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Job description and selection criteria
Job title
Post-doctoral Research Assistant to work on the design of a
temporal profile monitor for ultra-short electron/positron
bunches.
Division
Mathematical, Physical & Life Sciences Division
Department
Department of Physics
Location
Denys Wilkinson Building, Oxford
Grade and salary
Grade 7: £30,434-£37,394 (GB Pounds), per annum
Hours
Full time (37.5 hours per week)
Contract type
18 months Fixed-Term (STFC funded project)
Reporting to
1/ Dr. I. Konoplev, Assoc. Prof. of Accel. Science
2/ Prof. A. Seryi, Director of The John Adams Institute for
Accelerator Science
Vacancy reference
JAI PDRA FResB/UH-FLUX
Additional
information
Closing date: 8 April 2015
Introduction
The University
The University of Oxford is a complex and stimulating organisation, which enjoys an
international reputation as a world-class centre of excellence in research and teaching. It
employs over 10,000 staff and has a student population of over 22,000.
Most staff are directly appointed and managed by one of the University’s 130 departments or
other units within a highly devolved operational structure - this includes over 6,500
‘academic-related’ staff (postgraduate research, computing, senior library, and administrative
staff) and over 2,700 ‘support’ staff (including clerical, library, technical, and manual staff).
There are also over 1,600 academic staff (professors, readers, lecturers), whose
appointments are in the main overseen by a combination of broader divisional and local
faculty board/departmental structures. Academics are generally all also employed by one of
the 38 constituent colleges of the University as well as by the central University itself.
Our annual income in 2012/13 was £1,086.9m. Oxford is one of Europe's most innovative
and entrepreneurial universities: income from external research contracts exceeds £436.8m
p.a., and more than 80 spin-off companies have been created.
For more information please visit http://www.ox.ac.uk/about
Mathematical, Physical & Life Sciences Division
The Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences (MPLS) Division is one of the four academic
divisions of the University of Oxford.
The MPLS Division's 10 departments and 3 interdisciplinary units span the full spectrum of
the mathematical, computational, physical, engineering and life sciences, and undertake
both fundamental research and cutting-edge applied work. Our research addresses major
societal and technological challenges and is increasingly focused on key interdisciplinary
issues. We collaborate closely with colleagues in Oxford across the medical sciences, social
sciences and humanities, and with other universities, research organisations and industrial
partners across the globe in pursuit of innovative research geared to address critical and
fundamental scientific questions.
For more information please visit: http://www.mpls.ox.ac.uk/
Department of Physics
Oxford Physics is one of the largest and most eminent departments in Europe – pursuing
forefront research alongside training the next generation of leaders in Physics.
With an academic staff of almost one hundred our activities range from fundamental
particles to the furthest reaches of the universe to manipulating matter on an atomic scale.
Oxford physicists are probing new ways to harness solar energy, modelling the Earth's
atmosphere to predict the future climate, exploring computation on the quantum scale and
executing calculations that reveal the fundamental structure of space and time.
For more information please visit: http://www2.physics.ox.ac.uk/
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Particle Physics Sub-department
The post-holder will be based in the Particle Physics sub-department, which is one of the six
sub-departments that together make up the Department of Physics; these are Atomic and
Laser Physics, Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics, Condensed Matter Physics,
Particle Physics and Theoretical Physics. Members of all sub-departments take part in
research, teaching and matters such as examinations, discussion of syllabi, lectures and
liaison with undergraduates and postgraduate students.
The Oxford particle physics group is the largest university-based group in the UK, with 30
permanent academics; about 30 temporary academics, fellows and post-docs; 70 graduate
students and 30 support staff. It is housed in the Denys Wilkinson Building with excellent
electronics and mechanical workshops. Our research programme covers experiments at
accelerators as well as in particle astrophysics. We are currently involved in the ATLAS and
LHCb experiments at the LHC in both analysis of current data and preparation for detector
upgrades. Other activities include work on the T2K experiment to measure neutrino
oscillations, the MICE demonstration of muon cooling, the SNO+ experiment to measure
solar neutrinos and search for neutrinoless double beta decay, as well as participation in the
cryoEDM experiment to measure the neutron electric dipole moment, the EDELWEISS dark
matter search and preparations for LUX-ZEPLIN. Research in accelerator physics is carried
out within the John Adams Institute, including projects for future linear colliders, light sources
and laser plasma acceleration, and applications of accelerators to cancer therapy.
John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science
The post-holder will be based in the John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science (Particle
Physics sub-department). John Adams Institute (JAI) for Accelerator Science is a centre of
excellence in the UK for advanced and novel accelerator technology, providing expertise,
research, development and training in accelerator techniques, and promoting advanced
accelerator applications in science and society. JAI includes research teams from the
University of Oxford, Royal Holloway University of London and Imperial College of London.
The research teams are working on next generation linear colliders ILC and CLIC, the
neutrino factory, modern light sources and free electron lasers as well as compact light
sources based on laser plasma acceleration. JAI is part of the Particle Physics subdepartment, which is one of the six sub-departments that together make up the Department
of Physics; these are Atomic and Laser Physics, Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary
Physics, Condensed Matter Physics, Particle Physics and Theoretical Physics. Members of
all sub-departments take part in research, teaching and matters such as examinations,
discussion of syllabi, lectures and liaison with undergraduates and postgraduate students.
Athena Swan Charter
The University of Oxford is a member of the Athena SWAN Charter and holds an institutional
Bronze Athena SWAN award. The Department of Physics holds a departmental Bronze
Athena award in recognition of its efforts to introduce organisational and cultural practices
that promote gender equality in SET and create a better working environment for both men
and women.
