Postdoctoral researcher in neutron detection

The European Spallation Source, ESS, a partnership of European countries, is hiring motivated and inspired people to plan, design, and construct the world’s most powerful neutron source. We seek ambitious, talented people in different fields who are excited about playing a part in the future of science in Europe.

Come and change the world with us!

ESS invites applications for a postdoctoral researcher position via the CREMLINPlus grant, at the ESS Detector facilities in Lund, from 1st of February 2022 and until January 2024 (2 years).

Job description
The successful candidate will be participating in the Multi-Blade detector technology project, led by Dr. Francesco Piscitelli. The primary focus of the work will be the successful completion of building a neutron detector for the PIK reactor in St. Petersburg, as part of the CREMLINPlus grant. The candidate will work closely with a team of various Mechanical Engineers and with other Detector Scientists and Technicians. This work is part of a collaboration with JINR- Dubna, PIK- St. Petersburg in Russia and the University of Milano-Bicocca - Italy. The work will be shared mostly between the ESS offices and the Detector Group workshops in Lund as required. You might also be given the opportunity to visit other collaborating partners and neutron centers, as necessary, in particular time may be spent at the different partner institutes. Mobility will be subject to the status of the pandemic and the employer’s respective guidelines.

You will have varied, wide ranging responsibilities and duties that will include:


• Contribute to the scientific development of the coming Multi-Blade prototypes.
• Contribute to the proposals for the mechanical engineering solutions.
• Contribute to the assembly and building of the detector prototypes at the workshops.
• Participate in the procurement of parts.
• Testing and verifying detector prototypes.
• Monte Carlo simulations of detector and related instrument models.
• Production, installation and commissioning of the detector.

This is an opportunity to acquire and develop skills and be involved in the creation of a world-class facility. We are working with world leading partners to achieve something very special, to contribute to becoming a leading research facility.  

Qualifications:
We are looking for a self-motivated person, capable to work as part of a team and confident to expose and contribute with your own ideas. In particular, we are seeking knowledge, skills and competence on the following:


• PhD degree in physics or similar, ideally in neutron instrumentation.
• Expert with particle detection, ideally of thermal neutrons.
• Experience with preparing experimental setups for detector performance evaluation.
• Data analysis and coding experience with python and C/C++, as well as code repositories.
• Knowledge in neutron scattering is an asset.
• Experience with operation and debugging of detector readout electronics and data acquisition systems.
• Competence with standard Monte Carlo tools of the field, e.g. Geant4, is an advantage.
• Experience with Linux operating systems (operation, installation).

Other requirements:


• A precise person, attentive to detail, striving for the upmost quality, always looking to refine methods and techniques to improve the deliverable.
• Able to multi-task and to work to deadlines.
• Able to adapt to new challenges and to develop novel solutions.
• Proven self-motivation and initiative.
• Be a positive team player and work comfortably with different interfaces and stakeholders.
• Experience of working in an international research environment.
• Ability to travel when required for the project, when restrictions caused by the pandemic are no longer an issue.
• Excellent oral and written English skills are a prerequisite; knowledge of other European languages would be an advantage.

As a person, you must be a good listener and creative. You must be flexible in your approach to work and prepared to tackle a very wide range of tasks in order to ensure successful and timely delivery. You must be a hands-on person, strongly motivated by the desire to widen your knowledge on neutron detectors and deliver on time detector demonstrators. You must fit into our culture and share our values.

Duration & Location
This is a temporary full time 2-year position ending in January 2024 and based in Lund, Sweden

Start date
The position is to be filled as soon as possible.

Application & Contact

Please provide your curriculum vitae in English by clicking on “apply” and follow the instructions. 

Please note that we only accept applications via the ESS website.

For some roles at ESS health check-ups and security clearance are required, and thus this might be applicable in the final parts of the recruitment process. The applicant is expected to be fit to perform the applicable tasks of this recruitment. 

The deadline for applications is 14 November 2021. 

Kindly note that due to the summer period the recruitment period will be extended, but we will review applications ongoing and therefore recommend that you submit your application at your earliest convenience.

For further information regarding the position, please contact the Recruiting Manager, Kalliopi Kanaki, Detector Systems Design Section Leader, Kalliopi.Kanaki(at)ess.eu.

For further information regarding the recruitment process, please contact HR Officer, Karin Vandenborre, karin.vandenborre[at]ess.eu.

For trade union information please contact Unionen / Conny Wendt at conny.wendt[at]ess.eu

or SACO / Swedish Association of Graduate Engineers/ Johan Waldeck at johan.waldeck[at]ess.eu


We look forward to receiving your application!