Job Description

Your responsibilities

Are you ready to work at the forefront of accelerator technology and innovation?

Join the Accelerator Systems Department (SY), which is responsible for the beam-related technical systems of the CERN accelerators. The SY teams design, build and operate equipment systems in all CERN accelerators, and are engaged in ambitious forward-looking R&D programmes.

The Sources, Targets and Interactions Group (STI) in the Systems Department (SY) has a broad expertise on the interaction of beams with matter and applies its know-how to a large spectrum of activities including particle production, beam intercepting devices, studies on beam-matter interaction and nuclear engineering.

You will join the Lasers and Photocathodes Section (LP), responsible for the operation and development of the ISOLDE RILIS laser ion source, ion beam manipulation, and the photoinjectors delivering electron beams to CLEAR and AWAKE.

You will work in on ion beam developments and techniques for the production and characterization of radioactive atomic and molecular probe systems with sensitivity to charge-parity violating physics.

In this position, you will:

• Investigate symmetry violating probe systems
• Develop and optimize cooling schemes and laser schemes for state preparation in ion sources and ion traps;
• Characterize probe systems using laser spectroscopy;
• Investigate design improvements for the enhancement of performance aspects such as ion beam state distributions, efficiency, and selectivity

More information here: https://isolde.web.cern.ch/

Your profile

Skills

Required Skills

• Engagement, motivation, and enthusiasm to work in a collaborative and interdisciplinary team.
• Expertise in precision experiments investigating symmetry-violating observables.
• Experience with design and research and development projects, including the implementation of experimental techniques and infrastructure.
• Experience with lasers and spectroscopy experiments.
• Experience with laser beam transport, manipulation, and monitoring.
• Experience with precision measurements and management of systematic effects.
• Fluent in English

Desired Skills

• Knowledge and understanding of atomic, molecular, and optical physics.
• Familiarity with nuclear physics.
• Knowledge and understanding of ion beam production, manipulation, trapping, and purification.

Eligibility criteria:

• You are a national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State.
• You have a professional background in Physics or a related field (or a related field) and have either:
  • a Master’s degree with 2 to 6 years of post-graduation professional experience;
  • or a PhD with no more than 3 years of post-graduation professional experience.
• You have never had a CERN fellow or graduate contract before.

Additional Information

Job closing date: 17 January 2025 at 23:59 PM (midnight) CET.

Contract duration: 24 months, with a possible extension up to 36 months maximum.

Working hours: 40 hours per week

Target start date: 01-April-2025

This position involves:

• Work in Radiation Areas.
• Work during nights, Sundays and official holidays, when required by the needs of the Organization.
• Exposure to carcinogens, mutagens or agents toxic to reproduction.
• Exposure to ionizing radiation and classified as category A.
• Operations on electrical installations or in their vicinity (over 1000 Volt AC or 1500 Volt DC) requiring a specific authorization.

Given the occupational health risks associated with this position, the selected candidate must obtain medical clearance before a contract offer is confirmed.

Job reference: SY-STI-LP-2024-215-GRAP

Field of work: Applied Physics

What we offer

• A monthly stipend ranging between 6212 and 6828 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.
• On-the-job and formal training at CERN as well as in-house language courses for English and/or French.

About us

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.

We are on a Quest. A Journey into discovery like no other. Bring your expertise to our unique work and develop your knowledge and skills at pace. Join world-class subject matter experts on unique projects, in a Quest for greater knowledge and deeper understanding.

Begin your CERN Quest. Take Part!

Diversity has been an integral part of CERN’s mission since its foundation and is an established value of the Organization. Employing a diverse workforce is central to our success.