At CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, physicists and engineers are probing the fundamental structure of the universe. Using the world's largest and most complex scientific instruments, they study the basic constituents of matter - fundamental particles that are made to collide together at close to the speed of light. The process gives physicists clues about how particles interact, and provides insights into the fundamental laws of nature. Find out more on http://home.cern.

Diversity has been an integral part of CERN's mission since its foundation and is an established value of the Organization.

This is your Quest. Deepen your knowledge and expertise faster than anywhere else on earth. Take Part!

A main challenge in the Proton Synchrotron (PS) is the reduction of beam loss at transfer to the Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) which are in part due to the longitudinal mismatch between the two machines. This applies to the beams produced for the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and the SPS fixed-target beams, requiring good control of longitudinal beam parameters, notably the emittance. Although the specified beam performance was reached in view of the High-Luminosity LHC project, a further reduction of the longitudinal emittance is beneficial to minimize the losses.

Your task will consist of:

• Performing analytical calculations and particle tracking simulations,
• Measuring the beam to tune the accelerator parameters for stabilization and loss reduction, and
• Applying conventional and new optimization methods, such as machine learning, in the challenging accelerator environment.

The beam dynamics studies combining simulations and measurements will allow you to access uncharted territory in terms of beam performance in PS and SPS.

Eligibility criteria:

• You are a national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State;
• You have a Master’s degree and between 2 and 6 years’ experience or PhD with up to 3 years of relevant experience in physics, electrical engineering or other related field;
• You should have a working knowledge of English or French.

Skills and/or knowledge:

• Particle dynamics and electromagnetism (knowledge of longitudinal beam dynamics would be an asset);
• Computing and code development for numerical modelling, data analysis, signal processing, conventional optimization (knowledge of Python would be an asset);
• Experience with machine learning (supervised learning and reinforcement learning) would be an asset.

What we offer: 

• An employment contract of in principle 24 months, with a possible extension up to 36 months;
• On-the-job and formal training at CERN as well as in-house language courses for English and/or French;
• A monthly stipend ranging between 6050 and 6650 Swiss Francs per month (net of tax);
• Coverage by CERN’s comprehensive health scheme (for yourself, your spouse and children), and membership of the CERN Pension Fund;
• Depending on your individual circumstances: installation grant; family, child and infant allowances; payment of travel expenses at the beginning and end of contract;
• 30 days of paid leave per year.

 How to Apply:

You will need the following documents to complete your application:

• A CV;
• A scanned PDF of your most recent relevant qualification;
• We recommend to add two recent letters of recommendation, giving an overview of your academic and/or professional achievements. You can upload these letters at the time of application if you have them to hand. You will also be provided with a link as soon as you have submitted your application to forward to your referees to upload their letters confidentially.

The earliest expected start date for selected candidates is May 2023.

Ready to take part? Then please submit your application by 23 January 2023 at  midnight (12.00 AM CEST).