Assistant Professor Silicon Detector Instrumentation for Particle Physics (Research and Educati[...]

University of Birmingham; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 56,000; Full time

Job description

Position Details

School of Physics and Astronomy

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £46,485 to £55,295 with potential progression once in post to £62,098.

As this vacancy has limited funding the maximum salary that can be offered is Grade 8, salary £55,295.

Full Time, Permanent

Closing date: 18th May 2025

UK and International travel may be required for this role.

Academic Development Programme - new Assistant Professors will undertake a 5-year development programme, at the end of which they are expected to be promoted to Associate Professor. The programme consists of a variety of development opportunities and the time to reflect and develop.

Role Summary

The School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Birmingham (UoB) seeks to appoint a high quality, motivated academic with a specialization in silicon tracking detectors, to help drive activity as part of the Birmingham Instrumentation Laboratory for Particle physics and Applications (BILPA).

The post holder will play a role in all aspects of the BILPA work, including our ongoing experiments and R&D, as well as helping build new activities. An important priority will be to play a leading role in Birmingham work on the MAPS-based Silicon Vertex Tracker for the ePIC experiment at the US Electron Ion Collider (EIC).

The BILPA facility is a 200 m² suite of well-equipped clean rooms, supported by further substantial recently refurbished laboratory space. Its core user team currently includes two academics in addition to the appointee, four PDRAs, one engineer and four technicians, with numerous PhD students also engaging. Workstreams include:

• Major construction projects, currently including contributions to the silicon-strip detectors for the ATLAS ITk upgrade at the LHC and the MAPS-based silicon vertex tracker for the ePIC detector at EIC.
• Strategic R&D into CMOS sensors and 4D tracking technologies for next generation facilities.
• Projects leading to wider societal impact, for example based on the use of particle tracking detectors for imaging and dosimetry in proton cancer therapy.
• Work towards the creation of a unique facility for radiation-hardness characterisation, based on proton and neutron beam facilities in Birmingham.

The successful candidate will be expected to teach in our undergraduate degree programmes. Applicants are expected to demonstrate academic citizenship, develop and maintain mutually respectful and supportive working relationships with staff and students, and ensure their role impacts positively on others.

Role specifications include the following:

• Expertise in silicon technologies, ideally MAPS-based, also emerging silicon technologies such as radiation hard CMOS sensors and fast timing detectors.
• Experience of contributing to detector design, development and construction for particle physics (and potentially wider) applications.
• Evidence of effectively engaging with academic or wider user communities.
• Evidence of providing effective support and mentoring to PhD students, technical staff and/or early career research staff.
• Demonstrated publication and scientific track record.
• Strong communication skills in English, with ability to communicate effectively with staff and students in formal and informal settings.

You should make sure to attach the following to your application:

• An academic CV, along with a full publication list.
• A statement of future research plans and objectives in the context of the advertised role (max 2 pages).
• A statement on your teaching approach and experience (max 2 pages); and
• Contact details for three referees.

The Birmingham Particle Physics group currently has 12 academic staff, 21 postdoctoral researchers and engineers, 35 support staff and 22 research students. It attracts funding of around £3M per year. Our present activities include ATLAS and LHCb at the CERN LHC, NA62 at the CERN SPS, the future EIC at Brookhaven, and non-accelerator interests in direct Dark Matter searches.

The School of Physics and Astronomy is a world-leading physics department, excelling in both research and teaching. Our physics research was recently ranked top in the UK for 4-star-category research, and 4th by GPA, by the Research Excellence Framework 2021. The 2013 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Higgs and Englert for their theoretical prediction of the Higgs boson that was discovered in 2012 with strong involvement of the Birmingham team within the ATLAS experiment. The 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Professor Mike Kosterlitz and Professor David Thouless jointly for their work into the discoveries of the properties of matter, work which started when they were at Birmingham together. The 2017 Prize was awarded for the detection of gravitational waves, in which Birmingham staff played a key role. The School is an excellent environment for an upcoming academic.

The School’s research portfolio is wide-ranging, and covers three principal themes: Quantum Matter; Particle and Nuclear Physics; and Astronomy and Experimental Gravity. It has over 120 academic and research staff together with 120 graduate students with around 50 technical and clerical support staff.

