Research Fellow in Accelerator Physics

11 Jan 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

ROYAL HOLLOWAY, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON

Research Field

Physics

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

United Kingdom

Application Deadline

23 Jan 2024 - 00:00 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Other

Job Status

Full-time

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

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: 0124-008

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

Applications are invited for the post of Research Fellow in Accelerator Physics 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. The project has entered a construction phase and there are key research and development beam physics studies needed to consolidate the performance of the baseline scenarios and to assess potential further improvements.

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 Stefano Redaelli. 

This post builds on the long-lasting collaboration between CERN and UK on collimation studies and software development. The role holder would carry out research to address the performance of the baseline HL-LHC upgrade plans for the collimation system. This will include the development and application of particle tracking and matter interactions tools, including Beam Delivery Simulation (BDSIM), Xsuite, Geant4/FLUKA or other tools as appropriate for the modelling and simulations of halo cleaning mechanisms, and providing inputs for assessing the energy deposition in accelerator components for relevant configurations, and mitigation of beam background reaching the LHC experiments. An investigation of novel collimation techniques including the use of crystals for ion beams is envisaged, as well as the possibility of studies of new optics in the HL-LHC collimation insertions that may decrease the impedance and improve the cleaning performance. The theoretical and computational work will include participation to measurement in the LHC Run III with the newly installed HL-LHC collimation hardware.

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 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: 0124-008

Closing Date: 23:59, 23 January 2024

Interview Date:   5 February 2024

Further details: Job Description & Person Specification

Requirements
Additional Information
Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

ROYAL HOLLOWAY, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON

Country

United Kingdom

City

Egham

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/unijobs/listing/362845/research-fellow-in-…

Contact

City

Egham

STATUS: EXPIRED