Research Fellow in Accelerator Beam Diagnostics

Department of Physics

Location: Egham
Salary: £39,233 expected starting salary per annum - including London Allowance. Appointment at a higher point may be made for candidates who demonstrate exceptional skills and experience relevant to the role. An additional subsistence allowance may be offered by CERN during long term attachment.
Post Type: Full Time
Closing Date: 23.59 hours GMT on Tuesday 23 January 2024
Reference: 0124-009

Full-Time, Fixed term (until 31 March 2026) 

Applications are invited for the post of Research Fellow in Accelerator Beam Diagnostics for HL-LHC in the Department of Physics, within the School of Engineering, Physical and Mathematical Sciences (EPMS) at Royal Holloway, University of London, and in collaboration with CERN.

The luminosity upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider will increase the delivered integrated luminosity by about an order of magnitude to search for new, rare, particles and perform precision measurements of the standard model of particle physics. The machine challenges are significant, including unprecedented understanding of the beam dynamics, high intensity collimation and the use of crab RF cavities to rotate the proton bunches. Novel methods to measure the transverse position along the 1ns proton bunch is required, and high-bandwidth beam instrumentation is being developed with the potential to improve on state-of-the-art head-tail monitors.

The position is part of HL-LHC-UK phase 2, the UK project to deliver key R&D and hardware to HL-LHC in the areas of HL-LHC in beam dynamics, collimation, crab cavities, diagnostics, cold powering and surface treatments. The Fellow will join a vibrant and supportive UK-wide team and will be based in the UK, with opportunity to spend significant time at CERN.

The position is 2-years equally funded from STFC through HL-LHC-UK phase 2 and the John Adams Institute core grant. The postholder will be supervised by Prof Stephen Gibson and Dr Thibaut Lefevre at CERN.

This post builds on the long-lasting collaboration between CERN and UK on beam instrumentation development. The role holder would carry out research to develop high-bandwidth beam position monitors for the HL-LHC upgrade, capable of measuring the crabbed rotation of the proton bunches. This will include the development and application of high-bandwidth read-out system, using fibre-coupled electro-optic methods. An investigation of novel time-stretch techniques based on chirped laser pulses or otherwise is envisaged, combined with studies of an Electro-Optic Beam Position Monitor installed in the Super-Proton Synchrotron. The experimental and computational work will include participation in EO-BPM measurements during LHC Run III.

The Department of Physics has a record of outstanding research, recognised with a 100% world-leading and internationally excellent research environment in REF21. We host established research groups in particle physics, theoretical physics, nanotechnologies and ultra-low temperature physics, and have recently initiated a new research group in Gravitational Waves.   Research is supported by GRID computing facilities, the SuperFab nanofabrication facility, the London Low Temperature Laboratory and the John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, with collaborations at CERN, LIGO, SNOLAB, SURF, LNGS, J-PARC, CLIC, KEK, ESS and the Diamond Light Source, and in the SEPnet and the NExT Institute for Particle Phenomenology research networks. 

The successful applicant will have a track record of excellence in accelerator physics, especially beam instrumentation and fast electronics,  and be qualified with a doctorate in a relevant field.

The Department of Physics is committed to reducing gender inequality, as recognised by the award of Athena SWAN silver status and the renewal of Physics Juno Champion status in 2022, and strongly welcomes applications from groups under-represented in physics. 

Royal Holloway recognises the importance of helping its employees balance their work and home life by offering flexible working arrangements.   We are happy to consider a request for flexible working for this post including part time, job share or compressed working hours. 

Royal Holloway offers a highly competitive rewards and benefits package including:

• Generous annual leave entitlement 
• Training and Development opportunities
• Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution 
• Various schemes including Cycle to Work, Season Ticket Loans and help with the cost of Eyesight testing. 
• Free parking 

The post is based in Egham, Surrey where the College is situated in a beautiful, leafy campus near to Windsor Great Park and within commuting distance from London. There will be opportunity to spend time at CERN.

For an informal discussion about the post, please contact the Head of Department, Professor Stephen Gibson, at [email protected] .

For queries on the application process the Human Resources Department can be contacted by email at: [email protected]  

Please quote the reference: 0124-009

Closing Date:   23:59, 23 January, 2024

Interview Date:   5 February 2024

Further details: Job Description & Person Specification