The School of Physics and Astronomy is an Institute of Physics Juno Champion since 2014 and holder of the Athena SWAN Silver Award. Both initiatives recognise the School’s commitment to promote diversity and equality, and to encourage better practice for all members of the community, whilst also working towards developing an equitable working culture in which all students and staff can achieve their full potential. We welcome applications from all qualified applicants, and encourage applications from traditionally under-represented groups in Physics and Astronomy including, but not limited to, women and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Groups.

Main Duties

Education

• Using a variety of methods in teaching and advising individuals and groups of undergraduates, postgraduates, or CPD students, including (as appropriate):
• Teaching and examining courses at a range of levels;
• Planning and reviewing your own teaching approaches and encouraging others to do the same;
• Designing contemporary, inclusive, engaging and academically challenging curriculum content;
• Working collaboratively with colleagues to design and deliver teaching, learning and assessment;
• Using digital resources/environments effectively to support learning and assessment;
• Developing programme proposals and making substantial contributions to the design of teaching programmes more widely;
• Where appropriate, undertaking and developing the full range of responsibilities in relation to supervision, marking and examining;
• Developing and advising others on learning and teaching tasks and methods;
• Developing and making substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement activities or similar on own specialism that enhances the student experience or employability and which benefits the College and University;
• Devising and supervising projects, student dissertations and practical work.

Research

• Planning and carrying out research, including (as appropriate):
• Planning and publishing high quality research, including winning financial support;
• Project managing research activities, and/or supervising other research staff;
• Presenting findings in publications and conference proceedings;
• Effectively supervising and mentoring PhD students or early Career Researchers;
• Providing expert advice to staff and students within the discipline;
• Participating in research-related enabling activities such as adding value to a cross disciplinary network;
• Applying knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding;
• Developing and making substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, and enterprise (including business engagement, public engagement) and similar activity that is of benefit to the College and the University, including ensuring that the impact of your activities is realised fully and the impact is documented.

Management/Administration

• Contributing to Departmental/School administration, including:
• Contributing to the administration/management of research and/or teaching across the Department/School;
• Leading and managing a team to devise and implement a new and/or revised process (e.g. new programme or a recruitment drive);
• Advising on personal development of colleagues and students;
• Making a major contribution to some administrative activities within the University (e.g. appeals panels, working groups);
• Managing enterprise, business development, and public engagement activities;
• Developing and making substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement, widening participation, schools outreach;
• Actively managing equality, diversity and inclusion through monitoring and evaluation and actively challenging unacceptable behaviour.

Citizenship

• Contributing to an inclusive working environment:
• Demonstrating a willingness to be involved in a variety of activities supporting University life (e.g., participation in graduation, Departmental/School committees);
• Demonstrating support for colleagues, such as sharing resources, providing advice;
• Willingness to volunteer for one-off duties (such as supporting School, Institute, and Departmental projects);
• Positively engaging in School strategic initiatives;
• Proactive support and involvement in activities specifically contributing to a positive and inclusive community spirit across the School/College/University.

Person Specification

• Normally, a higher degree relevant to the research/teaching area (usually PhD) or equivalent qualifications.
• Extensive research/teaching experience and scholarship within subject specialism.
• Proven ability to devise, advise on and manage learning/research.
• Skills in managing, motivating and mentoring others successfully at all levels.

Teaching

• Ability to design, deliver, assess and revise teaching programmes.
• Extensive experience and demonstrated success in developing appropriate approaches to learning and teaching, and advising colleagues.
• Experience and success in knowledge transfer, enterprise and similar activity that enhances the student experience or employability.

Research

• Experience and achievement reflected in a growing reputation.
• Extensive experience and demonstrated success in planning, undertaking and project managing research to deliver high quality results.
• Extensive experience of applying and/or developing and devising successful models, techniques and methods.
• Experience and achievement in knowledge transfer, enterprise and similar activity.

Management Administration

• Ability to contribute to School/Departmental management processes.
• Ability to assess and organise resources effectively.
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes.
• Experience of championing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in own work area.
• Ability to monitor and evaluate the extent to which equality and diversity legislation, policies, procedures are applied.
• Ability to identify issues with the potential to impact on protected groups and take appropriate action.

Informal enquiries to Professor Paul Newman, email: [e-mail] or Professor Cristina Lazzeroni, email: [e-mail].

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.