Postdoc at Astrocent – Research Group 3: Electronics and Data Acquisition and Processing

Application deadline: 14 May 2022

Please apply only via email: all material should be sent to recruitment at astrocent.pl

Link to the job offer on Euraxess

Successful applicants will be expected to join the “Electronics and Data Acquisition and Processing” led by Dr. Mariusz Suchenek.

Applications are invited for one postdoctoral position in the field of electrical engineering and FPGA firmware development at AstroCeNT, a new international Centre of Excellence in Particle Astrophysics in Warsaw, Poland (see below for more information).

Successful applicants will be expected to join the “Electronics and Data Acquisition and Processing” research group, led by Dr Mariusz Suchenek, and to engage in research activities related to the Hyper-Kamiokande (HK) project. The primary responsibilities of the employed person will be to participate in development of front-end electronics for HK’s far and intermediate water Cherenkov detectors.

We are seeking applicants that received their PhD in electrical engineering, electronics, experimental physics or related fields within the past 5 years. We are looking for applicants with experience in the following fields:

• FPGA programming and hardware description languages.
• Circuit design (both schematic and layout), including working knowledge of signal integrity and electromagnetic interference issues. Familiarity with at least one CAD software package for circuit design
• Signal processing algorithms
• Embedded programming (microcontrollers)
• Software development (at least one of the following languages: C/C++/Python/Matlab)

An added benefit will be familiarity with the following topics:

• Reliability analysis of electronic circuits
• Photosensor technology (photomultiplier tubes)
• Statistics and data analysis

The position is available immediately. The positions will be based at AstroCeNT in Warsaw, Poland.

Astrocent (https://astrocent.camk.edu.pl) — Particle Astrophysics Science and Technology Centre — was established on 1 July 2018 following an award of nearly 38 million PLN (nearly 9M Euro, over 10M USD) within the framework of the International Research Agendas Programme of the Foundation for Polish Science, see:

https://www.fnp.org.pl/en/projekt-astrocent-zdobyl-finansowanie-w-programie-mab.

At AstroCeNT, research is focused primarily on the detection of gravitational waves and dark matter, and on development of advanced instrumentation for large-scale physics and astrophysics experiments. It has developed close collaborative links with several institutions in Europe and outside, in particular with our strategic partners APC (Astroparticle and Cosmology Laboratory) in Paris and the McDonald Institute in Canada. More collaborations are being established.

Currently AstroCeNT comprises six international research groups of physicists and engineers:

1. SiPM Systems for Astroparticle Physics and Medical Physics (leader: Prof. Marcin Kuźniak);
2. Seismic Sensors (leader: Professor Tomasz Bulik);
3. Electronics and Data Acquisition and Processing (leader: Dr Mariusz Suchenek);
4. Ultrapure SiPMs and Associated Readout Electronics (leader: Dr Masayuki Wada);
5. Scientific Computing & Information Technology (leader: Prof. Piotr Gawron);
6. Particle Astrophysics (leader: Prof. Leszek Roszkowski).

Expansion to other activities in the field will be considered in the future.

AstroCeNT is formally a new administrative division of Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center of the Polish Academy of Sciences (http://www.camk.edu.pl) – an internationally leading institute in astronomy and astrophysics. The Centre is led by Professor Leszek Roszkowski.

AstroCeNT is conveniently located in the city centre, with easy access from rail stations and airports. The center occupies a suite of spacious and modern labs and offices on the top floor of a modern building (https://www.cziitt.pw.edu.pl/?lang=en) of Warsaw University of Technology (https://www.pw.edu.pl/engpw) in order to foster communication and cooperation with local engineers and physicists, and to enhance scientific and academic environment. The site is also well connected with Physics Department of the University of Warsaw and the main site of the Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Centre and other research institutes in Warsaw.

AstroCeNT strongly values the diversity of candidates and is very committed to the equality of opportunity.

Key responsibilities include:

1. Actively participating in the research programme at AstroCeNT.
2. Active cooperation with other research teams at AstroCeNT.
3. Being prepared to apply for grants.

Profile of candidates:

1. Ability to work and collaborate in research teams in a competitive environment.
2. Strong track record of past research.
3. Potential to attract grant funding.

Remuneration: monthly gross salary of 14,000.00 PLN (expected net salary: about 9,400.00 PLN)

Job type: fixed-term contract until 30.06.2023 (with a likely possibility of extension for up to 6 months)

Position starts 1.06.2022.

We offer:

1. Stimulating, international, English speaking research environment in a new center of excellence;
2. Possibility to develop frontline research in gravitational wave research, in collaboration with the other teams of Astrocent and with our strategic partner APC;
3. Funding for research, travel and basic equipment.
4. Scientific, organizational and technical support, including standard research facilities.

Apply now