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Nuclear Physics Institute of the CAS announces a vacancy for the position of

Postdoctoral Fellow in the Laboratory of Nanomaterials

Job description:

We announce that a new postdoctoral position is open to complement the Laboratory of Nanomaterials (Group of Materials Research with Neutron and Ion Beams - MRNIB) dedicated to the study of new materials with neutron and ion beams. The main projects on which the group is currently working include the synthesis of binary and ternary composites (MAX phases and MXenes), thin layers of hybrid materials (with fullerenes and transition metals), thin all-solid-state lithium ion batteries (ASSLIB), heterogeneous sensors of hazardous gases, and biosensors based on etched ion tracks in thin polymers. The group is also involved in the fundamental study of exotic nuclear reactions, and diffusion, and concentration/depth diagnostics of elements in complex material systems. Finally, the group is also dedicated to development of new deposition, irradiation and nuclear analytical methods.

We will require that the newly admitted member fully participates in all group activities and demonstrates appropriate ability, erudition and independence in solving the tasks set in the group. The group is involved in grant projects, so it is assumed that the new member will also be assigned important tasks in any new grants.

Laboratory of the group:

The laboratory of the MRNIB group is equipped with low-energy ion facilities (Duoplasmatron and LEIF), which currently provide ion beams with an energy of up to 35 keV, and which are used for material deposition (using an ion sputtering technique) and its controlled modification (by high-frequency ion beam bombardment). The deposition of nanostructures (epitaxial films and nanocrystals) is carried out on the new Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) system, the synthesis of hybrid composites on an upgraded Univex device. Analysis of the sample morphology is performed on an atomic force microscope (AFM) equipped with a vacuum kit, external magnets and annealing cells. In cooperation with the Laboratory of Tandetron, an ion beam analysis (IBA mathods, concentration and depth profiling of elements) of the samples and their modification (by implantation or irradiation) using MeV-energy ions can be carried out.  The group also has at its disposal several analytical methods (NDP, PGAA, neutron radiography) on a thermal neutron beam filtered by a neutron-guide installed on a horizontal channel of the LVR15 reactor (operated by the CV Rez). Vacuum furnaces, electrochemical stations, evaporators, etc., are additional auxiliary equipment used to perform treatments and further examination of the samples.

Institute:

Nuclear Physics Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, p. r. i., (NPI). NPI is one of 54 public research institutions of the Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS). With its approximately 260 employees (including about 100 scientists (Ph.D.) and about 40 Ph.D. students) it is the largest Czech institution in the field of nuclear physics. The NPI has long-standing experience and achieves internationally recognised results in research oriented towards the environment, health and energy security, in environmental science, medicine, radiopharmacy, materials research, which are based on instrumental and technological competences in accelerator technology and nuclear analytical methods. The activities of the NPI are strongly oriented towards participation in current and large international collaborations. The collaboration with ALICE@CERN, STAR@BNL and HADES/CBM@GSI/FAIR is focused on the study of hot and dense nuclear matter produced by heavy ion collisions. The KATRIN project focuses on increasing the sensitivity of neutrino mass determination. ESS is a pan-European spallation neutron source under construction. In GANIL/SPIRAL2, the NPI groups are involved in studies of nuclei far from the stability line and deal with the preparation of equipment for oriented research with neutrons.  Czech involvement in international cooperation is supported by the role of the NPI as a recipient of the large research infrastructures (RI) ESS-Scandinavia-CZ, FAIR-CZ and SPIRAL2-CZ and RI partner BNL-CZ and CERN-CZ included in the Roadmap of large infrastructures for research, experimental development and innovation of the Czech Republic 2016 – 2022 (RLIR). Newly, NPI is involved in the consortium of the most important European ion, neutron and electron beam centers in Europe for the circular economy with a strong emphasis on usable application outputs and cooperation with industrial partners (HORIZON ReMade ARI 101058414). CANAM - The Center for Accelerators and Nuclear Analytical Methods, which connects the large experimental facilities of the NPI in a synergistic network, is a center for researching tasks in a wide range of scientific fields using beams of accelerated ions on cyclotron accelerators U-120M and TR-24, electrostatic accelerators Tandetron 4130 MC and the MILEA accelerator mass spectrometer. Also included are neutron beams - devices installed on the neutron channels of the LVR-15 research reactor and fast neutrons from production targets on cyclotrons. The MT25 microtron, a cyclic photon beam electron accelerator, is also in operation.

