Open Positions

There are several PhD and postdoc positions open:

Postdoctoral research position in experimental particle physics (charm physics at LHCb)

The High Energy Physics Laboratory [1] of EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, invites applications for a postdoc position to work on the LHCb experiment at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider. The lab is strongly involved in the LHCb, NA62, SND@LHC,SHiP, DAMPE and HERD experiments, with activities ranging from data analysis to the construction and operation of tracking detectors. It pursues R&D for further LHCb upgrades, and possible new particle physics experiments, space and medical applications.

In 2025, the lab’s LHCb activities will be expanded through an SNSF-funded programme focused on charm physics. The new colleague will join this programme and engage in the data analysis within the LHCb collaboration, with the main focus on the rare radiative decays of the neutral charm meson, and will contribute towards their reconstruction. Depending on the candidate’s interests, participation in the reconstruction-related activities for Run 4 of the LHC, or LHCb Upgrade II, is possible

The position also comprises teaching opportunities at the bachelor’s or master’s level. The successful applicant is expected to collaborate closely in a team with the PI and two PhD students working on the same subject. The position becomes available on September 1st, 2025, but a different starting date is also possible. The appointment is envisioned for 3.5 years, and it is set up as an annually renewed contract. Employment conditions at EPFL are described in detail in [2].

Applicants must hold a PhD degree (or expect to graduate before the start of employment) obtained preferably within the last 3 years, and have a solid experience in experimental particle physics. In particular, experience with data analysis and track reconstruction are an advantage. 

They should send their application in a single pdf file including the following documents in this order: motivation letter, CV, list of publications, and contact information of at least three references, by e-mail to our secretariat, addressing the e-mail to Ms. Corinne Craman, recruiting.lphe@epfl.ch, by April 8th, 2025. In addition, applicants should ask the references to send their letters to the same address by the same deadline. More information can be obtained from Dr. Laurent Dufour (laurent.dufour@cern.ch).

[1] https://www.epfl.ch/labs/lphe/

[2] https://www.epfl.ch/about/working/working-at-epfl/employment-conditions

Application file should be sent by April 8th, 2025, to recruiting.lphe@epfl.ch.

 

PhD student position in experimental particle physics (charm physics at LHCb)

The High Energy Physics Laboratory [1] of EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, invites applications for a PhD student position in experimental particle physics. The successful candidate will join the LHCb collaboration in which our lab is strongly involved. LHCb [2] is a particle-physics experiment running at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider and dedicated to flavour physics.

In 2025, the lab’s LHCb activities will be expanded through an SNSF-funded programme focused on charm physics. The successful candidate will join this programme, and contribute to the measurements of CP-violation in radiative decays of charm mesons with the recently upgraded LHCb detector. Their PhD thesis will focus on the reconstruction of these decays through novel reconstruction techniques of converted photons, and on the physics analysis of the LHC Run 3 dataset.

The position, which also involves teaching responsibilities at the bachelor’s or master’s level, becomes available from September 1, 2025. The selected PhD student will need to enrol in the Physics program (EDPY) of the EPFL doctoral school [3], and the employment runs up to a total of four years. Doctoral school information and employment conditions at EPFL may be consulted online [3-5]. Applicants are expected to hold a master’s degree (or equivalent) in physics at the start of employment. The ideal candidate has a strong motivation for fundamental research, and has received education in Particle Physics. Experience with data analysis, computer programming and/or track reconstruction is an advantage.

Applicants should prepare a motivation letter, CV, scans of the higher-institution grade records, and contact information of three references willing to write a recommendation. The application should be submitted to the EPFL Doctoral Program in Physics (EDPY) following the instructions in [6] by the deadline of April 30, 2025. Please indicate at least particle physics as scientific interests, as well as Laurent Dufour under Potential host laboratories (expected to be available as option in March), or Comment. Note that the letters of recommendation should be submitted by the references by the same deadline following the request they will receive.

More information can be obtained from Dr. Laurent Dufour (laurent.dufour@cern.ch).

[1] https://www.epfl.ch/labs/lphe

[2] https://lhcb-outreach.web.cern.ch

[3] https://www.epfl.ch/education/phd/programs/edpy-physics

[4] https://www.epfl.ch/education/phd/doctoral-studies-structure/doctoral-students-salary

[5] https://www.epfl.ch/about/working/working-at-epfl/employment-conditions

[6] https://www.epfl.ch/education/admission/admission-2/phd-admission-criteria-and-application

 

Postdoctoral Researcher Position in Astroparticle Physics

A 3-year postdoctoral position is available at the High Energy Physics Laboratory (LPHE, [1]) of EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, to work on ongoing and future space-based projects in astroparticle physics.

The LPHE is heavily involved in the LHCb experiment, focusing on data analysis and R&D of the Scintillating Fiber (SciFi) Tracker for future upgrades, as well as the NA62 experiment at CERN. In addition, the laboratory is actively engaged in astroparticle physics, with significant contributions to simulations, data analysis, and the development of advanced detectors for space-based experiments and future astroparticle-physics initiatives.

The new team member will join the DAMPE and HERD international collaborations and lead the development of advanced algorithms for particle identification and reconstruction, including the use of machine-learning techniques. The appointed collaborator is expected to play a key role in the assembly, testing and calibration of the scintillating-fiber tracker of the HERD experiment. The responsibilities also include participation in physics simulations and analyses, through the supervision of PhD students, as well as teaching duties at the Bachelor or Master level. A competitive salary and benefits package [2, 3] are offered. The contract, initially for one year and renewable, will start at the earliest convenient date for the selected researcher, but preferably no later than April 1, 2025. The call will remain open until the position is filled.

Applicants must hold a PhD degree by the start of employment. A solid background in particle physics is essential. Expertise in experimental astroparticle physics, along with proficiency in programming languages such as Python, C++, or similar, is highly beneficial. Experience in detector development is also desirable.

Candidates should submit their application as a single PDF file containing the following documents in this order:

  1. A motivation letter,
  2. A curriculum vitae,
  3. A list of publications,
  4. The names and email addresses of three referees who have agreed to provide reference letters,
  5. A transcript of grades for both the Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.

The application file must be submitted to our secretariat (Ms. Corinne Craman, recruiting.lphe@epfl.ch) by January 6, 2025. Applicants are also required to ensure that their referees send the reference letters to the same address by the same deadline.

For any questions regarding the position, candidates are encouraged to contact Dr. Chiara Perrina (Chiara.Perrina@epfl.ch).

Application file and reference letters should be sent by January 6, 2025, to recruiting.lphe@epfl.ch.

[1] https://www.epfl.ch/labs/lphe/en/laboratory-for-high-energy-physics-lphe/

[2] https://www.epfl.ch/campus/services/human-resources/en/basic-starting-salary-of-doctoral-assistants-and-postdocs/

[3] https://www.epfl.ch/about/working/working-at-epfl/employment-conditions/