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Job description
Research topic
Femtosecond Resolution Bunch Monitor and Advance EM
for particle acceleration
Principal Investigator
/ supervisor
Dr. Ivan Konoplev
Project team
FresB/UH-Flux
Project web site
http://www.adams-institute.ac.uk/
Funding partner
The funds supporting this research project are provided by STFC
UK
Recent publications
See web site http://www.adams-institute.ac.uk/
Technical skills
1/ Knowledge of programing languages and knowledge of
MatLab;
2/ Ability to conduct RF measurements using standard RF
equipment
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Overview of the role
The successful candidate will become a member of the John Adams Institute for Accelerator
Science which is a centre of excellence in the UK for advanced and novel accelerator
technology. The researcher will work with FResB and UH-Flux groups. The teams aim to
develop a single shot Smith-Purcell bunch monitor with femtosecond resolution capability
and study advanced structures for a compact Energy Recovery Linac (ERL). Taking into
account recent progress of the E203 research project at FACET (SLAC), the researcher will
design a novel single shot Smith-Purcell monitor, using analytical and numerical
approaches. The researcher will conduct 3D numerical modelling using PiC and EM codes
such as CST Microwave Studio and VSim. The researcher will be engaged in development
of a new RF laboratory and will conduct tests of RF structures. Knowledge of the Autodesk
Inventor and LabView would be an advantage. It is expected that the researcher will travel to
CERN (EU), DESY (EU) and KEK (Japan) to participate in research associated with the
project. The duration of the trips may exceed 8 weeks per annum.
Teaching duties of up to three hours per week during University term may be required.
Responsibilities/duties
The researcher will be responsible for:
1/ development of single shot SP Bunch Monitor (SP BM) concept including coherent EM
radiation generation analysis using numerical and analytical tools;
2/ research and optimisation of the SP BM components;
3/ optimisation of bunch image reconstruction technique;
4/ assisting in RF laboratory development;
5/ tests of RF accelerating structures for novel ERL;
6/ assisting in administrative and teaching duties;
7/ participating in team work and discussions;
8/ publishing and presenting results in refereed journals and at conferences;
9/ teaching duties of up to three hours per week during University term may be required as
specified by the Physics Department; usually this involves supervision of undergraduate
practical work.
Place of Work
The normal place of work will be within the Physics Department in Oxford; some travel and
work away from Oxford may be required, normally not more than a total of 8 weeks in any
one year.
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Selection criteria
Essential
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Doctorate in Accelerator Science or related field.
Proven record of research.
Ability to identify research objectives and subsequently conceive, plan and execute
appropriate activities to given deadlines.
Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with academic and
technical staff.
Strong self-motivation and ability to motivate and guide the work of others, in
particular of graduate students.
Willingness to travel outside EU.
Desirable
Experience in the following areas would be an advantage but is not required:
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Knowledge and experience of work at large research facilities.
Knowledge and experience of work with RF experimental equipment.
Knowledge of High Performance Computing (HPC) and ability to run numerical
models using HPC.
Knowledge of Autodesk Inventor, CST Microwave Studio, VSim.
Knowledge of programing languages and ability to develop numerical models using
commercially available suites.
Knowledge of MatLab.
Numerical modelling of relativistic beam dynamics, and EM field generation.
Please note that the appointment of the successful candidate will be subject to standard
compulsory pre-employment screening, such as right to work checks.
Where applicable for criminal records/ other security checks:
Furthermore, additional pre-employment screening is required for this post, as such; the
successful candidate will be required to undergo [criminal record checks]/[a finance
check]/[University security screening].
Please click here to read the candidate notes on the University’s pre-employment screening
procedures.
Working at the University of Oxford
For further information about working at Oxford, please see:
www.ox.ac.uk/about_the_university/jobs/research/
How to apply
If you consider that you meet the selection criteria, click on the Apply Now button on the
‘Job Details’ page and follow the on-screen instructions to register as a user. You will then
be required to complete a number of screens with your application details, relating to your
skills and experience. When prompted, please provide details of three referees. You will
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also be required to upload a Curriculum Vitae and supporting statement. The supporting
statement should demonstrate how you meet the selection criteria outlined above, describe
your research experience and interests, and list up to 10 publications to demonstrate your
contributions. Please save all uploaded documents to show your name and the document
type.
Applicants should ask the referees to send their letters of reference directly to
Mrs Sue Geddes
Denys Wilkinson Building
Keble Road
Oxford, OX1 3RH
United Kingdom
Fax: (01865) 273417
E-mail: s.geddes1@physics.ox.ac.uk by the closing date (a letter by e-mail is sufficient).
Not more than two of the three referees should be from the same institution and one should
be the applicant's current supervisor or head of group. The referees should be asked to
consider the selection criteria in the further particulars when writing their letters of reference,
and to mark their letters "strictly confidential" if they do not wish the applicant to have
automatic right of access.
All applications must be received promptly by 12:00 noon (UK time) on the closing date
stated in the online advertisement.
Information for Priority Candidates
A priority candidate is a University employee who is seeking redeployment owing to the fact
that he or she has been advised that they are at risk of redundancy, or on grounds of illhealth/disability. Priority candidates are issued with a redeployment letter by their employing
departments.
If you are a priority candidate, please ensure that you:
- attach your redeployment letter to your application
- explain in your covering letter how you meet the selection criteria for the post.
Should you experience any difficulties using the online application system, please email
recruitment.support@admin.ox.ac.uk
Further help and support is available from
http://www.ox.ac.uk/about_the_university/jobs/support/
To return to the online application at any stage, please click on the following link
www.recruit.ox.ac.uk
Please note that you will be notified of the progress of your application by automatic e-mails
from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk mail regularly to ensure that
you receive all e-mails.
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