Research Associate

UNIVERSITY OF YORK; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of York seeks a postdoctoral research associate to support the FAUST project, focusing on detector development for nuclear physics research. The role involves leading laboratory work, conducting simulations, and testing prototypes, offering a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in a supportive and inclusive environment.

Benefits

Family friendly, flexible working arrangements

Inclusive facilities and forums

Qualifications

• PhD in experimental nuclear physics or adjacent field.
• Degree in Physics or related experience.
• Experience with GEANT4 for Monte Carlo simulations.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of detectors for the FAUST project.
• Design, develop, assemble, and test scintillator systems.
• Conduct simulations and prototype testing at FRIB facility.

Skills

Research skills

Communication skills

Hands-on skills with radiation detectors

Monte Carlo simulation

Education

PhD in experimental nuclear physics

Degree in Physics

Job description

Department

The School of Physics, Engineering and Technology brings physicists and engineers together to push the frontiers of knowledge, foster innovation and meet the grand challenges facing society. Our aim is to deliver world-leading research in both fundamental and applied areas whilst developing new technologies that work for the public good, in an environment where everyone can thrive.

As a School, equality, diversity, and inclusion are central to our culture and we strive to provide a working environment which allows all staff and students to contribute fully, to flourish, and to excel. We aim to ensure that there is a supportive and egalitarian culture at all levels and across all staff groups and offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, staff engagement forums, campus facilities and services to support staff from different backgrounds. We are proud to hold Juno Champion and Athena Swan silver awards, which recognise our commitment to creating an equitable and fully inclusive environment in which staff and students can thrive. We aim to inspire young people to engage with science and engineering through our outreach work.

The Nuclear Physics Group at the University of York is one of the UK’s leading research groups in this field of research covering areas as diverse as nuclear theory, hadron physics, nuclear structure and nuclear astrophysics. The group carries out its experimental research at international facilities worldwide and within its detector development laboratories at York, the group develops novel instrumentation to deploy at such facilities.

Role

This postdoctoral research associate (PDRA) position is to support the development of detectors as part of the FAUST project. FAUST is an STFC-funded project to develop a detector array for measurements of transfer reactions in conjunction with the GRETA germanium tracking array at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University (MSU). Due to the high energy of the charged particles to be detected by FAUST, it is necessary to back up the silicon detectors with thin slabs of scintillator. York is taking charge of designing, developing, assembling and testing the latter system with a focus on CsI(Tl) scintillator (and next-generation equivalents) coupled to silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs). The PDRA will lead this development work in the laboratory. They may also be involved in simulation using e.g. GEANT4 as well as prototype testing at the FRIB facility in the US.

Skills, Experience & Qualification needed

You will have:

• a degree in Physics (or related experience)
• a PhD in experimental nuclear physics (or adjacent field)
• research and communication skills allowing you to perform research to a high standard in an academic environment
• acquired good hands-on skills with various common classes of radiation detector in the laboratory
• experience in Monte Carlo simulation of radiation transport e.g. with GEANT4

Interview date: To be confirmed

For informal enquiries: Professor David Jenkins at [e-mail] or Chloe McLachlan at [e-mail]

The University strives to be diverse and inclusive – a place where we can ALL be ourselves.

We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented at the University.

We offer family friendly, flexible working arrangements, with forums and inclusive facilities to support our staff. #EqualityatYork