Open Position PhD Student Position for the ATLAS PIXELS Group

About IFAE

The Institut de Física d’Altes Energies (IFAE) is a public consortium of the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Autonomous Government of Catalonia, and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB, a public university) whose main objective is to carry out research and to contribute to the development of high energy physics from a theoretical, experimental and technological point of view. IFAE has the status of a “University Institute" attached to the UAB and its premises are within the campus of the University. IFAE is also part of the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), an institution of scientific cooperation of seven top research centers committed to creating a collaborative environment of multidisciplinary scientific excellence by fostering collaboration among members of its diverse scientific community.

About the Atlas Pixels Group

The ATLAS Pixels Group at IFAE plays a leading role in the upgrade of the ATLAS experiment at CERN for the High-Luminosity phase of the Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC). We are deeply involved in the construction and integration of two of the most advanced detector systems of the upgrade: the High-Granularity Timing Detector (HGTD) and the Pixel Detector of the new Inner Tracker (ITk). Our research focuses on the development of next-generation silicon pixel detectors capable of delivering unprecedented spatial and timing precision in the extreme radiation environment of the HL-LHC. In close collaboration with the nearby National Center of Microelectronics (IMB-CNM), we design and characterize cutting-edge technologies, including radiation-hard 3D silicon pixel sensors and ultrafast Low Gain Avalanche Detectors (LGAD) with internal charge multiplication for precision timing at the picosecond level. The group is also strongly engaged in R&D on Depleted Monolithic Active Pixel Sensors (DMAPS), partially designed at IFAE, pushing the integration of sensing and readout electronics into a single silicon device. In addition, we work with state-of-the-art readout ASICs such as the Timepix4 chip, enabling high-rate, high-resolution measurements with simultaneous timing and energy information. Beyond particle physics, our detector developments find applications in synchrotron radiation instrumentation and advanced medical imaging, offering PhD students the opportunity to contribute to technologies with impact across multiple scientific and societal domains.

Required skills and evaluation criteria

The successful candidate is expected to have:

• Master in Physics, electronic/physics engineering or similar satisfy the requirements to be admitted in the Physics PhD program of the UAB (https://www.uab.cat/en/phds/physics ) before the start of the grant
• Proficiency in the English language
• Pro-active attitude and good communication skills
• Knowledge of Linux and strong programming skills (C/C++ or Python) are desirable.
• Experience in detector R&D or electronics is an advantage.

The evaluation criteria and their weighting for the submitted applications will be the following:

• Academic and/or scientific-technical background of the candidate: 50 points
• Suitability of the candidate for the research activities to be carried out: 50 points

What will be your role?

Researcher in the ATLAS Pixel Group of IFAE, participating in the design, testing and characterization of advanced silicon detectors for the HL-LHC and related applications.

Offered contract:

• Full-time contract (40 hours/week).
• Predoctoral Contract
• Duration: maximum 4 years
• The position will correspond to “Predoctoral Researcher (R1)” within the professional categories of the IFAE.
• Salary will be proportional to experience and qualifications within the corresponding category range.
• Work with interesting experimental science. Travelling to scientific singular infrastructures. - Opportunity to gain experience learning first-hand. Personal growth, innovation, and learning every day.
• The selected candidate is expected to join IFAE as soon as possible (before June 1st)

Application and Selection process:

Applications should be submitted to Dr. Stefano Terzo (sterzo@ifae.es ) and Sebastian Grinstein (sgrinstein@ifae.es ) stating the job reference (IFAE2026/14_ATLAS_PhDStudent) as the subject of the message. The application should include the following documents:

• an up-to-date Curriculum Vitae (CV);
• a motivation letter;
• a complete list of university grades;
• and the contact information for two references.

Sending CVs to the above addresses implies consent to the IFAE’s legal warning on data privacy. IFAE is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace and social integration of people with a disability. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates. People from groups that are typically underrepresented in the labour market in general and in Science and Engineering in particular, such as women, minorities, or people with a disability, are particularly encouraged to apply. A Selection Committee will evaluate the received applications. If more than one candidate seems equally suitable for the position, the Selection Committee will arrange an on-line interview with each one of them as part of the Selection process.

In compliance with article 121 of the Spanish Public Sector Legal Regime Act, staff with a pre-existing relationship with the Consortium administration (Generalitat de Catalunya and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona) will have priority in the awarding of the position.

Funding Statement

This contract is part of the PREP2024-002897 Aid funded by MICIU/AEI /10.13039/501100011033 and by the ESF+.