Research Officer In Antihydrogen Physics

Interview Dates: 15 Sept 2025 - 16 Sept 2025

About The University

Swansea University is a research-led university that has been making a difference since 1920. The University community thrives on exploration and discovery and offers the right balance of excellent teaching and research, matched by an enviable quality of life.

Our stunning waterfront campuses and multicultural community make us a desirable workplace for colleagues from around the world. Our reward and benefits, and ways of working enable those who join us to have enriching careers, matched by an excellent work-life balance.

About The Role

The Swansea Antihydrogen team has a vacancy for a postdoctoral research officer to work on the ALPHA experiment at CERN, in which the Swansea group is a leading participant. The vacancy is to be filled as soon as possible. The group consists of three permanent staff, four post docs and a varying number of Ph.D. students.

The group plays a leading role in the ALPHA experiment and is responsible for positrons, antihydrogen synthesis, laser-spectroscopy and metrology. Recent successes include the first spectroscopy of the 1s-2s transition in antihydrogen, laser-cooling of antihydrogen and a first measurement of the influence of gravity. The group has pioneered a new method using laser-cooled Beryllium ions to assist in antihydrogen synthesis that has increased the amount of antihydrogen available for experimentation by an order of magnitude. Using this technique the next generation of experiments will significantly increase the precision of the 1s-2s and gravity measurements and start addressing other excited states in the anti-atom and work towards direct comparisons with hydrogen.

The successful candidate will be working at CERN with both the Swansea team and the ALPHA collaboration on the next generation of antihydrogen experiments. The responsibilities include improving the Beryllium assisted antihydrogen synthesis and leading the use of Beryllium ions for in-situ ac and dc magnetometry and thermometry to support the antihydrogen measurements. This all takes place in an exciting multi-disciplinary experiment in an international context, where there is ample freedom for the successful candidate to have a huge impact on the future of antihydrogen physics.

We require the successful candidate to have a Ph.D. in experimental physics. Experience in relevant sub-fields (e.g. laser physics, laser-cooling, trapped charged particles or atoms) or with some of the techniques we use (for instance cryogenics, ultra-high vacuum and Labview) will be appreciated, though are not formal requirements.

In addition to salary, there is an overseas allowance according to OECD cost-of-living corrections.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

The University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity in all its practices and activities. We aim to establish an inclusive environment and welcome diverse applications from the following protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race (including colour, nationality, ethnic and national origin), religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation.

As an inclusive and welcoming workplace, we value people for their skills regardless of their background. Applications are welcome in Welsh and will not be treated less favourably than those submitted in English.

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