Research Associate on Electron Ion Collider (EiC) Didcot, England
Job description
Job Title: Research Associate in Particle Physics on Electron Ion Collider (EiC)
Science and Technology Facilities Council
Salary: Band E £39,748 - £44,166 per annum, dependent upon skills and experience
Hours: Full time
Contract Type: Two-year fixed-term, with the expectation of an extension.
Location: Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire
Closing date for applications is 21st June 2023
Come and do the kind of science that made you want to become a scientist. Explore the unknown and get to grips with the biggest challenges in Big Science. And, alongside world class engineers and technologists, use everything you've learnt to find real answers that shape society and improve lives.
Put simply, discover the kind of impact you can make when you work with some of the best facilities and brightest scientists in the world.
About Us
The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is one of Europe’s largest multidisciplinary research organisations, with our National Laboratories providing world-class research facilities and capabilities operated as a national research resource. STFC is one of the nine councils in UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). UKRI’s mission is to convene, catalyse and invest in close collaboration with others to build a thriving, inclusive research and innovation system that connects discovery to prosperity and public good.
The Particle Physics Department (PPD) at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) of the 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 following collaborations: ATLAS, CMS, LHCb, DUNE, Hyper-K, T2K, MICE, Lux-Zeplin, DEAP-3600, CERN RD50, MIGDAL, Electron Ion Collider and AION.
PPD works closely with STFC's Technology Department (TD) CMOS Sensor Design group on HV-CMOS Monolithic Active Pixel Sensors (MAPS). We are active in investigating the use of silicon sensors for position and timing measurements for the LHCb, Electron-Ion Collider and future collider projects as well as basic research into the properties and simulation of silicon and other devices.
About the role
Applications are invited for a Research Associate position in Experimental Particle Physics within the Particle Physics Department (PPD) to work on the Electron-Ion Collider experiment planned for Brookhaven, USA. The post is for two years and will be based primarily at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.
The Electron-Ion Collider will be the world's first collider of polarised electrons with nuclei or polarised protons/light ions and will exceed all existing facilities in terms of its range of energy, luminosity and dual-polarised beams. The initial detector designs are being made now, with the start of pre-construction expected to start in a few years' time. A collaboration of 8 UK institutes is undertaking a program of work to investigate solutions for high-precision tracking of charged particles in the vertex and barrel subdetectors of the proposed Electron-Proton/Ion Collider detector (ePIC); precise timing technologies; and polarisation measurements.
The selected candidate will have the opportunity to shape and lead the future direction of PPD's and the UK's contribution to the EiC facility and the ePIC detector. You will work with an international interdisciplinary team of technology and physics experts. You will initially push forward the sensor characterisation and DAQ system for prototype sensors for the vertex and barrel tracking subdetectors based on 65nm MAPS CMOS technology. You will work with University colleagues in the UK on the design, testing and characterisation of new test structures and sensors created by STFC's CMOS Sensor Design group and the ALICE ITS3 project. From the knowledge gained through testing the sensors, you will perfect and influence the design of the overall tracking subdetectors.
About You
Ph.D., or equivalent, in a relevant area.
Experience in working on particle or nuclear physics experiments
Knowledge of silicon sensors and how to evaluate their performance
Programming experience, preferably python or C++
The ability to undertake original research and work with a large international collaboration.
How to Apply
Please supply the names and addresses of three referees when applying. For an informal discussion about this role please contact: Dr. Fergus Wilson ([email protected])
Employee Benefits:
We are offering a two-year fixed-term position, with the expectation of an extension. 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 average salary pension scheme.
Employee shopping/travel discounts.
Excellent learning and development opportunities.
We are committed to sustaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. We are invested in creating an environment that is welcoming and supportive of all, to help us achieve the highest possible standards in our work and organisation together. 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.
About The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
The STFC is a world-leading multi-disciplinary science organisation where curiosity, blue-skies thinking meets practical, application-led science and engineering. Our goal is to deliver economic, societal, scientific and international benefits to the UK and its people – and more broadly to the world.
As one of Europe’s largest research organisations, we’re trusted to support, enable and undertake ground-breaking projects in an outstanding diversity of fields. Through world-class facilities and people, we’re driving progressive advances in science, engineering, computing and technology. Our research seeks to understand the Universe from the largest astronomical scales to the tiniest constituents of matter, yet creates impact on a very tangible, human scale.
For more information about STFC please visit https://stfc.ukri.org/
You can also visit our careers site https://www.stfccareers.co.uk/
About UK Research Innovation (UKRI)
UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.
Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.
More information can be found at www.ukri.org.
How we support EDI in the workforce
At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.
Disability Confident Employer
As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
How to apply
Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.
UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.
