PhD student - Student at Zurich, ETH

The ETH Zurich neutrino group seeks an outstanding PhD student to play an important role in the worldwide development of liquid argon detectors for future discoveries in particle and astroparticle physics. The group is a founding member of the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) that is planned to be constructed at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in South Dakota. A critical element of the DUNE programme is the design and construction of the deep underground far detector with a total fiducial mass of 40 kilotons. The group plays a leading role in the CERN WA105 experiment that develops the dual phase liquid argon time projection chamber for DUNE. WA105 will operate a 20 ton detector in 2016 and has plans to expose a 300 ton detector to charged particle beams at the CERN North Area in 2018. WA105/DUNE will provide the successful candidate a unique opportunity to innovate and directly contribute to forefront detector technologies while performing hadron interactions physics and calorimetric response studies with bubble-chamber-like reconstruction in the high-statistics test beam environment. More information about the group can be found at http://neutrino.ethz.ch.

Offer

The position is available immediately and is offered for a minimum of 3 years and up to 4 years. The successful candidate will be employed by ETH Zurich, supported by a grant of the Swiss National Science Foundation. The position foresees extended stays at CERN, Geneva. The salary is very competitive. The doctoral educational programme at ETH Zurich offers the specialised courses as well as frequent series of lectures on advanced topics. 

Information and Application

ETH Zurich regularly features in international rankings as one of the best universities in the world and the leading university in continental Europe. Candidates must have a Master’s in physics from a recognised University or an equivalent degree. All qualified applicants are encouraged to send their CV, a copy of their latest course credits with the obtained examination results, and a short statement of interest to Prof. Dr. André Rubbia at rubbia@phys.ethz.ch. Non-Swiss residents should in addition send at least two letters of recommendation. For foreigners from countries outside the EU, the application is subject to approval from the immigration authorities. The process can last up to three months. More information about graduate studies at ETHZ is available at http://www.ethz.ch/en/doctorate.html