Postdoctoral research position in Astroparticle Physics (Sonata Bis)

Application deadline: 20 November 2024

Job type: employment contract (part-time employment possible)

Scientific discipline: Astroparticle Physics

Monthly gross salary before taxes: 8,000.00 PLN gross per month

Maximum period of contract: 12 months (possible extension to 24 months)

Offer starting date: 1 December 2024 (or as soon as possible thereafter)

Link to the job offer on Euraxess

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Offer Description

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral research position at the Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center of the Polish Academy of Sciences (NCAC PAS). The successful applicant will work with Prof. Masayuki Wada on the project “Development of the Most Sensitive Dark Matter Detector with Liquid Argon” funded by the Polish National Science Center (NCN), through grant SONATA-BIS nr 2021/42/E/ST2/00331.

The position will be based in Warsaw, Poland, and may involve occasional travel to and longer stays at LNGS underground laboratory in Italy.

Skills/Qualifications

We look for applicants able to work in a team, with experience in programming in Geant4, ROOT and Python. Experience with data acquisition and hardware development (including cryogenic and vacuum techniques, and electronics) will also be considered an asset.

We are seeking applicants who received their Ph.D. in experimental particle or nuclear physics or related fields within the past 7 years (the period may be extended in accordance with the guidelines provided in the competition documentation on the website: https://www.ncn.gov.pl/sites/default/files/pliki/uchwaly-rady/2021/uchwala44_2021-zal1_ang.pdf#page=55, page 55). Candidates approaching their Ph.D. defense are also invited to apply (Ph.D. title will be required to start the employment).

The primary responsibility of a researcher for this position will be the simulation study on feasibility and design optimization for liquid argon detectors. The research consists of novel light collection and SiPM-based detection systems for future dark matter detectors and for applications in medical physics using the same technology. The successful candidate will actively participate in the construction of the prototype detector which will pave the way for future detectors (DarkSide-LM).

Scope of work includes:

• performing Geant4 simulation;
• prediction of background rates in DarkSide-LM;
• calculating projected detector sensitivity;
• electric field simulations of the detector in different configurations using COMSOL software;
• presenting scientific results at conferences;
• preparing technical notes and publications;
• co-supervision of PhD students;
• being prepared to apply for grants.

Selection process:

Documents (in pdf format) should be submitted by e-mail, with a subject “Sonata Bis Post-doc position in Astroparticle Physics”, to recruitment@camk.edu.pl and they must include:

• a copy of the PhD diploma;
• CV including the list of publications;
• resume with statement of research interests;
• a scan of the signed NCN GDPR document available here;
• applicants should arrange for two recommendation letters to be sent directly to recruitment@camk.edu.pl.

The selection criteria include:

1. the candidate’s research achievements including publications in prestigious academic press /journals (50% of the final score);
2. research-related achievements, scholarships, awards and research experience gained in Poland or abroad, research workshops and training courses, participation in research projects (20% of the final score);
3. the candidate’s competence to carry out specific tasks in the research project (30% of the final score).

Application deadline: 20 November 2024. The review of the applications will begin soon after this date and short-listed candidates will be invited for interviews.

The candidates will be informed about the selection results by 27 November 2024.

For additional information, please contact Masayuki Wada (e-mail: masayuki@camk.edu.pl).

Apply now