Postdoctoral Fellow in Physics

at the Department of Physics. Closing date: 20 December 2024.

The Department of Physics is one of the largest departments within the Faculty of Science and supports a broad range of basic experimental and theoretical physics research. It has about 250 employees, of which 95 are Ph.D. students. Many have been internationally recruited. The Department is part of the AlbaNova University Center, which also houses the Department of Astronomy, the Physics Departments at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), and the Nordic Institute for Theoretical Physics (Nordita).

The Department of Physics and Stockholm University are affiliated with Stockholm Dual Career Network (SDCN) that supports ex-pat partners with professional events, career-related advice, and building a social network in their new hometown. www.sdcn.se.

Project description
The IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the South Pole, Antarctica, pursues a broad array of science objectives from particle physics to astronomy. IceCube discovered the cosmic high-energy neutrino flux in 2013, and has started to associate some of these neutrinos with supermassive black holes in active galaxies. IceCube has also recently made the first observation of neutrino emission from the Milky Way galaxy, thanks to improved data selection techniques with deep learning applied to previous data. This, combined with the continued acquisition of new data while the experiment prepares for the IceCube Upgrade, means many opportunties for significant progress are at hand.

IceCube is operated by an international collaboration of institutions in 14 countries. Stockholm University has played a leading role in neutrino astroparticle physics since the beginning of the field. The IceCube group at SU is also part of the Oskar Klein Centre for Cosmoparticle Physics (OKC), a vibrant environment with over a hundred researchers working in theory and experiment in the fields of astronomy, astrophysics and particle physics at the AlbaNova University Center campus in Stockholm.

Main responsibilities
The applicant will be expected to take part in and lead activities in one or more of the following areas, depending on research experience: identification and characterization of extragalactic and galactic sources of the neutrino flux; design and application of machine learning and neural networks for identifying and reconstructing neutrino events; design of the next generation of neutrino observatories including IceCube-Gen2.

Qualification requirements
Postdoctoral positions are appointed primarily for purposes of research. Applicants are expected to hold a Swedish doctoral degree or an equivalent degree from another country.

Assessment criteria
The degree must have been completed at latest before the employment decision is made (that is to say, before the employment as postdoctoral fellow can begin), but no more than three years before the closing date. An older degree may be acceptable under special circumstances. Special reasons refer to sick leave, parental leave, elected positions in trade unions, service in the total defense, or other similar circumstances as well as clinical attachment or service/assignments relevant to the subject area.

In the appointment process, special attention will be given to research skills in either data analysis, machine learning, and/or computer simulation that are compatible with the responsibilities above. Previous experience with neutrino telescopes and demostrated leadership abilities are additional merits.

Terms of employment
The position involves full-time employment for a minimum of two years and a maximum of three years, with the possibility of extension under special circumstances. Start date 2025-04-01 or as per agreement.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact
Further information about the position can be obtained from Professor Chad Finley, cfinley@fysik.su.se and Professor Klas Hultqvist, klas@fysik.su.se.

Union representatives
Ingrid Lander (Saco-S), telephone: +46 708 16 26 64, saco@saco.su.se, Alejandra Pizarro Carrasco (Fackförbundet ST/OFR), telephone: +46 8 16 34 89, alejandra@st.su.se, and seko@seko.su.se (SEKO).

Application
Apply for the position at Stockholm University's recruitment system. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

Please include the following information with your application

• Your contact details and personal data
• Your highest degree
• Your language skills
• Contact details for 2–3 references
  Important: Your academic referees should send us recommendation letters via email to: FV-3642-24.refletters@fysik.su.se and state in the subject line: SU FV-3642-24 + name of the applicant.

and, in addition, please include the following documents

• Cover letter
• CV – degrees and other completed courses, work experience and a list of publications
• Research proposal (no more than 3 pages) describing:
  – why you are interested in the field/project described in the advertisement
  – why and how you wish to complete the project
  – what makes you suitable for the project in question
• Copy of PhD diploma
• Publications in support of your application (no more than 3 files).

The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position.

You are welcome to apply!

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