University researcher, experimental particle physics

The University of Helsinki (UH) is among the leading multidisciplinary research universities in the world. In addition to its 11 faculties, the University includes several independent institutes, some of which are jointly operated with other universities. Some 35,000 students are currently pursuing an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree at the University of Helsinki. Measured in number of students and teachers, the Faculty of Science at the University of Helsinki is the largest science faculty in Finland. There are about 6,000 students, out of which some 2,000 are postgraduates. There are roughly 500 international students, and over 200 researchers and teachers from abroad.

The Department of Physics is a large multidisciplinary unit that offers Finland’s most diverse teaching programme in physical sciences. The Department’s strong fields of research include particle physics, astrophysics and space physics, astronomy, materials physics, nanophysics and biophysics. Swedish- and English-language instruction is a natural part of our activities, and subject teacher education in physics is included in the Department’s teaching programme.

The Helsinki Institute of Physics is a physics research institute that is operated jointly by five Finnish universities. The research activity at the institute covers an extensive range of subjects in theoretical physics and experimental subatomic physics, and the institute is responsible for the Finnish research collaboration with CERN.

The UH Faculty of Science is an equal opportunity workplace committed to advance wellbeing and diversity in science and education. We invite applications from qualified candidates irrespective of their cultural and linguistic background. We support the compatibility of work and family-life and promote gender equality in science. The focus on wellbeing is further endorsed by an active wellbeing group. We offer comprehensive preventive occupational health services and general medical care. In addition, all staff are covered by the University of Helsinki’s employee travel insurance and occupational accident insurance.  Finland is a very family-friendly country with generous parental leaves, very affordable state-subsidized daycare that is available for all children, as well as world-renowned free primary and secondary education as well as public healthcare.

The Department of Physics at the UH Faculty of Science invites applications for a

UNIVERSITY RESEARCHER IN EXPERIMENTAL PARTICLE PHYSICS

starting from 1st April 2023 (or as agreed).

The university researcher will work in the context of the CMS Experiment at CERN through the CMS project at the Helsinki Institute of Physics. They are expected to have leading roles (in particular convener positions) in various working groups at CMS and CERN, supervise students and post-docs, and contribute to the experimental work and data-taking shifts at CMS, in addition to doing outreach and some administrative duties at the UH Faculty of Science. The research focus of the appointee would ideally align with the rest of the HIP group, where emphasis is on jet physics and calibration, top quark mass and strong coupling constant measurements, charged Higgs boson searches, machine learning applications in high-energy physics and the prompt calibration loop of CMS. We also welcome applications whose research focus would complement our program, and expect the appointee to participate in preparing funding applications for new projects e.g. through ERC and Academy of Finland. The primary merit is excellence in science, and a track record in gaining external competitive funding is considered a plus. 

The appointee will also participate in teaching at the UH Faculty of Science at BSc, MSc and PhD levels, depending on the needs of the faculty. Former experience in teaching, supervision and formal training in university pedagogy are considered a plus. The appointee to the position of the university researcher shall hold an applicable doctoral degree and evidence of scholarly research work, the teaching skills necessary for the position and the ability to manage a research group and obtain supplementary research funding.

The salaries for the positions are based on the salary system of Finnish universities. The salary range of a university researcher is from 3700 – 5000 euros per month depending on the appointees’ qualifications and experience. The positions will be filled with a 6-month trial period.  The position will be initially partly supported by the ERC Consolidator Grant JEC4HL-LHC.

Please submit your application consisting of

• Cover letter
• Curriculum vitae and a publications list in a one single pdf-file
• Research statement (max. 2000 words)
• 2-3 letters of recommendation

via the recruitment system. The letters of recommendation may be submitted by e-mail to laura.karppinen(at)helsinki.fi or uploaded into the recruitment system. The deadline for applications is 15th February 2023.

For further information, please contact:

•    About the position: Professor Mikko Voutilainen, mikko.voutilainen(at)helsinki.fi
•    About the recruitment process and recruitment system:  HR Specialist Laura Karppinen, laura.karppinen(at)helsinki.fi.