Assistant / Associate Professor in Particle Physics

Imperial Enterprise; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Imperial College London invites applications from experimental particle physicists to establish an internationally leading research programme in searches for hidden-sector and feebly interacting particles at the intensity frontier.

The appointee will contribute to teaching, student supervision, and funding applications while shaping SHiP at CERN, including detector development, simulation and data analysis, with broad opportunities across related experiments.

Qualifications

• PhD in physics or closely related field.
• Strong record in experimental particle physics within a major international collaboration.
• Experience in collider, fixed-target, beam-dump or neutrino experiments.
• Ability to lead a SHiP programme and plan detector development, simulation, reconstruction, data analysis and interpretation.

Responsibilities

• Establish an internationally leading research programme in hidden-sector and feebly interacting particles.
• Shape the SHiP experimental programme including detector development and construction, simulation, reconstruction, data analysis and physics interpretation.
• Contribute to teaching, student supervision, and funding applications.
• Engage with Imperial’s related research programs and international collaborations.

Skills

Experimental particle physics

Detector instrumentation

Data analysis

Education

PhD in physics

Tools

Reconstruction software

Job description

Imperial College London invites applications from experimental particle physicists to establish an internationally leading research programme in searches for hidden-sector and feebly interacting particles at the intensity frontier.

The appointment offers a leading role in SHiP (Search for Hidden Particles) at CERN. Imperial physicists have helped develop SHiP from its original proposal through CERN approval in 2024. The experiment is now in detailed design, with construction and long-term operation ahead. The successful candidate will be able to shape its experimental programme, including detector development and construction, simulation, reconstruction, data analysis and physics interpretation. SHiP will also pursue a neutrino programme that includes tau-neutrino studies. External funding is available to support the experimental work.

Applicants should hold a PhD in physics or a closely related field and have a strong record in experimental particle physics within a major international collaboration. Relevant experience may come from collider, fixed-target, beam-dump or neutrino experiments. Candidates should present a credible plan for a leading SHiP programme and demonstrate expertise in at least one relevant area, such as instrumentation, computing, reconstruction, analysis or interpretation. Experience with detector hardware or technology transferable to SHiP is welcome.

The appointee will also contribute to teaching, student supervision, funding applications and the wider Department. Opportunities for related research include Imperial’s work on T2K, SBN, DUNE, LZ, XLZD and LHCb. Appointment at Associate Professor level requires an established international profile and a record of independent leadership appropriate to that level.

For informal enquiries, contact Professor Mitesh Patel ([e-mail]) or Professor Stefan Söldner-Rembold ([e-mail]).