Postdoctoral researcher position (M/F) in instrumentation for particle physics

Job Description

Missions

The LPET-OTech at IJCLab team offers a postdoctoral researcher position in instrumentation for particle physics, specialised in medical applications of PET tomography, based on a new detection paradigm using the LiquidO technology pioneered by CNRS. The IJCLab has led the conception and major contributions to the LPET-OTech project, including the physics and detector system. A dedicated prototype demonstrator detector is located at the University of Sussex, which is the core of the foreseen activities: experimental demonstration of the LPET detection principle in situ, along with detector simulation to ensure performance optimisation can occur after validation against data. LPET-OTech's main activities in 2027-2028 are focused on data-taking, data analysis, and interpretation of the LiquidO-based prototype detector to optimise the system, since γ-ray detection performance is the main goal of that prototype. All activities are developed in close national collaboration among CNRS, INSERM, and UK-based institutions, the University of Sussex (Brighton) and Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (Oxford) through the LPET-OTech and LiquidO collaborations.

Activity

The successful candidate is expected to lead the following activities:
• to take a leading role in the completion and running of the LPET-OTech detector demonstrator based in the UK (University of Sussex).
• to take a leading role in data and physics analyses preparation for high precision γ-Compton reconstruction for PET tomography.
• to take an active role in the optimisation of the scintillator systems being constructed in collaboration with the IST (Lisbon, Portugal).
• to actively participate and motivate publications, including the write-up.
• to take the initiative for other possible physics cases and/or techniques for the ultimate control of the systematics in the data analysis of the prototype detector (LiquidO).
• to take an active role in supervising possible PhD and undergraduate students, whenever available.
• to take an active role in the LPET-OTech collaboration.
• to be based most of the time (long-term mission) close to the prototype detector at the University of Sussex.

Your Profil

Skills

• A PhD in particle or medical physics — priority will be given to strong profiles in instrumentation and data analysis, including specialised experts.
• Proficiency in modern HEP techniques for data analysis (ROOT, Geant4, etc.) and instrumentation are essential and will be prioritised.
• English is critical, and possibly some French proficiency — international teams and context are daily.
• International collaboration, communication, and management.
• Problem-solving skills and critical judgement.
• Teamwork spirit, and experience.
• Ability to work and think independently, including organisational skills for the entire team.

Your Work Environment

The Irène Joliot-Curie Physics Laboratory of 2 Infinities (IJCLab) is a UMR under the supervision of the CNRS (IN2P3), the University of Paris-Saclay, and the University of Paris, and is located on the campus of the University of Paris-Saclay in Orsay. The laboratory is located in Orsay on the campus of the Université Paris-Saclay (ranked among the top universities in France, Europe, and the world). The campus is located 20 km south of Paris and accessible by RER in 35 minutes.

The staff is made up of nearly 600 permanent staff members, including engineers, technicians, administrators, researchers, and teacher-researchers. Approximately 200 non-permanent students, including 120 doctoral students, are on campus on average. The research themes of the laboratory are nuclear physics, high-energy physics, theoretical physics, astroparticle physics, astrophysics and cosmology, particle accelerators, energy, the environment, and health. IJCLab has very significant technical capabilities across all the major fields required to design, develop/implement the experimental devices necessary for its scientific activity, as well as to design, develop, and use instruments.

The successful candidate will work within the LPET-OTech team, with renowned expertise in LiquidO technology, leading the corresponding international collaboration. The LPET-OTech project is an ambitious innovation programme in medical PET research. The complete programme foresees the detection of γ-rays from the annihilation of positrons (anti-matter), enabling precise (sub-centimetre) localisation using the rich and novel detection environment of the LiquidO detectors. This programme is expected to provide a key, pioneering demonstration of the possible uses of LiquidO in PET imaging and its feasibility. The proposed research will be carried out within the LPET-OTech and LiquidO international framework, based between the IJCLab and the University of Sussex (close to the detector prototype). The main goal is to provide leading scientific contributions to the LPET-OTech scientific agenda under development and/or to advance novel, pertinent ideas, if possible.

Submit a cover letter and CV without any breaks in date showing diplomas, titles, work and professional experience.

As IJCLab is subject to ZRR (Zone à Régime Restrictif) military regulation, hiring choices must be approved by the Haut Fonctionnaire Securité Défense (HFSD). Therefore, the date of employment written above should be understood as provisional and may need to be delayed.

Constraints and risks

Most of the work will take place in the experimental laboratory, linked to LPET-OTech experimental operations, including detector handling and modifications — the first LiquidO detector of its kind. Work related to the LiquidO LPET-OTech prototype detector is the most important goal: data-taking, data-analysis, data interpretation, and demonstration, as well as the necessary simulations for data validation and understanding.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

From €3,132 gross per month

Annual leave and RTT

44 jours

Remote Working practice and compensation

Pratique et indemnisation du TT

Transport

Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€

About the offer

About the CNRS

The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.

CNRS

The research professions