Job requirements:

• Academic record. Ph.D. degree in a field related to the proposed position.
• High-quality results published in leading scientific journals.
• Good experience with experimental methods related to the fields of materials science, nuclear physics or solid-state physics.
• High motivation to work in the MRNIB group, especially in the field of research, where the applicant can contribute with experience and qualifications.
• Excellent knowledge in English (verbal and written). If English is not the first language, an English certificate may be required.
• Necessary: good communication and organization skills, and good ability to work in a team.
• Advantage: experience in obtaining a research support from national and international funding bodies or industry.

Conditions of employment:

• A meaningful work in a dynamic and ambitious research institute, in an interdisciplinary environment and within an international network.
• Reduced working hours (36 hours/week at 100% full-time).
• Five weeks of vacation + one additional week of vacation.
• Allowance for catering - meal vouchers + canteen directly on the premises of the institute.
• Contribution from the cultural and social needs fund (recreation, camps, theatre, glasses, etc.).
• Education, language courses.
• Friendly and pleasant team.
• Possibility to park in a closed and guarded area.
• Possibility to apply for an apartment of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic.
• Experienced colleagues who will help with learning in the beginning.

Information and application

Candidates are encouraged to contact us before they apply to get more information about the position.
Please contact Dr. Jiří Vacík (vacik@ujf.cas.cz).

How to apply:

If you are interested in the postdoc position in the MRNIB group of the NPI and you would like to apply, we invite you to submit a complete application by using the 'apply now'-button on this page.

Your application must contain the following documents:

• A cover letter explaining your motivation and suitability for the position.
• A detailed CV including a full list of publications and achievements. Please also select 5 publications of specific importance and briefly describe their impact.
• A research statement of 2-3 pages.

• Contact details of three referees. The referees will not be contacted unless you are shortlisted and invited for an interview.

Nuclear Physics Institute of the CAS announces a vacancy for the position of

Senior Scientist in Laboratory of Tandetron, Department of Neutron Physics 

We have an open position for someone to complement our existing group dealing with ion beam modification and synthesis of nano and microstructured materials, radiation defect evolution study in 2D materials and other materials, radiation hardness testing and modification of nuclear materials in general by energetic ion beams, ion beam technology and instrumentation for ion beam analytical methods, ion beam elemental tomography etc. We are looking for independent senior scientist which will strengthen our team in the newly funded project devoted to multiscale materials and their development, synthesis by energetic ion beams for bioapplication, sensorics, optics and electronics.

Our Laboratory of Tandetron (LT)

The medium-current (MC) version Tandetron with a maximum terminal voltage of 3MV is used for the production of ion beams with energies in the range from 600 keV to about 30 MeV. Ions typically from H⁺ up to Auⁿ⁺ are available for ion-beam analysis and ion implantation depending on the ion-charge state. The LT is equipped with Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS), RBS-channelling, elastic recoil detection analysis (ERDA), ERDA with a time-off light (TOF) spectrometer, particle-induced emission of X-rays (PIXE), PIXE-channelling, particle-induced γ-ray emission (PIGE). High-energy ion-beam implantation/irradiation end stages and ion-microprobe lithography are employed for the nano- and microstructure synthesis and modification of materials to obtain new functional properties. An ion-microbeam system equipped with a newly designed bigger chamber with a detector array is used for 3D elemental mapping using PIXE, PIGE, RBS; for single ion-beam irradiation; for structural studies of internal morphology via scanning transmission ion microscopy (STIM) analysis and ion lithography with medium heavy ions. Moreover, the LT is equipped with a small deposition and complementary analytical laboratory including layer deposition techniques (CVD, a two-magnetron sputtering system for various coating depositions, a laser source for the irradiation, ablation and microstructuring of the solid phase, spin coating for polymer nanocomposite deposition) and analytical methods (optical ellipsometry, optical analysis in the UV–Vis–NIR wavelength range).

