working relationships with staff and students, and ensure their role impacts positively on others.

Role specifications include the following: 

• Expertise in silicon technologies, ideally MAPS-based, also emerging silicon technologies such as radiation hard CMOS sensors and fast timing detectors. 
• Experience of contributing to detector design, development and construction for particle physics (and potentially wider) applications.
• Evidence of effectively engaging with academic or wider user communities.
• Evidence of providing effective support and mentoring to PhD students, technical staff and/or early career research staff.
• Demonstrated publication and scientific track record.
• Strong communication skills in English, with ability to communicate effectively with staff and students in formal and informal settings.

You should make sure to attach the following to your application:

• An academic CV, along with a full publication list;
• A statement of future research plans and objectives in the context of the advertised role (max 2 pages);
• A statement on your teaching approach and experience (max 2 pages); and 
• Contact details for three referees.

Person Specification

• Normally, a higher degree relevant to the research/teaching area (usually PhD) or equivalent qualifications.

Informal enquiries to Professor Paul Newman, email: P.R.Newman@bham.ac.uk or Professor Cristina Lazzeroni, email: c.lazzeroni@bham.ac.uk

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the 'Apply' button above.

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment
We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working.

Closes: 18/05/2025

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