Department of Physics

Location:  Egham
Salary:  £35,931 to £42,456 per annum pro rata - including London Allowance  
Full Time, Fixed Term
Closing Date:  Tuesday 15 June 2021
Interview Date:  To be confirmed
Reference:  0421-105

Full-Time, Fixed-Term (24 months)

Salary in range of £33,797 - £40,322 per annum pro rata. London Allowance of £2,134 will be payable in addition to salary.

Applications are invited for the post of Research Associate in Particle Physics.

This is a post to work on dark matter detection in liquid argon experiments, hosted jointly between the Dark Matter & Neutrino groups within the Department of Physics at Royal Holloway, University of London and the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Edinburgh. Both groups are active in the next-generation DarkSide-20k direct dark matter search experiment, as well as the Fermilab liquid argon neutrino programme. The focus spans scintillation light detection, calibration, triggering, development of analysis tools for WIMP and Dark Sector particle searches. Both groups have broad detector development programmes, focusing on characterizing novel silicon photosensor modules for the DarkSide-20k experiment.  

This post will involve working with a team applying multidisciplinary skills in the general areas of physics analysis, software development, and detector characterisation.  The post-holder will contribute to production and characterisation of the DarkSide-20k experiment’s silicon photosensor system, develop software to measure photosensor performance metrics, and optimise use of photosensor data in the dark matter search. The post holder will also work on the Fermilab neutrino programme developing a novel search for signatures of Dark Sector particles created in neutrino beams, interacting in a liquid argon detector. 

The holder of this post will be expected to help produce independent and original research, to submit publications to refereed journals, and to work together with and supervise MSci and PhD students.

The successful applicant will have a PhD in Experimental Particle Physics or a closely related area, as well as prior experience relevant to one or more of the following: (I) low-background and/or weakly interacting particle experimentation including simulation, commissioning and/or data analysis; (ii) photosensor fabrication, calibration and/or data analysis; (iii) analysis framework software development; and, (iv) calibration and particle identification in noble liquid detectors.

The post duration is 2 years, with the possibility of extension subject to availability of funding.

In return we offer a highly competitive rewards and benefits package including:

• Generous annual leave entitlement 
• Training and Development opportunities
• Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution 
• Various schemes including Cycle to Work, Season Ticket Loans and help with the cost of Eyesight testing. 
• Free parking 

The post is based in Egham, Surrey where the College is situated in a beautiful, leafy campus near to Windsor Great Park and within commuting distance from London. The postholder will be supervised jointly by Dr Andrzej Szelc of University of Edinburgh and Prof Jocelyn Monroe of Royal Holloway. 

This is a fixed term post to cover a period of maternity leave until August 2023. This appointment could end earlier than expected should the substantive post-holder return to work early.

For an informal discussion about the post, please contact Professor Jocelyn Monroe at Jocelyn.Monroe@rhul.ac.uk and Dr Andrzej Szelc at aszelc@ed.ac.uk. 

To view further details of this post and to apply please visit https://jobs.royalholloway.ac.uk. For queries on the application process the Human Resources Department can be contacted by email at: Recruitment@rhul.ac.uk. 

Please arrange for two letters of recommendation to be submitted by email to Dr Szelc and Professor Monroe before the closing date.   

Please quote the reference: 0421-105
Closing Date: Midnight, Tuesday 15 June 2021   
Interview Date: TBC

Please note that it will not be possible for the College to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for successful candidates as the pro-rata salary will not meet the minimum threshold set by UK Visas and Immigration. Successful candidates will therefore need to be eligible to work in the UK or have limited leave to remain in the UK and associated right to work for the duration of their employment with the College, in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006. 

We particularly welcome female applicants as they are under-represented at this level in the Department of Physics within Royal Holloway, University of London.