Applied Physicist - Collimation Studies for HL-LHC (BE-ABP-NDC-2025-125-GRAP)

Job Description Your responsibilities

As an Applied Physicist, you will join the Non-Linear Dynamics and Collimation Section within the Accelerator and Beam Physics Group (ABP) under the Beams Department (BE), where you will work on advanced studies for beam collimation and halo characterization.

Starting in 2030, the High-Luminosity LHC project aims to significantly enhance the performance of the LHC, increasing its

potential for groundbreaking discoveries. A proper understanding and characterization of the beam halo dynamics and the beam collimation mechanisms are essential for ensuring the safe and efficient operation of the High-Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC), particularly given the challenging beam parameters compared to the current LHC.

In this position, you will:

• Analyse scraping measurements from LHC Runs 2 and 3 to evaluate the transverse halo content and achieve a more refined understanding of the beam halo.
  
• Take responsibility for the execution and analysis of various relevant beam measurements in the LHC until the end of Run 3 in 2026.
  
• Make simulations to reproduce the complex halo dynamics, including relevant effects like beam-beam interactions, machine nonlinearities, and optics imperfections.
  
• Contribute to the code development of the simulations.
  
• Predict the collimation performance of beam-halo cleaning at the HL-LHC, using experimental models as input to simulations of regular beam losses and failure cases.
  
• Identify and address potential limitations and issues.
  

Your profile

Skills:

• Knowledge of Accelerator Physics.
  
• Knowledge of Python or other equivalent programming languages.
  
• Knowledge of simulation tools like X-suite, Mad-X, or SixTrack for beam dynamics and collimation processes would be an asset.
  
• Experience with beam measurement and analysis of big datasets would be an asset.
  
• Spoken and written English or French, with a commitment to learn the basics of the other language.
  

Eligibility criteria:

• You are a national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State.
  
• You have a professional background in Applied 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:

30.09.2025 at 23:59 CEST.

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

Working hours: 40 hours per week

Target start date: 01-October-2025

Job reference: BE-ABP-NDC-2025-125-GRAP

Field of work: Applied Physics

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.