The Department of Electronics, Detectors and Computing for Physics (DEDIP) of IRFU, CEA-Saclay invites applications for 

A three-year post-doctoral position (P2 experiment at MESA in Mainz, Germany) 

The P2 experiment at the MESA accelerator is a parity-violating electron scattering experiment, which aims for a world-leading determination of the weak mixing angle. The experiment exploits a 155 MeV, high-intensity electron beam impinging hydrogen, carbon and lead targets. In this context, the P2 group at DPhP is responsible for the Basket detector, an ultra-thin, ultra-fast tracker for electrons scattered in the backward direction. The detector relies on the Micromegas technology, and is read out by front-end electronics cards based on the VMM3a ASIC, widely used in experiments exploiting gaseous detectors. The experiment is under design and construction, and will enter the commissioning phase by 2026. 

One of the main challenges of Basket is to ensure efficient data taking, and electron track reconstruction at a frequency of about 100 MHz. We are looking for a post-doctoral research physicist, with a strong taste in hardware and detector operation, to tackle some of the following challenges: 

The post-doctoral contract is expected to cover the lifetime of the experiment, and the successful candidate will be expected to take part in the analysis of the collected data. Scientific publications will cover the design and performance of the Basket detector and the physics results from its exploitation. The position is based in Saclay, and regular travel to Mainz is expected. 

Applicants are required to have obtained a PhD in the field of experimental particle physics since less than 5 years, and be fluent in English. French and/or German, and familiarity with VMM-based front ends are a plus. Qualified candidates are requested to submit their application, including a curriculum vitae, a brief description of their research experience and interests and two letters of recommendation, to Maxence Vandenbroucke, Irakli Mandjavidze and Maarten Boonekamp by end July, 2024.  

CEA aims at increasing the percentage of women in academic positions and strongly encourages women scientists to apply. CEA is an equal-opportunity employer and welcomes applications from persons with disabilities. 

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