Volunteer at Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences

Application deadline: 24 February 2023 (updated)

Position starts on: Immediately (updated)

Maximum period of contract/stipend agreement: 7 months

Link to the offer on Euraxess

Applications are invited for one volunteer position in the field of Astroparticle physics and direct dark matter detection.

Successful applicants will be expected to join the DarkWave project (952480 — DarkWave H2020-WIDESPREAD-2018-2020 / H2020-WIDESPREAD-2020-5) implemented by Prof. Marcin Kuźniak, and to engage in assembly and testing of silicon photomultipliers for the DarkSide-20k experiment.

The positions will be based at Rektorska 4, 00-614 Warsaw and in places to which the volunteer will be delegated as part of business trips.

We are looking for applicants with experience in electronics / electronics engineering to support the assembly of SiPM-based photosensors for the DarkSide experiment and characterization of related electronics.

Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center Polish Academy of Sciences is a leading astronomical institute in Poland. It was established in 1978. The main subjects of research include: stellar astrophysics, binary systems, circumstellar matter, dense matter and neutron stars, black holes, accretion processes, structure and evolution of active galaxies, cosmology, extrasolar planets.

Scientists from the Copernicus Center are involved in a number of major international observational projects such as: H.E.S.S., CTA (observations of ultrahigh energy photons (TeV) via detection of Cherenkov radiation), Herschel (satellite observations in IR domain), SALT (Southern African Large Telescope), INTEGRAL, Fermi (satellite observations of gamma rays), LIGO-VIRGO (detection of gravitational waves). Project SOLARIS, search for extrasollar planetary systems, financed in part by European Research Council (Starting Independent Researcher Grant) is carried at the Copernicus Center. The ground station for the control of the first Polish scientific satellite BRITE is located at the Copernicus Center as well. The AstroCeNT project is a new reseach initiative at the Copernicus Center in Warsaw. The new research unit will be a third section of the Copernicus Center. Research will focus on the detection of gravitational waves and dark matter using advanced technological instruments.

Key responsibilities include:

1. Assembly of SiPM-based photosensors for the DarkSide-20k experiment;
2. Characterization of related electronics;
3. Preparation of presentations and reports summarizing the results.

Profile of candidates/requirements:

• Enrolled in PhD, MSc or bachelor degree program in electronics, electronics engineering or physics;
• Ability to work in a team;
• Good English language skill;
• Availability to travel abroad;
• Familiarity with LTSpice or Matlab/Simulink;
• We encourage applications from traditionally underrepresented groups such as women, minorities, and people with disabilities.

We offer:

• covering the costs of traveling abroad (per diems and accommodation),
• work with eminent scientists,
• professional development opportunities.

More information can be obtained from Prof. Marcin Kuźniak (mkuzniak at camk.edu.pl)

Apply now