The above described instrumentation portfolio is used among others in synthesis and characterisation of the nanostructures for optics, spintronics and photonics by means ion beams at Tandetron accelerator. The main research directions of the Laboratory of Tandetron (LT) include the preparation and characterisation of micro- and nanostructured materials, which are of interest for basic and oriented research in material, environmental and biomedical sciences. Ion-beam analytical (IBA) methods are employed in the investigation of materials coming from material research, industry, micro- and nanotechnology, electronics, optics and laser technology, and in chemical, biological and environmental investigation in general. We thoroughly improve the instrumentation of the LT to make it competitive in the European scientific space and to enlarge the portfolio of our ion-beam instruments. We have a very fruitful collaboration with several excellent ion-beam centres in Europe (Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Germany; Ion-Beam Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, ATOMKI, Hungary, etc., Brookhaven National Laboratory, USA etc.). The LT is closely connected to other ion-beam centres in Europe, mainly to the RADIATE consortium, unifying the most important ion-beam centres in Europe.

Institute

Nuclear Physics Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, p. r. i., (NPI) is one of 54 public research institutions of the Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS). With its approximately 260 employees (including about 100 scientists (Ph.D.) and about 40 Ph.D. students) it is the largest Czech institution in the field of nuclear physics. The NPI has long-standing experience and achieves internationally recognised results in research oriented towards the environment, health and energy security, in environmental science, medicine, radiopharmacy, materials research, which are based on instrumental and technological competences in accelerator technology and nuclear analytical methods. The activities of the NPI are strongly oriented towards participation in current and large international collaborations. The collaboration with ALICE@CERN, STAR@BNL and HADES/CBM@GSI/FAIR is focused on the study of hot and dense nuclear matter produced by heavy ion collisions. The KATRIN project focuses on increasing the sensitivity of neutrino mass determination. ESS is a pan-European spallation neutron source under construction. In GANIL/SPIRAL2, the NPI groups are involved in studies of nuclei far from the stability line and deal with the preparation of equipment for oriented research with neutrons.  Czech involvement in international cooperation is supported by the role of the NPI as a recipient of the large research infrastructures (RI) ESS-Scandinavia-CZ, FAIR-CZ and SPIRAL2-CZ and RI partner BNL-CZ and CERN-CZ included in the Roadmap of large infrastructures for research, experimental development and innovation of the Czech Republic 2016 – 2022 (RLIR). Newly, NPI is involved in the consortium of the most important European ion, neutron and electron beam centers in Europe for the circular economy with a strong emphasis on usable application outputs and cooperation with industrial partners (HORIZON ReMade ARI 101058414). CANAM - The Center for Accelerators and Nuclear Analytical Methods, which connects the large experimental facilities of the NPI in a synergistic network, is a center for researching tasks in a wide range of scientific fields using beams of accelerated ions on cyclotron accelerators U-120M and TR-24, electrostatic accelerators Tandetron 4130 MC and the MILEA accelerator mass spectrometer. Also included are neutron beams - devices installed on the neutron channels of the LVR-15 research reactor and fast neutrons from production targets on cyclotrons. The MT25 microtron, a cyclic photon beam electron accelerator, is also in operation.

Job requirements

• A Ph.D. degree in a relevant topic with high quality research output in the leading scientific journals and conferences.
• A track record working with state-of-the-art technologies in ion beam technology, nuclear physics and/or solid state physics, material science and the clear ambition to develop oneself in a direction of synergy between material science and energetic ion beam physics.
• A clear and ambitious research vision.
• Applications from candidates with a track-record and vision for ion beam physics and applications will be particularly welcome.
• Effective communication and organization skills.
• Strong cooperation skills and the ability to work in teams.
• An ambition and ability to lead students and or assist in their theses preparation is highly welcome.
• Experience in acquiring external research funding from (inter-)national funding bodies or industry is an asset.
• Excellent proficiency (written and verbal) in English.

Conditions of employment

• A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious research institute, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network.
• Reduced working hours (36 hours/week - at 100% full-time).
• Five weeks of vacation + one week of additional vacation.
• Allowance for catering - meal vouchers + canteen directly in the area of institute.
• Contribution from the cultural and social needs fund (recreation, camps, theatre, glasses, etc.)
• Education, language courses.
• Friendly and pleasant team.
• Possibility to park in a closed and guarded area.
• Possibility to apply for an apartment of the Czech Academy of Sciences.
• Experienced colleagues who will help with learning in the beginning.

