Applied Physicist for Silicon Detectors

Company Description

At CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, physicists and engineers are probing the fundamental structure of the universe. Using the world's largest and most complex scientific instruments, they study the basic constituents of matter - fundamental particles that are made to collide together at close to the speed of light. The process gives physicists clues about how particles interact, and provides insights into the fundamental laws of nature. Find out more on http://home.cern.

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Job Description

The ATLAS High-Granularity Timing Detector (HGTD) currently under development will be installed during the Long Shutdown 3 of the LHC. It will improve the time-tagging accuracy for forward-pointing charged particles to 30-50 picoseconds and thereby increase the physics potential of ATLAS during the High-Luminosity running of the LHC. The HGTD sensors are based on the Low-Gain Avalanche Detector (LGAD) technology. A total of 3.6 million readout channels distributed over more than 8000 detector modules consisting of sensors and readout chips are foreseen. The pre-production and production of LGAD sensors will take place in the period from 2023 to 2024. Replacements of the most radiation-damaged parts of the HGTD detector are foreseen during later shutdowns.

You will take a leading role in setting up and operating laboratory and test-beam measurement infrastructure for the Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) of LGAD sensors and modules during the pre-production and production phases. The activities will comprise electrical probe-station measurements on sensors and dedicated test structures before and after radiation exposure, performance measurements with radioactive sources, as well as test-beam measurement campaigns and the subsequent test-data analysis. All activities will be performed in close collaboration with the sensor vendors and with the collaborating HGTD institutes. You will also contribute to the R&D activities for improved timing sensor technologies to be used for the partial replacement of the HGTD detector system in later shutdowns.

Qualifications

Eligibility criteria:

• You are a national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State;
• You have a Master’s degree and between 2 and 6 years’ experience or PhD with up to 3 years of relevant experience in applied physics or other related field;
• You should have a working knowledge of English or French.

Skills and/or knowledge:

• Experience with silicon detector technology

Additional Information

What we offer:

• An employment contract of in principle 24 months, with a possible extension up to 36 months;
• On-the-job and formal training at CERN as well as in-house language courses for English and/or French;
• A monthly stipend ranging between 6050 and 6650 Swiss Francs per month (net of tax);
• Coverage by CERN’s comprehensive health scheme (for yourself, your spouse and children), and membership of the CERN Pension Fund;
• Depending on your individual circumstances: installation grant; family, child and infant allowances; payment of travel expenses at the beginning and end of contract;
• 30 days of paid leave per year.

How to Apply:

You will need the following documents to complete your application:

• A CV;
• A scanned PDF of your most recent relevant qualification;
• We recommend to add two recent letters of recommendation, giving an overview of your academic and/or professional achievements. You can upload these letters at the time of application if you have them to hand. You will also be provided with a link as soon as you have submitted your application to forward to your referees to upload their letters confidentially.

The earliest expected start date for selected candidates is May 2023.

Ready to take part? Then please submit your application by 23 January 2023 at  midnight (12.00 AM CEST). 

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