Assistant Professor with conditional tenure-track or Associate Professor at 100% in Particle Physics and Detector Hardware

Geneva University; Bellevue; On-site; CHF 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Geneva seeks a mid-career scientist for detector hardware and R&D leadership within the DPNC. The role emphasizes detector construction and physics at HL-LHC and future colliders, with a teaching component at Bachelor and Master levels in French and English.

The department supports a strong lab infrastructure and interdisciplinary collaboration, including data-analysis methods. The candidate should demonstrate an outstanding publication record, possess leadership in detector

Qualifications

• PhD in physics or equivalent
• Outstanding publication record in experimental particle physics
• Demonstrable leadership in detector R&D and construction
• Proven ability to lead an independent research programme funded externally

Responsibilities

• Teach at Bachelor level in French and Master level in English
• Develop and lead detector hardware R&D activities
• Collaborate with HL-LHC and future collider projects
• Support and utilize the department's mechanical and electronics labs

Skills

PhD in physics

Detector R&D leadership

Independent research leadership

External funding track record

Education

PhD in physics

Job description

The Department of Nuclear and Corpuscular Physics (DPNC) of the Faculty of Science is one of the leading particle-physics departments in Europe. Its collider-physics programme is centred on the ATLAS experiment at the LHC — with heavy involvement in measurements and searches for new physics, in trigger and combined-performance activities, and with major responsibility for the HL-LHC pixeldetector construction — and on the FASER experiment and its upgrades in the context of the Forward Physics Facility. DPNC contributes to the Future Circular Collider (FCC) feasibility study through the Swiss CHEF and CHART programmes. Detector construction and R&D are supported by the department’s mechanical and electronics workshops, a historical strength of DPNC. The department is also strongly invested in gravitational-wave science, astroparticle and space-based physics, neutrino physics, and medical-imaging and translational-detector applications.

This chair is anchored on detector hardware. We are looking for a candidate whose research record and forward vision engage substantively with detector R&D and detector construction, and who wishes to make the department’s mechanical and electronics laboratories a central component of their programme.

The primary emphasis of the position is on detector hardware, with additional strengths sought in physics at the HL-LHC and in physics and detector-concept contributions for future collider experiments (such as FCC). Candidates building on the department’s current capabilities (pixel detectors, 4D tracking, integrated electronics), bringing complementary hardware expertise, or proposing an evolution of the hardware programme are equally welcome, provided the programme connects to the laboratories and technical infrastructure of the department. The department also has a growing portfolio of work using modern computational and data-analysis methods, and a candidate bringing complementary expertise in this area would find a fertile environment to develop it further.

The position carries teaching responsibilities at the Bachelor level (in French) and at the Master level (in English), in accordance with UNIGE norms. For non-francophone colleagues, there is a reasonable expectation of developing French to Bachelor-teaching level within approximately three years; linguistic and pedagogical support is provided.

The University of Geneva is committed to equal opportunity and to a diverse academic community.

Applications from women, from candidates of under-represented backgrounds, and from candidates with non-linear career paths are explicitly and warmly invited. The position is aimed at candidates at the mid-career stage, appropriate to PAS or PA rank. Career interruptions for family, health, or other non-linear reasons are explicitly accommodated and should not deter applicants who would otherwise fit the profile. The University supports dual-career situations, parental leave, childcare and relocation.

Informal enquiries in confidence are warmly welcomed at any point during the application window.

Title and Required Skills :

• A PhD in physics or a qualification deemed equivalent;
• An outstanding publication record in experimental particle physics;
• Demonstrable leadership in detector R&D and construction;
• Proven ability to lead an independent research programme supported by competitive external funding.

APPLICATION DEADLINE : 17.12.2026

STARTING DATE: 1st August 2027, or as agreed.

CONTACT: For further information, please contact Prof. Tobias Golling, Director of DPNC ([e-mail]).

Additional Information:

• a cover letter;
• a detailed CV with a list of publications;
• a copy of highest degrees / diploma;
• a one-page Alignment with the chair profile (maximum one page) addressing concretely (i) how your work connects to the detector-hardware anchor of this chair, (ii) how you would make use of the department’s mechanical and electronics laboratories, (iii) how your programme relates to the HL-LHC physics and/or future-collider strands, and (iv) your orientation toward the evolving modern computational tools and data-analysis methods in particle physics;
• a research and teaching statement, with explicit attention to the detector-hardware primary anchor and to the laboratory environment of the department;
• a list of three reference persons who can be contacted directly by the search committee.

Recommendation letters are not requested for now.