JOB DESCRIPTION

CERN Position: Applied Physicist in TPC Calibration (EP-AIP-2025-198-GRAP)

Location: Geneva, ch

Job Description:

Join the ALICE experiment team at the Large Hadron Collider to contribute to cutting-edge research on Quark-Gluon Plasma and high-rate heavy-ion collisions. We are seeking an applied Physicist with strong expertise in Time Projection Chamber (TPC) calibration to support the optimisation, correction procedures, and data-quality workflows of the upgraded ALICE TPC.

Your responsibilities

• Tools and procedures for extraction of calibration data.
• Online calibration procedures.
• R&D on GPU support for calibration tasks.
• Extension and modification of existing methods for calibration of space charge distortions.
• Adaptation of existing procedures to automatic calibration workflows.
• Design and development of new calibration methods, such as usage of Machine – Learning and Artificial Intelligence.
• Improvement of performance and scalability of the TPC calibration.
• Automatisation and monitoring of the calibration Quality Assurance.

Your profile

• Knowledge in time projection chambers: physics and calibration.
• Experience in quality assurance of detector calibration and reconstruction.
• Background in software design and development.
• Familiarity with the use of collaborative tools.

Skills:

• Knowledge of modern C++.
• Quality control and testing.
• Git, CMake.
• Use of HEP data analysis tools.
• Spoken and written English, with a commitment to learn French.

Eligibility criteria:

• You are a national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State.
• You have a professional background in MSc or PhD in physics (or a related field) and have either:
  • a Master”s degree with 2 to 6 years of post-graduation professional experience;
  • or a PhD with no more than 3 years of post-graduation professional experience.
• You have never had a CERN fellow or graduate contract before.

Additional Information:

Job closing date: 11.12.2025 at 23:59 CET.

Contract duration: 24 months, with a possible extension up to 36 months maximum.

Working hours: 40 hours per week

Job flexibility: Hybrid

Target start date: 01-February-2026

This position involves:

• Participation in a regular stand-by duty, including nights, Sundays and official holidays.

Job reference: EP-AIP-2025-198-GRAP

Field of work: Applied Physics

Benchmark job: 200140 – Applied Physicist

What we offer

• A monthly stipend ranging between 6287 and 6911 Swiss Francs per month (net of tax).
• Coverage by CERN”s comprehensive health scheme (for yourself, your spouse and children), and membership of the CERN Pension Fund.
• Depending on your individual circumstances: installation grant; family, child and infant allowances; payment of travel expenses at the beginning and end of contract.
• 30 days of paid leave per year.
• On-the-job and formal training at CERN as well as in-house language courses for English and/or French.

About us

At CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, physicists and engineers are probing the fundamental structure of the universe. Using the world”s largest and most complex scientific instruments, they study the basic constituents of matter – fundamental particles that are made to collide together at close to the speed of light. The process gives physicists clues about how particles interact, and provides insights into the fundamental laws of nature. Find out more on http://home.cern.

We are on a Quest. A Journey into discovery like no other. Bring your expertise to our unique work and develop your knowledge and skills at pace. Join world-class subject matter experts on unique projects, in a Quest for greater knowledge and deeper understanding.

Begin your CERN Quest. Take Part!

Diversity has been an integral part of CERN”s mission since its foundation and is an established value of the Organization. Employing a diverse workforce is central to our success.

Level of Education: Master Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 24