The organization
Nikhef is the national institute for subatomic physics in The Netherlands. At Nikhef, approximately 220 physicists and 80 technical staff members work together in an open and international scientific environment. Together, they perform theoretical and experimental research in the fields of particle and astroparticle physics. The Nikhef institute is a collaboration between six major Dutch universities and the Dutch Foundation for Scientific Research (NWO).
Nikhef participates in large research collaborations, including the ATLAS, LHCb and ALICE experiments at CERN, the KM3NeT neutrino telescope in the Mediterranean, the VIRGO interferometer in Pisa, the Xenon1T dark matter experiment in Gran Sasso, the Pierre Auger cosmic ray observatory in Argentina and the eEDM research programme in Groningen. Nikhef also hosts a group in theoretical physics, and groups for Physics Data Processing and detector R&D, excellent electronic- and mechanical engineering groups, all with good connections to the experimental programs. Nikhef hosts a LHC Tier-1 data processing center and offers substantial additional computing resources for end-user data analysis and simulation.
The position
We are looking for a PhD candidate to join the LHCb group at the Van Swinderen Institute in Groningen. She/he will help us develop novel particle detector technology with picosecond timing capabilities and improved resistance to radiation damage. The candidate is expected to set up a prototype capable of measuring the time-of-flight of 150 MeV protons using the Timepix4 read-out technology and suitable fast-timing sensors. The candidate will also contribute to the characterization of novel particle sensors made from silicon carbide (SiC) material.
What do we require?
We are looking for PhD candidates with an (almost) completed Master degree in high-energy physics, applied physics or in a closely related field. The ideal candidate has a strong interest in instrumentation, has good software skills (C++, Python, ROOT) and preferably has (some) research experience in experimental particle physics or detector R&D.
Offer
The candidate will be employed by the NWO-I-foundation and will obtain the status of junior scientist. She/he will be based at the Van Swinderen Institute in Groningen, but frequent travel to the Nikhef institute in Amsterdam will be required. She/he will receive a 4-year contract with a competitive salary. The conditions of employment are excellent, and can be found on the website of NWO-I (https://www.nwo-i.nl/en/employees/). Apart from this, non-Dutch applicants may be eligible for the so called ’30% tax ruling’, which results in a net income advantage.
The educational program of the Dutch research school for subatomic physics offers annual graduate schools for PhD candidates, as well as frequent series of lectures on advanced topics in (astro)particle physics.
Information and Application
Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply by clicking the 'apply now' button below. Please be prepared to upload a curriculum vitae and a motivation letter, and provide the email address of two referees who are willing to send a letter of recommendation on your behalf. The deadline for applications is 5 January 2025. Review of applications will be done on rolling basis until the position is filled. The preferred starting date is early 2025.
For further information, feel free to contact dr. Kristof De Bruyn (k.a.m.de.bruyn@rug.nl)
All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.