The Research Institute in Mathematics and Physics (IRMP) at the Universite’ catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain) in Louvain-la-Neuve (Belgium) is searching for an outstanding research scientist to start a research program in instrumentation for gravitational wave experiments. The position is permanent from day one and is open to candidates of any nationality.
The IRMP institute hosts, among others, research on fundamental interactions and cosmology equally strongly on the experimental and theoretical fronts. More than 100 physicists and mathematicians from all over the world currently work at the IRMP. Physicists of the IRMP have strong involvements in particle physics experiments, notably CMS and NA62 at the CERN international laboratory. They have recently joined the Virgo Collaboration at the European Gravitational Observatory (EGO) and are launching a new research program in gravitational wave physics which includes important contributions to the Virgo computing and detection systems. The group will also participate in the construction of a research and development facility, funded by the EU through its Interreg Europe programme, aimed to prepare the construction of the Einstein Telescope project.
In the short term, the selected candidate is mostly expected to take a leading role in current and future upgrade projects of the Virgo interferometer and to the activities related to the design and construction of the Einstein Telescope. In the longer term, (s)he will have the possibility to contribute more importantly also to the other instrumentation R&D activities at the institute, like experimental projects in particle physics.
The selected candidate will be integrated locally within a group composed of academic staff, postdoctoral researchers, PhD students and technicians. (S)he will benefit from the availability of electronics and optics laboratories as well as a drawing office, clean rooms and a large computing cluster. The selected candidate is expected to collaborate with Belgian and international partners and participate in the dissemination of scientific results.
Required qualifications:
– PhD degree in physics or engineering;
– Minimum 2 years of postdoctoral scientific experience;
– Wide experience in the development and use of electronic, optoelectronic and/or optical devices, including the associated controls, proven among others by authorship of scientific publications/presentations in the domain;
– Experience in project writing/submission and management/reporting;
– Very good knowledge of English;
– Team player with excellent communication skills;
– Readiness to travel abroad for extended periods.
Additional assets:
– Experience in laser interferometer gravitational wave experiments.
– Good knowledge of French. Otherwise, the selected candidate will be asked to acquire this skill within three years after taking office.
For more information, please contact :
Prof. Giacomo Bruno : giacomo.bruno[AT]uclouvain.be ; tel: +32 (0)10 473215
To whom at least two letters of recommendation should be sent by email.
Applications should be submitted online at the accompanying URL