At the University of Jyväskylä, everyone can find their place in the human-centred environment of 2,500 experts and 14,500 students. Our goal is to create wisdom and wellbeing for us all. It is essential that each member of the community thrives and has opportunities to develop and grow. The dialogue between research, education and society is our driving force. We cherish this balance between research and education and work to promote open thinking. We cultivate the skills, knowledge and passion needed to live wisely for the benefit of humanity. Our naturally beautiful campus is located at the heart of the city of Jyväskylä. JYU is the third largest employer in Central Finland.

The Department of Physics is currently seeking to recruit staff to the position of

Post-Doctoral Researcher starting 1.1.2020 or as soon as possible thereafter in initially for two years, with a possibility to
extend to three years. 

The main areas of research at the Department of Physics are nuclear and accelerator-based physics, particle physics, and materials physics. In nuclear and accelerator-based physics the research areas are nuclear structure, especially the physics of exotic nuclei, nuclear models, double beta decay, ion source physics, and applied accelerator-based research. In particle physics the research areas are ultrarelativistic heavy ion collision physics, neutrino physics, and particle cosmology. In materials physics the research areas are nanophysics and quantum technologies, non-equilibrium physics, superconductivity, low temperature physics, computational materials physics and physics of complex materials. Experimental research at the Department is conducted in the Accelerator Laboratory, the multidisciplinary Nanoscience Center (NSC), Tomography Laboratory and in foreign research centers such as CERN and GSI.

The successful candidate for the position will work in the Nuclear Spectroscopy Group of the University of Jyväskylä. Experiments carried out by the Nuclear Spectroscopy Group occupy one third of the beam time available at the Accelerator Laboratory of Jyväskylä, most of them dedicated to studies of the structure of neutron-deficient exotic nuclei and of super-heavy elements. 

The successful candidate will contribute in all activities of the Nuclear Spectroscopy group. The candidate will be expected to take a significant role in the experimental program to be carried out at the MARA and RITU recoil separators. The separators can be coupled to various arrays of germanium and silicon detectors for in-beam and decay spectroscopic studies of exotic nuclei along the proton dripline and towards the superheavy elements. Furthermore, a so-called low energy branch will be developed at MARA, whereby the products of fusion-evaporation reactions will be stopped in a gas cell and then transported for laser spectroscopic studies and mass measurements. The candidate will be expected to actively contribute to the physics program of the group.

The duties and qualification requirements and language skills for the position of the Postdoctoral Researcher are stipulated by the University of Jyväskylä Regulations and language skills guidelines. According to Finnish law, a non-native university teaching and research staff member can be granted an exemption from the requirement of Finnish language proficiency. The postdoctoral researcher is expected to have good skills in English language.

Candidates should have or be expecting to soon receive a PhD in experimental nuclear physics. Experience in operation and handling of radiation detectors and electronics commonly used in nuclear spectroscopic studies is considered an advantage. Experience in analysis of complex data sets and familiarity with programming languages such as Java, C++, Python, etc is also considered beneficial. Willingness to travel is viewed favourably. 

The annual salary range will be approximately 39,000 – 55,000 EUR (gross income, including holiday bonus), depending on the qualifications and experience of the candidate.

Upon the consent of the applicant, a background check can be made on the person to be appointed (Security Clearance Act 726/2014). For more information on the background check and the rights of the subject of the check, see www.supo.fi.

There is a trial period of six months at the start of the period of employment.

For further information, please contact: Head of the Department, Professor Markku Kataja, markku.kataja@jyu.fi, tel. +358 40 5221 044, or Professor Paul Greenlees, paul.greenlees@jyu.fi, puh. +358 40 805 4069.

To find useful information about the University of Jyväskylä, the City of Jyväskylä and living in Finland, see the University's International Staff Guide

Please attach the following documents to the online application form:

1. Curriculum vitae (CV) (A template from The Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrit is preferred).
2. Short application / motivation letter
3. Relevant certificates/diplomas
4. List of publications or other additional documentation of merits to support the application.

Please submit your application at the latest by 30th November 2019 using the online application form.