Postdoctoral Researcher in Liquid Xenon Detector Physics

Nantes Université; France; On-site; EUR 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Nantes Université seeks a postdoctoral researcher to lead the scientific operation and exploitation of XEMIS2 at Nantes University Hospital. You will coordinate detector operation, cryogenic and xenon-purification systems, detector electronics and data acquisition, and contribute to experimental campaigns.

The role combines experimental physics, detector instrumentation, data analysis, and scientific coordination, with significant autonomy in day-to-day activities while collaborating with

Qualifications

• Strong experimental skills and ability to understand, operate and troubleshoot complex scientific instrumentation.
• Experience in detector physics, nuclear or particle physics, medical physics, or related experimental field.
• Good programming and computing skills for scientific data analysis.
• Ability to communicate scientific and technical information clearly, both orally and in writing.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and contribute to operation, commissioning and optimisation of XEMIS2.
• Manage detector operation, cryogenic and xenon-purification systems, electronics and data acquisition.
• Lead calibration, monitoring, and experimental campaigns; interpret measurements for operating conditions.
• Collaborate with engineers, medical and biomedical partners to enable imaging studies.

Skills

Experimental physics

Detector instrumentation

Data analysis

Programming & computing

Autonomy

Scientific communication

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Tools

Noble-liquid detectors

Time projection chambers

Cryogenic systems

Detector electronics

Data acquisition systems

Detector simulation

Job description

Organisation/Company Nantes Université Research Field Physics Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Application Deadline 14 Nov 2026 - 00:00 (UTC) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35.0 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Reference Number astigcst2x Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Mission

The XEMIS research programme, led by the SUBATECH laboratory, develops innovative medical imaging systems based on liquid xenon (LXe) Compton camera technology. XEMIS2 is a large-scale prototype currently installed at Nantes University Hospital (CHU Nantes). The instrument consists of two liquid-xenon time projection chambers (TPCs) and represents a major step towards demonstrating the potential of liquid-xenon Compton imaging for medical applications. We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher to play a central role in the scientific operation and exploitation of XEMIS2. The successful candidate will act as the XEMIS2 Operations Coordinator at Nantes University Hospital and will work closely with the SUBATECH XEMIS team, engineers and technical staff, as well as with the medical and scientific partners involved in the programme.

The main responsibility of the postdoctoral researcher will be to coordinate and contribute directly to the operation, commissioning and optimisation of XEMIS2. This will include detector operation, cryogenic and xenon-purification systems, detector electronics and data acquisition, detector calibration, monitoring of detector performance, and organisation of experimental campaigns. A major scientific objective will be to characterise and optimise the response of the two liquid-xenon TPCs using radioactive sources and experimental data. Particular attention will be given to charge and scintillation signals, electron transport and xenon purity, detector stability, calibration and reconstruction performance. The researcher will contribute to the interpretation of these measurements and to the definition of operating conditions required for reliable long-duration data taking.

As XEMIS2 moves from commissioning towards scientific exploitation, the postdoctoral researcher will also participate in the preparation and execution of the first imaging campaigns. These activities will progressively include the validation of Compton imaging performance and the preparation of preclinical imaging studies in collaboration with the medical and biomedical partners of the project. The position therefore combines experimental physics, detector instrumentation, data analysis and scientific coordination. The successful candidate will have substantial autonomy in the day-to-day operation of XEMIS2 while working within the broader scientific strategy defined by the XEMIS collaboration. He or she will contribute to the analysis and dissemination of results through scientific publications, collaboration meetings and presentations at international conferences.

The position offers the opportunity to work on a unique large-scale liquid-xenon detector in a multidisciplinary environment at the interface between nuclear and particle physics instrumentation, cryogenic detector technologies and medical imaging. The researcher will be based within the SUBATECH/XEMIS team and will carry out a significant part of the experimental activity at the XEMIS2 facility located at Nantes University Hospital.

Profil

The candidate should have a strong background in experimental physics and a genuine interest in detector instrumentation and the operation of complex experimental systems. The following skills and qualifications are expected: Strong experimental skills and ability to understand, operate and troubleshoot complex scientific instrumentation. Experience in detector physics, nuclear or particle physics, medical physics, or a related experimental field. Good skills in scientific data analysis and interpretation of experimental results. Ability to work autonomously and to take responsibility for experimental activities, while interacting effectively with researchers, engineers and technical staff. Ability to organise and coordinate experimental operations, including planning, monitoring and documenting detector activities. Good programming and computing skills for scientific data analysis. Ability to communicate scientific and technical information clearly, both orally and in writing. Ability to work in a multidisciplinary and collaborative environment involving physicists, engineers and biomedical partners. Capacity for initiative, problem solving and critical analysis of experimental results. Previous experience with noble-liquid detectors, time projection chambers, cryogenic systems, radiation detectors, detector electronics, data acquisition systems or detector simulation would be an advantage, but is not mandatory. The candidate is expected to progressively develop a high degree of autonomy in the operation and scientific exploitation of XEMIS2.