Information and application

Candidates are encouraged to contact us before they apply to get more information about the position.
Please contact Prof. Anna Mackova (mackova@ujf.cas.cz).

How to apply

If you are interested in the position of senior scientist in LT group of NPI and you would like to apply, we invite you to submit a complete application by using e-mail above.

Your application must contain the following documents:

• A cover letter explaining your motivation and suitability for the position.
• A detailed CV including a full list of publications and achievements. Please also select 5 publications of specific importance and briefly describe their impact.
• A research statement of 2-3 pages.
• The contact information of three referees. These will not be contacted unless you are shortlisted and invited for an interview.

Nuclear Physics Institute of the CAS announces a vacancy for the position of

Postdoctoral Fellow in the ALICE experiment

We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher to join the Ultrarelativistic Heavy Ion Group that investigates the properties of hot and dense nuclear matter, the quark-gluon plasma (QGP). The research is being conducted as a part of our participation in the ALICE experiment at CERN and the STAR experiment at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL). In addition, the group is participating in the upgrade project of the ALICE Inner Tracking System detector and future ALICE3 experiment at CERN.

Job description:

• Analysis of experimental data from the ALICE experiment, focusing on properties of hard probes (jets, heavy quarks or quarkonia)
• Participation in the data collection of the ALICE experiment at CERN
• Participation in the upgrade project of the ALICE Inner Tracking System and preparation of the future ALICE3 detector (radiation hardness tests,  simulations, software development)
• Preparation of scientific publications and presentations at international conferences
• Preparation of grant applications

Requirements:

• Completed PhD study in particle or nuclear physics (not older than five years)
• Knowledge of C++, Python, ROOT, or machine learning methods
• Experience with silicon detectors is welcome
• Very good knowledge of English
• Ability to work in an international team

We offer:

• Principal employment with 100% time for a fixed term (1 year) with the prospect of a further extension of 2 years
• Stability of a public research institution
• Part-time working hours (36 hours/week)
• Five weeks of holiday + one week additional leave
• Possibility to apply for an apartment of the Czech Academy of Sciences
• Pleasant working environment

Interested applicants are required to send the following documents: motivation letter, CV, list of publications, and three letters of recommendation to the email address below by 1 September 2023. The position will remain open until the position is filled.

Contact person: Filip Křížek, Ph.D., krizek@ujf.cas.cz

Nuclear Physics Institute of the CAS announces a vacancy for the position of

Postdoctoral Fellow in the STAR experiment and the ePIC experiment at BNL (USA)

We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher to join the Ultrarelativistic Heavy Ion Group that investigates the properties of hot and dense nuclear matter, the quark-gluon plasma (QGP). The research is being conducted as a part of our participation in the STAR experiment at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) and the ALICE experiment at CERN. In addition, the group is currently expanding its focus on the new ePIC experiment, which is being prepared for the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) at BNL.

Job description:

• Analysis of experimental data from the STAR experiment, focusing on properties of hard probes (jets, heavy quarks or quarkonia)
• Participation in the data collection of the STAR experiment at BNL
• Preparation of the ePIC experiment at the EIC (simulations, software preparation, or collaboration on the development of luminosity measurements and instrumentation for electron tagging with the ePIC experiment team at the Czech Technical University in Prague)
• Preparation of scientific publications and presentations at international conferences
• Preparation of grant applications

Requirements:

• Completed PhD study in particle or nuclear physics (not older than five years)
• Knowledge of C++, Python, ROOT, or machine learning methods
• Experience in detector development (scintillation detectors and SiPM technology, readout and control electronics) is welcome
• Very good knowledge of English
• Ability to work in an international team

We offer:

• Principal employment with 100% time for a fixed term (1 year) with the prospect of a further extension of 2 years
• Stability of a public research institution
• Part-time working hours (36 hours/week)
• Five weeks of holiday + one week additional leave
• Possibility to apply for an apartment of the Czech Academy of Sciences
• Pleasant working environment

Interested applicants are required to send the following documents: motivation letter, CV, list of publications, and three letters of recommendation to the email address below by 1 September 2023. The position will remain open until the position is filled.

Contact person: Assoc. Prof. Jana Bielčíková, Ph.D., bielcikova@ujf.cas.cz