Research Associate/ECA

The expected hiring range for this position is:

$69,800.00-$100,133.00.

Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such the scope and responsibilities of the position, qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs.

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (known as Fermilab) seeks highly qualified candidates for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position in the Physics Simulation Department of the Computational Science and Artificial Intelligence Directorate. The selected candidate will pursue foundational work to develop and lead a broad low-energy science program in DUNE and other neutrino experiments, including measurements of MeV-scale astrophysical neutrinos and searches for a variety of phenomena beyond the Standard Model. Software development in C++ will be a major job responsibility, with the goal to deliver improvements to the physics models and technical capabilities of the MARLEY neutrino event generator. Analysis of data from liquid argon time projection chambers will be the other primary focus of the role, with initial work on cross-section measurements in the Short-Baseline Neutrino program experiments (SBND, MicroBooNE, and ICARUS) transitioning to related low-energy analyses in the DUNE far detector.

The initial appointment will be for a period of up to three (3) years, with the potential for extension considered on a yearly basis thereafter, and subject to continued funding.

Essential Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in particle physics, nuclear physics, or another relevant subject by the time of the appointment. Candidates with experimental, theoretical, and/or computational backgrounds will be considered.
• Programming experience in C++
• Demonstrated experience in scientific research and computing
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work collaboratively on a team with varied strengths

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with neutrino data analysis, MeV-scale nuclear reactions, nuclear data evaluation, and/or uncertainty quantification techniques
•  Experience in developing physics event generators and/or other Monte Carlo simulation codes
• Experience with collaborative software development tools (e.g., Git)
• Interest in mentoring junior scientists

Application Instructions

Interested candidates should submit the following documents via Academic Jobs Online: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/31223

• Curriculum Vitae including a list of selected publications
• Research Statement
• Programming Experience Statement: In no more than one page, please describe your familiarity and experience with computer programming in general and the C++ language in particular. This may include programming experience unrelated to academic research. Candidates are encouraged to optionally provide hyperlinks in the statement to one or two samples of their prior programming work that are accessible online (e.g., in a code repository hosted by GitHub).
• Three Reference Letters (to be submitted by the reference writers at the AJO site).

For general information about this position, please contact Steven Gardiner at gardiner@fnal.gov.

Benefits/Perks:

Fermilab offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits program, including:

• Medical, Dental, Vision and Flexible Spending Accounts
• Paid time off
• Life insurance
• Short and Long-term disability insurance
• Retirement benefits
• Onsite day care

Why Fermilab: 
Fermilab is America’s premier laboratory for particle physics and accelerator research, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. We support discovery science experiments in Illinois and locations around the world, including deep underground mines in South Dakota and Canada, mountaintops in Arizona and Chile, CERN in Europe and the South Pole.

Drug-Free Workplace & Pre-Employment Screening  

Fermilab is dedicated to fostering a safe, productive, and drug-free work environment. As part of the hiring process, candidates must successfully complete a background check and drug screening. Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of these screenings.

Equal Opportunity Statement   

Fermilab is an equal opportunity employer.  We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, and other legally protected categories.

REAL-ID Requirement for access to Fermilab Campus
Fermilab requires all members of the public to produce a REAL-ID, or equivalent, to access the Fermilab Campus for interviews or career events. A list of acceptable forms of ID can be found here: https://get-connected.fnal.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/REALID-Documents.pdf. If a candidate is selected for an interview but does not possess any of the equivalent documents, we may schedule a virtual interview. 

What To Expect Next:
We’ll be in touch! If your qualifications are in alignment with the position requirements, one of our recruiters will be reaching out to schedule a phone interview to learn more about your career interests and goals. In the meantime, we encourage you to check us out on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, or our About Us page.