cover image
STFC

Research Associate on the QUEST-DMC dark matter experiment

On site

Didcot, United Kingdom

£ 44,982 / year

Freelance

14-03-2025

Job Specifications

Salary: Band D S1 £44,982
Role: Research Associate on the QUEST-DMC dark matter experiment.
Duration: 3-year fixed term contract.
Location: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL).
Hours: Full-time.
Start Date: Between April 2025 – October 2025.


Applications are invited for a Research Associate position in Experimental Particle Physics to work on novel R&D and dark matter search analysis techniques for the QUEST-DMC experiment, within the Particle Physics Department (PPD) at the STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL). The post will initially be for three years
.PPD is one of the largest Particle Physics (PP) groups in the UK and contributes to all major PP experiments in the UK. Since 2024, PPD has been involved with the QUEST-DMC dark matter search experiment, one of seven flagship experiments funded by the Quantum Technologies for Fundamental Physics (QTFP) programme. QUEST-DMC, a unique interdisciplinary collaboration of particle and ultra-low temperature physicists, has unprecedented sensitivity to dark matter candidates in the ~keV mass range, with the use of a superfluid Helium-3 target. Unlike other dark matter experiments, the QUEST-DMC detector is not currently located underground, meaning that cosmic muon backgrounds are a major limiting factor to the experimental sensitivity
.As the successful applicant you will be responsible for the delivery of an ultra-low temperature photon detection system for QUEST-DMC, including the design, construction, and commissioning of the detector. In the first instance, the system will be used for cosmic muon detection/rejection; on the longer term, there is the potential for it to be used to detect scintillation from the Helium-3 target itself
.You will also take a leading role in establishing the brand-new cryogenic laboratory currently under construction in PPD, where this work will take place. Build skills in a broad range of QUEST-DMC physics, simulation and reconstruction, and statistical inference topics, playing a key role in dark matter search campaigns
.There will also be future R&D opportunities, such as collaborating with colleagues at Lancaster University to explore potential hardware upgrades that can boost the sensitivity reach of QUEST-DMC
.In addition to the research on QUEST-DMC, you will have the opportunity to become involved with the DarkSide-20k experiment, another liquid noble gas direct detection experiment that, analogous to QUEST-DMC, searches for dark matter particle scattering interactions. Instead of superfluid Helium-3, DarkSide-20k employs a large volume of liquid argon as its target medium. This gives the applicant the chance to collaborate on two different dark matter experiments, where they can enhance both their scientific and professional portfolios
.Applications should consist of a CV and a covering letter explaining why you're suited to this position and the names and addresses of three referees. For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Dr. Ashlea Kemp (ashlea.kemp@stfc.ac.uk)

.
About y
ouTo apply for this role, we are looking for the followin
g:[Key – (S) will be measured at shortlisting, (I) will be measured at interview, (S&I) is both

].
Essenti
al You must hold or be about to receive a Ph.D. in Particle Physics or a similar field. (
S).Have relevant postgraduate experience in particle physics experiments, or equivalent (S&
I).Familiarity with C++ and/or Python (S&
I).Working knowledge of Monte Carlo simulations and/or data analysis techniques (S&
I).Experience of working in a laboratory environment (S&
I).The ability to undertake original research and work independently. (S&
;I)Ability to coordinate several activities in parallel along with experience of working collaboratively with large groups of people from a range of different countries (S&
I).Good communication skills and proficient in Engl
ishAbility and willingness to acquire required knowledge (

I).
Desira
ble Working Knowledge
of rare-event, low background experiments (S&
;I).liquid noble gas dark matter experiments (S&
;I).Silicon Photomultiplier (SiPM) sensors (S&
;I).simulation, reconstruction, and statistical inference techniques for dark matter experiments (S&
;I).ultra-low temperature systems (S&
;I).experience in supervision (i.e., students) (S&
;I).willing to spend extended periods of time (~3-6 months) at Lancaster University
(I).able to work occasional shift work at unsocial hours

(I).
Employee Ben
efitsWe are offering permanent positions with a whole host of benefits inclu
ding:30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege d
ays).Flexible working h
ours.An excellent average salary pension sc
heme.Employee shopping/travel disco
unts.Excellent learning and development opportuni
ties.Visa Sponso

rship
Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact Recruitment@ukri

.org.
We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. We are invested in crafting an environment that is welcoming and encouraging of all. In this regard, we welcome applications from under-represented
groups.What could you achieve with the world-leading facilities and experts of one of Europe's largest research organisations by you

r side?
In order to apply for this role please click on the APPLY button and complete your application on our careers page Careers Portal Career
s - Jobs

