Doctoral research associate for BabylAXO detector development

Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres; Deutschland; Hybrid; EUR 52,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working hours

Mobile work up to 50%

Family-friendly atmosphere

Job summary

Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY in Hamburg invites applications for a Doctoral Research Associate to join the ALPS group and contribute to the BabylAXO start-up. You will develop a calorimeter for axions, explore detector technologies, and collaborate with international partners in the Quantum Universe cluster.

DESY offers academic training, travel funds for conferences, and flexible working hours with part-time options to support work-life balance.

Qualifications

• MSc. degree in Physics or equivalent qualification.
• Hands-on experience with design, construction, commissioning and operation of complex experimental setups.
• Programming experience in scientific computing environments.
• Excellent written and spoken English skills.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the commission and installation of the BabylAXO X-ray detection systems.
• Develop a calorimeter for BabylAXO sensitive to axions from solar fusion processes and supernova explosions.
• Explore synergies of the calorimeter development with medical applications.

Skills

Programming in scientific computing

Experimental setup experience

English proficiency

Education

MSc in Physics

Job description

Organisation/Company Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY Research Field Physics Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Application Deadline 2 Nov 2026 - 23:00 (UTC) Country Germany Type of Contract To be defined Job Status Other Offer Starting Date 5 Oct 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

ALPS

Area of research:

PHD Thesis

05.10.2026

DESY

The Cluster of Excellence "Quantum Universe" performs research to understand mass and gravity at the interface between quantum physics and cosmology. The research team includes leading scientists from mathematics, particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology at the University of Hamburg and DESY. As part of the cluster's experimental program to search for hypothetical very lightweight bosons, for example motivated by dark matter and dark energy in the universe, the construction of the BabylAXO experiment will start shortly. BabylAXO will look for axions and similar particles emitted by the sun in uncharted parameter regions. The doctoral research associate will engage in the start-up phase of BabylAXO and work on the extension of its scientific portfolio.The successful applicant will be attached to the ALPS group at DESY, which together with international partners is realizing new experimental facilities to search for a new kinds of very lightweight elementary particles, works on new concepts targeting high-frequency gravitational waves and develops related technologies. Doctoral research associates will become members of the Quantum Universe Research School (QURS), which provides academic and key skills training, as well as career planning support. In addition, they will receive individual budgets to facilitate the attendance of summer schools and conferences, and to support other educational measures. Additional travel money for project-specific duties will be provided by the hosting research groups. Doctoral researchers may participate in teaching at the University and in the organization of the Cluster via an early career council.

About your role:

• Contribute to the commission and installation of the BabylAXO X-ray detection systems
• Develop a calorimeter for BabylAXO sensitive to axions from solar fusion processes and supernova explosions
• Explore synergies of the calorimeter development with medical applications

About you:

• MSc. degree in Physics or equivalent qualification
• Hands-on experience in the design, construction, commissioning, and operation of complex experimental setups
• Programming experience in scientific computing environments
• Independent, proactive, and goal-oriented working style with a strong commitment to solving complex technical challenges
• Excellent written and spoken English skills
• Experience in detector development for or operation of experimental particle physics or dark matter search experiments

Look forward to a unique working environment on our international research campus. Respectful cooperation and the well-being of our DESY employees are particularly important to us. Gender equality is an important aspect for us. To support work life balance we offer flexible working hours, variable part-time, job-sharing models and participation in mobile work (up to 50%). You will benefit from our family-friendly and collegial atmosphere, our established health management and occupational pension provision. As a public funded employer, we offer you a secure workplace and facilitate your individual career with our comprehensive training and development opportunities. Remuneration is according to the regulations of the TV-AVH. DESY offers its employees a financial supplement for a German job ticket (Deutschland-Ticket) at both locations.

DESY promotes the professional development of women and therefore strongly encourages women to apply for the position to be filled. In addition, severely handicapped persons with equal aptitude are given preferential consideration. The advertised positions are basically suitable for part-time employment.

You can find further information here: www.desy.de/career/

Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY
Personalabteilung | Notkestraße 85 | 22607 Hamburg
Phone: [phone]

This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over € 5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany's largest scientific organisation.