Division/School School of Physics
Contract type Open Ended
Working pattern Full time
Salary £38,017 - £42,792 per annum
Closing date for applications 04-Nov-2019

Physicist Engineer: DUNE Timing System

The Particle Physics group of the University of Bristol (tinyurl.com/particle-bristol), UK, seeks a Senior Research Associate to join its team working on the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE, dunescience.org). The position would be suitable for a particle physicist with an interest in detector technology (especially data acquisition), or a suitably qualified engineer who would like to join a leading international particle physics project. Applicants should hold a PhD or be about to submit their PhD thesis, but suitably qualified candidates with equivalent experience will also be considered. The successful applicant will develop and test hardware for the DUNE far detector timing system.

DUNE will measure neutrino properties with unprecedented precision.

The results could hold the key to fundamental questions such as the origin of the predominance of matter over antimatter in the universe. A high-intensity neutrino beam sent from Fermilab near Chicago will be observed 1300km away with time projection chambers filled with 40kT of liquid Argon located in the Homestead mine in South Dakota. This giant detector will also be sensitive to neutrino signals from astrophysical events such as galactic supernovae and neutron star mergers.

This is the first time this exquisitely precise detector technology will be used on such a huge scale. The data acquisition system for this high-granularity detector is a substantial challenge. The Bristol group has major responsibilities for developing the far detector DAQ system. In particular, Bristol is leading development of the timing system necessary to synchronise data across the vast detectors. The post-holder will play a central role in this effort. This position is funded for 4 years, with an expectation of extension until October 2026.

Applications should be made by 4th November. Please arrange for three letters of reference to be sent directly to Jonas.Rademacker@bristol.ac.uk by the same deadline. Interviews are expected take place on during the week commencing 18th November (remote interviews by video link will be possible). We are seeking to employ a suitable candidate as soon as possible.

The University is committed to creating and sustaining a fully inclusive culture. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities, especially from women and other groups currently under-represented in our department.

For informal inquiries, please contact Jonas.Rademacker@bristol.ac.u , David.Cussans@bristol.ac.uk or james.brooke@bristol.ac.uk.

We welcome applications from all members of our community and are particularly encouraging those from diverse groups, such as members of the LGBT+ and BAME communities, to join us.