Pion Lifetime Experiment Assistant (On-Site)

TRIUMF; Electoral Area A; On-site; CAD 31,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

TRIUMF, Canada’s particle accelerator centre located on the UBC Vancouver campus, offers a student program for four months. You will design and run Geant4 simulations, develop detector packages, and collaborate with beam-line experts. Hands-on R&D with SiPM-based detectors and LGAD sensors is possible.

Applicants must be Canadian undergraduates (or permanent residents) enrolled in a Canadian post-secondary institution. Salary is commensurate with progress and experience, with a 4% vacation pay.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate student enrolled in a Canadian post-secondary institution.
• Open to Canadian undergraduates or permanent residents pursuing a degree, diploma or certificate.

Responsibilities

• Design, run, and debug Geant4 and G4beamline simulations.
• Continued development of the M20 beam line and detector simulation packages.
• Collaborate with TRIUMF beam line experts on design decisions.
• Perform hands-on R&D for SiPM-based detectors and LGAD silicon sensors.
• Document progress and present results at group meetings.

Skills

Geant4

G4beamline

Lab safety

Presentation

Tools

SiPM detectors

LGAD sensors

Job description

About TRIUMF

Discover TRIUMF, Canada's particle accelerator centre, and one of the world's leading laboratories for particle and nuclear physics and accelerator-based science. TRIUMF's diverse community of nearly 600 multidisciplinary researchers, engineers, technicians, tradespeople, staff, and students create a unique incubator for Canadian excellence, as well as a portal to premier global collaborations. Fueling innovation and improving lives, we are committed to accelerating discovery and shaping a better world.

Equity, diversity, and inclusion are integral to excellence and enhance our ability to create knowledge and opportunity for all. Together, we are committed to building an inclusive culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates the voices of our employees, students, partners, and the people and communities we serve.

Student Program

TRIUMF's student program typically hires ~40 students each term from across all disciplines who hang together socially and professionally during the term, and beyond. Our program offers young minds a chance to gather, learn, make new friends, and have fun doing so during their time at TRIUMF. We hold weekly ProD sessions for students which include different activities such as conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and active listening. Additionally, we hold weekly seminars about the different experiments at TRIUMF, and these talks specifically cater to students. Located on the UBC campus makes it easier for students to make friends, create memories, and explore Vancouver all while working at TRIUMF. TRIUMF's student program is more than just a place to work, its learning, memories, friendships, exploration, and development all clubbed into one.

Discover TRIUMF, Canada's particle accelerator centre, and one of the world's leading laboratories for particle and nuclear physics and accelerator-based science. https://www.discoverourlab.triumf.ca

Experiment Overview

Pions, light unstable particles formed by a quark and an antiquark, are among the theoretically best-understood systems in particle physics. Detailed comparisons between Standard Model predictions and measured quantities allow us to search for new physics and constrain new theoretical models. PIONEER, a recently approved experiment, will search for new physics in pion decays. The charged pion lifetime enters into the interpretation of PIONEER's measurements, and its uncertainty propagates to the final results. We are currently designing a dedicated experiment to measure the pion lifetime with a relative uncertainty of 0.01%. The unique beam time-structure of TRIUMF's 500 MeV cyclotron, combined with specialized beam lines, provides an ideal environment to perform this experiment. In fact, the most precise measurement of the pion lifetime to date was done in the early 1990s at TRIUMF.

You will contribute to the design of the experiment working on dedicated simulations and detector R&D. You will gain a detailed understanding of the physics and experimental methods behind the pion lifetime measurement. You will continue developing the M20 beam line and detector simulation packages, collaborating with TRIUMF's beam line experts. You will use your results to help with design decisions for the experiment. If you are interested, you can take part in hands-on R&D for SiPM-based detectors and silicon strip sensors (LGADs).

Learning Outcomes: ------------------

• Build, run and debug Geant4 and G4beamline simulations.
• Work safely with lab equipment and troubleshoot experimental setups.
• Document day-to-day work, present progress at weekly group meetings, and explain research to non-specialists through presentations and posters.
• Work independently and know when to ask for help.

Skills Required

TRIUMF, Canada's national laboratory for particle and nuclear physics, is situated on the vibrant south campus of the University of British Columbia, nestled within the beautiful Pacific Spirit Park in Vancouver, BC. At TRIUMF, we value our employees and are committed to providing a competitive total rewards package. In addition to a competitive salary, we offer comprehensive benefits that promote the well-being and security of our staff. Our organization provides an excellent opportunity to grow your career in a high-profile national research facility, where you can make a difference. If you are passionate about science, engineering and technology, driven to excel, and eager to be part of a collaborative and forward-thinking organization. TRIUMF offers help with travel costs for students outside the Vancouver and surrounding area.

Benefits

In addition to a competitive salary, we offer comprehensive benefits that promote the well-being and security of our staff.

Salary and Work Details

Applications closing date: November 08, 2026.

Period of Work (possible 4 month extension): January 06, 2027 - April 30, 2027.

Salary is commensurate with academic progress and previous relevant work experience, and ranges from $ 2815 to $ 4238 per month including 4% vacation pay.

Equal-Opportunity Employment

TRIUMF is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace, and we welcome applications from all qualified undergraduate students as defined below (unless stated otherwise above): Canadian undergraduate students or Canadian Permanent Resident undergraduate students enrolled in an accredited post-secondary institution in Canada (or outside Canada) who are studying in a vocational or professional training program that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate. Foreign full-time undergraduate students currently enrolled at a designated learning institution at the post-secondary level, and who are studying in an academic, vocational or professional training program that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate that is at least six months in duration, and who have a valid Canadian study permit which allows for employment off-campus, and who have applied for a Social Insurance Number. Foreign undergraduate students enrolled in a recognized undergraduate program of study abroad who have accepted, or are in the process of accepting, an "Invitation to Apply" for a work permit under the International Experience Canada (IEC) program http://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/iec/apply-work-permit.html.

At TRIUMF, we’re passionate about accelerating discovery and innovation to improve lives and build a better world. Equity, diversity, and inclusion are integral to excellence and enhance our ability to create knowledge and opportunity for all. Together, we are committed to building an inclusive culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates the voices of our employees, students, partners, and the people and communities we serve.

Contact Information

Email: [e-mail]

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

4004 Wesbrook Mall Vancouver, BC V6T 2A3

About TRIUMF (Established 1968)

Established in 1968 in Vancouver, TRIUMF is Canada's particle accelerator centre. The lab is a hub for discovery and innovation inspired by a half-century of ingenuity in answering some of nature’s most challenging questions. From the hunt for the smallest particles in the universe to the development of new technologies, TRIUMF solves problems and delivers impact. We drive compelling research and create ideas and innovations that benefit humanity.