Your responsibilities

You will join the Accelerator Systems Department (SY), which is responsible for the accelerator beam-related technical systems.
More specifically, you'll work within the AWAKE experiment. With this experiment, advanced proton driven wake field acceleration for future particle physics applications are studied. The second phase of the experimental program, called AWAKE RUN2, requires a new electron injector, capable of producing very short bunches and excellent beam quality. The design is based on an S-band RF-photo injector combined with x-band acceleration and velocity bunching.

In this position, you will: 

- further optimize the baseline design with particular emphasis on performance and  potential cost savings;
- participate in the completion, commissioning with beam as well as its performance demonstration of a reduced prototype of the new electron injector; 
- participate in the operation of the RUN 1 injector installed in the AWAKE experiment.

Your profile

Skills and/or knowledge

• Good knowledge of accelerator physics in particular RF engineering and beam dynamics;
• Experience with numerical simulations (PIC for beam dynamics, FEM for RF devices)
• Basic programming skills for example in C++, Pyton or MatLab
• Hands on experience with accelerator components or operation
• Team working, good communication skills
• Fluent in English, the ability to work in French would be an advantage.

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 fellow or graduate contract before.

Job closing date: 14.08.2023 at 12:00 AM (midnight) CET.

Job reference: SY-RF-MKS-2023-37-GRAP

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

Target start date: 01-October-2023

This position requires:

• Work in Radiation Areas.
• Interventions in underground installations.
• A valid driving licence.

What we offer

• A monthly stipend ranging between 6194 and 6808 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.