Post-Doctoral Associate in High Energy Physics

About the Role

The UF CMS group currently comprises four faculty (Profs. Chang, Konigsberg, Korytov, and Takahashi), five postdocs, five graduate students, and a group of engineers and technical personnel — making us one of the largest U.S. university groups within CMS. Our instrumentation expertise spans detector operations and upgrades (Level-1 muon trigger, CSC muon system), tracking algorithm R&D, and future HL-LHC trigger algorithm development. UF also supports a CMS Tier-2 computing center.

Our physics program includes precision measurements of the Higgs boson properties (H→4ℓ, H→bb), multi-Higgs and tri-boson production, and searches for new physics using taus, multilepton, and multi b-jet final states.

The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Prof. Yuta Takahashi and is expected to play a leading role in searches for new physics at CMS using tau leptons and on detector/feasibility studies for future collider initiatives. The candidate is expected to work closely with our graduate students and other postdocs, as well as collaborate with members of other CMS groups. The initial term of the position is two years with possible extensions, subject to performance, mutual satisfaction, and the availability of funds.

Location

UF is the state’s oldest, largest, and most comprehensive land grant university with an enrollment of over 50,000 students and was ranked 6th in the country among public universities (US News and World Report 2023 rankings), and 1st among public institutions in the Wall Street Journal 2023 survey. UF is located in Gainesville, a city of approximately 150,000 residents in North-Central Florida, 50 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, and 67 miles from the Atlantic Ocean, and within a 2-hour drive to large metropolitan areas (Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville).

The beautiful climate and extensive nearby parks and recreational areas afford year-round outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, and nature photography. UF’s large college sports programs, museums, and performing arts center support a range of activities and cultural events for residents to enjoy. Alachua County schools are highly rated and offer a variety of programs including magnet schools and an international baccalaureate program.

Responsibilities

• Lead searches for new physics at CMS using tau leptons.
• Conduct detector and feasibility studies for future collider initiatives.
• Collaborate with graduate students, postdocs, and members of other CMS groups.

Requirements

• PhD in experimental particle physics at the time of appointment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Deep understanding of particle detectors, particle identification, and data analysis.
• Machine learning experience.
• Expertise in programming (C++ and Python).

Pay

The salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, and the compensation includes a full benefits package.