Postdoc Position: Astroparticle Physics

The most energetic particles in the universe are ultra-high-energy cosmic rays, subatomic particles with measured energies up to 1020 eV. To address major questions about their nature, origin and interaction, the Pierre Auger Observatory, the world’s largest observatory, has been upgraded. You will enhance the performance and analyse the data of the 1600 radio antennas that were recently installed.

The Pierre Auger collaboration at Radboud University (Nijmegen, Netherlands) invites applications for a postdoctoral position in high-energy astroparticle physics.

The Pierre Auger Observatory is the largest detector ever built to study ultra-high-energy cosmic rays. Situated in Malargüe (Argentina), its 3,000 km2 array of detectors has just undergone an upgrade, including the deployment of additional particle detectors as well as antennas measuring the radio-frequency emission from air showers. This will enhance the capabilities of the observatory to determine the nature of the highest-energy particles ever observed and potentially measure with unprecedented precision the interactions caused in the atmosphere.

You will contribute by developing and testing a new analysis technique to reconstruct air shower parameters by applying interferometry on the measured radio signals. To make this work, clock synchronisation will be set up at the Pierre Auger Observatory, and the locations of detectors in the field will be accurately surveyed. You will be expected to take a leading role in these efforts. You will use the improved data to study the physics of air showers. You will be supported by and build on our group’s strong expertise in signal reconstruction and data analysis for radio detectors. Teaching is not required, but there is the possibility to participate in teaching and supervising activities.

Requirements:

• You have a PhD in the field of astroparticle physics.
• You have an MSc in physics/astronomy, with good results.
• You have a good command of English.
• You have experience in data analysis and scientific computing.

Salary Benefits:

• We will give you a temporary employment contract of 2 years.
• Your salary within salary scale 10 depends on your previous education and number of years of (relevant) work experience. The amounts in the scale are based on a 38-hour working week.
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus.
• You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20.

Work and science require good employment practices. This is reflected in Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions. You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself, for example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports subscription. And of course, we offer a good pension plan. You are given plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.

30.4 - 38 hours per week

Houtlaan 4