Research Associate on the CMS experiment

Salary: Band D £31,931-£34,709 or Band E £39,748-£44,166 (Dependent on Experience)

Location: STFC - Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot

Benefits: 30 days holiday + 8 bank holidays + 2.5 privilege days + exceptional defined average salary pension + excellent work life balance
3-year fixed term contract, with expectations of an extension.

Closing date for application is the 18th Feb 2023

Applications are invited for a Research Associate position in Experimental Particle Physics to work on trigger and data acquisition systems within the Particle Physics Department (PPD) at the STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. The post will initially be for three years with the possibility of renewal.

PPD is one of the largest Particle Physics groups in the UK and the CMS group has been prominent on the CMS experiment since the start of the collaboration. For the initial CMS detector the design and construction of the electromagnetic calorimeter endcaps was led by PPD and the group also played a major role in the tracker readout. For phase I upgrades the group had significant activity on the level 1 calorimeter trigger upgrade. The group now has major involvement in the upgrade of the CMS detector for HL-LHC running and is working on the level 1 trigger upgrade, the track finder for the replacement silicon tracker and the readout of the barrel electromagnetic calorimeter. All of these activities involve fast electronics and the use of cutting edge FPGAs. Online software is a particular strength of the group. The group has a strong interest in physics beyond the standard model including a long history of work on; searching for Z’ boson! s, variou s BSM Higgs bosons searches and numerous analyses that exploit the groups expertise on lepton reconstruction. A particular feature is the long-standing close collaboration with phenomenologists as part of the NExT Institute.

All of the PPD CMS group’s upgrade activities involve cutting edge electronics and the use of FPGAs. Each of the activities is related to fast data processing to enable the first level of trigger decision in hardware. The successful applicant will work on the CMS level 1 trigger upgrade involving both online software and trigger algorithm development. They will also be able to contribute to one of the group’s analysis activities exploiting Run 3 data.

Essential:

PhD in Particle Physics or similar qualification(S)
Experience of working on particle physics experiments (S&I)
Knowledge of C++ and python (S&I)
Experience of data analysis (S&I)
Ability to work independently and undertake original research (S&I)
Ability to think logically (I)
Ability to work collaboratively and effectively in teams, including with large groups of people from many different countries (S&I)
Good communications skills including fluent English, both written and spoken (S&I),
Ability and willingness to acquire required knowledge (I)
High degree of self-motivation (S&I)
Ability to work on several activities in parallel (I)
Willingness to travel frequently to CERN and elsewhere (I)
Willingness to go on long term attachment to CERN (I)
Willingness to work at RAL (I)
Willingness to work ! occasionally in a radiation environment (I)
Willingness to undertake on call and occasional shift work to run CMS (I)
Driving licence (S)

Desirable:

Experience in the areas listed below is desirable. In addition:
for a Band D post the applicant would be expected to satisfy at least one of the criteria below.
for a Band E post the applicant would be expected to satisfy at least three of the criteria below.

Experience of working on the CMS or ATLAS experiments (S&I
Knowledge of online systems (S&I)
Experience of working with electronics hardware (S&I)
Experience of writing online software for a particle physics experiment (S&I)
Knowledge of triggering at colliders (S&I)
Experience of the use of FPGAs(S&I)
Knowledge of HLS or firmware
Experience of working with large electronics systems on collider experiments (S&I)
Experience with hardware triggering systems. (S&I)
Experience of commissioning large electronics systems (S&I)

Applications should consist of a CV, a covering letter explaining why the candidate is suited to this position and a statement of research interests. The names and contact details of three referees should also be uploaded at the point of application

For an informal discussion about this role please contact: Prof. Claire Shepherd-Themistocleous ()

Employee Benefits:

We are offering a 3 year fixed term contract with a whole host of benefits including:
30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days).
Flexible working hours.
An excellent defined average salary pension scheme.
Employee shopping/travel discounts.
Excellent learning and development opportunities.

We are committed to sustaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. We are invested in creating an environment that is welcoming and supportive of all, to help us achieve the highest possible standards in our work and organisation together. In this regard, we encourage applications from under-represented groups.

What could you achieve with the world-leading facilities and experts of one of Europe's largest research organisations by your side? Join us and discover what's possible.

About The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)

The STFC is a world-leading multi-disciplinary science organisation where curiosity, blue-skies thinking meets practical, application-led science and engineering. Our goal is to deliver economic, societal, scientific and international benefits to the UK and its people – and more broadly to the world.

As one of Europe’s largest research organisations, we’re trusted to support, enable and undertake ground-breaking projects in an outstanding diversity of fields. Through world-class facilities and people, we’re driving progressive advances in science, engineering, computing and technology. Our research seeks to understand the Universe from the largest astronomical scales to the tiniest constituents of matter, yet creates impact on a very tangible, human scale.

For more information about STFC please visit https://stfc.ukri.org/

You can also visit our careers site https://www.stfccareers.co.uk/

About UK Research Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

More information can be found at www.ukri.org.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.