Research Associate in Particle Physics

South Kensington Campus with international travel

Fixed Term: Four years

The neutrino group at Imperial invites applications for a research associate working on the Tokai-to-Kamioka (T2K) and Hyper-Kamiokande (HK) experiments.

The successful candidate will study near-detector prototypes for HK (ND280++), which will include performance benchmarking, detector design, reconstruction methods, and data taking in particle test beams. The candidate will additionally contribute to making novel measurements of neutrino interactions in the recently upgraded T2K near detector (ND280), focussing on poorly modelled topologies. There are also opportunities to develop neutrino interaction modelling and related uncertainties for oscillation and cross-section analyses. The candidate is expected to travel internationally for meetings and data taking, predominantly to Switzerland and Japan.

Imperial plays a leading role in neutrino oscillation analyses on T2K, HK, and DUNE, with responsibilities in both near and far detector analyses, and the neutrino beamline on T2K and HK. The group is engaged in detector development for the next-generation experiments, including a high-pressure gaseous TPC for DUNE, and a water-Cherenkov near detector for HK. It also has expertise in neutrino cross-section measurements and interaction modelling, and detector calibrations on T2K.

The candidate will hold a PhD* in experimental particle physics or have an equivalent level of professional qualifications and experience.

The candidate should meet the following essential criteria:

• Practical experience within a research environment and / or publication in relevant and refereed journals
• Practical experience in data analysis techniques used in high energy physics, including Monte Carlo methods and statistical analysis
• Knowledge of neutrino physics
• Proficiency in software development for particle physics, particularly using C++ and Python
• Track record of taking initiative, identifying new research opportunities and techniques, and developing original ideas
• Research record with clearly defined individual contributions

It would additionally be desirable if the candidate had any of the following:

• Experience in (neutrino) detector simulation, event reconstruction or detector design
• Experience in neutrino cross-section measurements
• Experience in neutrino interaction modelling
• Experience in leadership, or evidence of future leadership potential, in particle physics

Applications can be made online via our website. Please click the 'Apply' button, above.

This position is available immediately for up to 4 years.

*Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as Research Assistant within the salary range £43,003 - £46,297 per annum.

The Particle Physics Community at Imperial maintains a strong international profile through its strategic leadership in the design, construction, and scientific exploitation of leading particle physics experiments. Our active experimental research programme spans a broad range of initiatives, including the T2K, Super-Kamiokande and future Hyper-Kamiokande experiments in Japan; the short baseline neutrino programme at Fermilab, the future neutrino oscillation experiment DUNE at Fermilab and SURF in the USA; the search for charged lepton flavour violation with COMET in Japan; the CMS and LHCb experiments at the LHC; the search for dark matter with the LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment in the USA and the future XLZD experiment; the Atom Interferometer Observatory and Network (AION) project in the UK and the USA; Antimatter spectroscopy, MICE, and SHiP activities. We actively contribute to the development of future experiments and impact through the application of particle physics technologies. There are also significant accelerator, phenomenology and Grid computing programmes. As hosts to two Imperial College Centres of Excellence-namely, the Centre for Clinical Application of Particles and the Centre for High-Throughout Digital Electronics and Machine Learning - we demonstrate a strong commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration.

Visit our webpages for more information about the Department of Physics and the Particle Physics Community.

For further information about the position contact:

Dr. Clarence Wret clarence.wret@imperial.ac.uk

For queries regarding the application process contact:

Paula Brown, Section Administrator – paula.brown@imperial.ac.uk

If you experience any technical issues with your online application, contact the Imperial Recruitment Hub team - support.jobs@imperial.ac.uk

The Department of Physics is proud to be an IoP JUNO Practitioner and to hold an Athena SWAN Silver Award, recognising our ongoing commitment to fostering a supportive, inclusive, and high-achieving community. We strive to create a welcoming environment for everyone and have introduced a range of initiatives to encourage collaboration, inclusivity, and professional development.

We value the strength that comes from diverse perspectives and strongly encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We particularly welcome applications from individuals who identify as female and those who consider themselves underrepresented in physics.

Imperial is committed to equality of opportunity, the elimination of discrimination, and the creation of an inclusive working environment for all. We welcome applicants regardless of age, disability, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, gender identity, sex, or sexual orientation.

To learn more about Imperial’s work in equity, diversity and inclusion, please visit

• Equality at Imperial
• Imperial’s Diversity Networks

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