Postdoctoral Fellow in NEWS-G

Competition 2139

This position is part of the Post Doctoral Fellows Association and has an initial appointment of 2 years with the possibility of extension depending on performance and funding availability.

This position has a comprehensive benefits package.

Location - This role is in-person at North Campus, Edmonton.

Working at the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all FirstPeoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is a community of knowledge seekers, change makers and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to over 14,000 faculty and staff, more than 40,000 students and a growing community of 300,000 alumni worldwide.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross-section of people — from our students and community members, to our renowned researchers and innovators, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger and more just. Learn more.

Working for the Experimental Astroparticle Physics Group 

The Experimental Astroparticle Physics Group at the University of Alberta (U of A) invites applications for a postdoctoral position to participate in the NEWS-G dark matter experiment, currently achieving world-leading sensitivity. The NEWS-G experiment is installed at the SNOLAB underground laboratory using a 135 cm diameter spherical proportional counter (SPC) filled with a noble gas mixture capable of observing the energy response of single electrons. Its low energy threshold makes it an ideal detector for searching for sub-GeV/c² dark matter and coherent neutrino scattering (CEvNS) candidates.

The NEWS-G group at the U of A is involved in a range of activities. We are conducting R&D toward NEWS-G upgrades, such as adding the directionality channel for the discrimination between dark matter and CEvNS, R&D for gas purification and radon removal, and calibration studies for quenching factor measurements using the neutron-capture and W-value measurements. The group is also strongly involved in the NEWS-G science analysis and simulation to understand the detector behaviour at low energies. The detector development work is carried out at the U of A Laboratory Facility, which hosts an operational SPC and laser calibration system. Additionally, our lab group is supported locally by electronic, mechanical and technologist engineers, as well as specialized research technicians and machinists. 

Position Summary

The successful candidate will take a leading role in R&D toward NEWS-G upgrades, as well as in Monte Carlo simulations, detector characterization and calibration studies with the experimental setup at the UofA Lab Facility. The work will involve interacting with international collaborators and assisting with the mentoring of students. There might also be opportunities to work on the analysis of the SNOLAB data and Geant4 simulations for muon-induced backgrounds. This position will provide highly valued and essential research skills – analytical, numerical and experimental – that are relevant and transferable for future participation and careers, both in academic research and non-academic environments.

Duties 

• Responsible for lab activities and running experiments   
• Data analysis with Python, C++
• Organizing seminars and meetings  
• Mentoring and supervising students
• Lead scientific publication
• Assist with proposal grant writing/reviewing

Minimum Qualifications

• A recent PhD in experimental astroparticle physics or experimental nuclear and particle physics
• Previous experience working in a lab 
• Strong background in both hardware and data analysis
• Programming skills, particularly in Python and C++
• Monte Carlo and Geant4 simulations

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with noble gaseous detectors
• Experience with SiPM and calibration
• Low-background counting
• Statistical data analysis

Application Instructions:

Applicants should submit the following documents all in one single .pdf file:

1. 1-page cover letter
2. 2-page statement of research experience and interest
3. A detailed Curriculum Vitae
4. List of publications

Applicants should also arrange for at least three reference letters to be sent by the letter writer directly to Dr. Marie-Cécile Piro, mariecci@ualberta.ca.