PhD student focusing on Machine Learning in Particle Physics

Physics World; Deutschland; Vor Ort; EUR 60.000 - 80.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

A leading research institution in Hamburg is seeking a PhD student focusing on Machine Learning in Particle Physics. The role involves developing foundation models and their applications in experiments. Candidates should possess an MSc or equivalent and have excellent English skills. The position offers flexible working hours, opportunities for professional development, and a supportive working environment.

Leistungen

Flexible working hours

Career development opportunities

Family-friendly atmosphere

Health management and pension provision

Qualifikationen

• Excellent candidates will have prior knowledge of particle physics, ideally in the form of a thesis project.

Aufgaben

• Develop and study building blocks of foundation models for particle physics.
• Study their application in particle physics experiments.

Kenntnisse

Excellent English communication skills

Experience in computer programming

Knowledge of modern machine learning approaches

Knowledge of particle physics

Ausbildung

MSc or equivalent in a relevant field

Jobbeschreibung

For our location in Hamburg we are seeking: PhD student focusing on Machine Learning in Particle Physics.

Remuneration Group 13 | Limited: 3 years | Starting date: earliest possible | ID: FHDO020/2025 | Deadline: 30.11.2025 | Full-time/Part-time

DESY, with more than 2900 employees at its two locations in Hamburg and Zeuthen, is one of the world's leading research centres. Its research focuses on decoding the structure and function of matter, from the smallest particles of the universe to the building blocks of life. In this way, DESY contributes to solving the major questions and urgent challenges facing science, society and industry. With its ultramodern research infrastructure, its interdisciplinary research platforms and its international networks, DESY offers a highly attractive working environment in the fields of science, technology and administration as well as for the education of highly qualified young scientists.

Foundation models are multi-dataset and multi-task machine learning methods that once pre-trained can be fine-tuned for a large variety of downstream applications. The successful development of such general-purpose models for physics data would be a major breakthrough as they could improve the achievable physics performance while at the same time drastically reduce the required amount of training time and data. To further advance foundation models in physics, and to bring them towards application at high energy physics experiments, we invite applications for a research associate position on the topic of deep learning for particle physics.

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 Universität Hamburg and DESY. Doctoral research associates will become members of the Quantum Universe Research School (QURS), which provides academic and soft 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 research associates may participate in the organization of the cluster via an early career council.

About your role:

• Develop and study building blocks of foundation models for particle physics;
• Study their application in particle physics experiments, e.g. reconstruction and identification of particles in detectors.

About you:

• A university degree (MSc or equivalent) in a relevant field;
• Excellent English communication skills;
• Experience in computer programming and modern machine learning approaches;
• Excellent candidates will have prior knowledge of particle physics, ideally in the form of a thesis project.

Good reasons to join:

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 at both locations.

For further information please contact Sarah Heim at [e-mail].

More information: https://www.desy.de/career

DESY in Hamburg does not grant doctoral degrees directly but collaborates with the University of Hamburg. Candidates for thesis research will have to satisfy the terms of admission for doctoral theses of the University of Hamburg. PhD students receive a monthly salary of 67% of the payment of the remuneration group 13 TVöD (Federal Government).

Please submit your complete application documents (motivation letter, CV, relevant certificates and up to three letters of reference) via our application portal. Please ask your referees to use our online tool for the submission of the letters of reference: Additional application documents.

Apply now!

DESY promotes equal opportunities and diversity. The professional development of women is very important to us and therefore we strongly encourage women to apply for the vacant position.

Applications from severely disabled persons will be given preference if they are equally qualified: sbv.desy.de.

Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY

Human Resources Department | Notkestraße 85 | 22607 Hamburg

Phone: [phone]