About the Company

The Science and Technology Facilities Council is keeping the UK at the forefront of international science and tackling some of the most significant challenges facing society such as meeting our future energy needs, monitoring and understanding climate change, and global security. The Council has a broad science portfolio and works with the academic and industrial communities to share its expertise in materials science, space and ground-based astronomy technologies, laser science, microelectronics, wafer scale manufacturing,... Know more

Related Jobs

Company background Company brand
Company Name
eTeam
Job Title
Cloud Developer
Job Description
Role: Cloud Developer Location: Knutsford-Hybrid Duration: End of June 2025 Contract Inside IR35 Job description: AWS Cloud Engineer with experience in CloudFormation, AWS Lambda, AWS ALB, Multi-region, ECS Containers Tools: CHEF, Linux What will you be doing? Producing high quality, performant and well-documented code adhering to secure coding principles Understand CloudFormation templates (Infrastructure as Code / IaC) Have an understanding of all relevant AWS services we currently use or may leverage in the future Work closely with Product Owners to understand business and customer problems and how our applications can help solve them Provide input on technical designs, learning to recognise potential performance and security issues early in their lifecycle Manage work using both Scrum and Kanban Agile methodologies, supporting continuous improvements in team productivity whilst sensibly managing risks and issues Review code changes made by others, helping to support their personal development and the overall quality and reliability of our products Participate in technical design discussions and present them in tech forums. Support releases through to production, identifying and implementing improvements to our Continious Integration and Deployment (CI/CD) processes where relevant What we’re looking for: You will be an excellent developer with years of experience. Go is our primary language, and whilst in-depth experience isn’t essential, familiarity with other languages like Java is desirable You have application architecture skills, understanding the benefits of using key AWS services and how they can be integrated. You will be having strong at engineering practices (like XP, TDD), CI & CD, Pair programming You will be having strong understanding of Design & Enterprise, Cloud Native patterns. You have experience in designing and developing RESTful APIs Your superior coding skills will lead you to naturally create code that is not only easy to maintain and enhance but will be well structured and documented You have a relevant AWS certification specific to the role (e.g. Cloud Practioner, Developer or Architect) Have ability to drive the end-to-end software development lifecycle Have delivered successful enterprise-class products to market. Experience with automation at all levels of software development. You are strongly customer focused and an exceptional problem solver You recognise the value of Continuous Improvement and work to identify, understand and resolve issues affecting quality and delivery You should have Strong experience in applictaion of Object Oriented concepts You carry passion for new technology You should have experience in applying SOLID principles You should be good at identifying apt data structure to be used for given requirement. You have pretty good understanding of Engineering Practices (like XP, TDD.) You are an excellent communicator with the ability to effectively engage with audiences of varying technical proficiency
Knutsford, United Kingdom
Hybrid
Freelance
15-03-2025
Company background Company brand
Company Name
CSI GLOBAL LTD
Job Title
Kafka developer
Job Description
Job Title: Kafka developer with Confluent migration experience Location: Sheffield, Hybrid Job type: Contract Summary: We are seeking a highly experienced and skilled Senior Kafka Engineer to join our team. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of designing, implementing, and maintaining large-scale Kafka deployments, with specific experience upgrading Kafka clusters. This role requires a deep understanding of Kafka's architecture, internals, and best practices. The candidate must be comfortable working independently and collaboratively within a fast-paced environment. Responsibilities: Design, implement, and maintain high-throughput, low-latency Kafka clusters. Lead the upgrade of existing Kafka clusters from version 3.3.1 to the latest supported version, ensuring minimal downtime and data integrity. Experience in confluent migration . Develop and implement monitoring and alerting systems for Kafka. Troubleshoot and resolve Kafka-related issues. Participate in on-call rotation to ensure 24/7 system availability. Collaborate with other engineers to integrate Kafka into existing systems. Design and implement Kafka security best practices. Contribute to the improvement of our Kafka infrastructure. Mentor junior engineers and share expertise. Stay current with the latest Kafka technologies and best practices. Qualifications: 8+ years of experience working with Apache Kafka. Proven experience upgrading Kafka clusters, specifically from version 3.3.1 to a current supported version. Detail of the specific versions involved is highly desirable. Strong understanding of Kafka architecture, including topics, partitions, consumers, and producers. Experience with Kafka Connect. Experience with Kafka Zookeeper, Kraft. Experience working in Confluent Kafka. Experience in deploying the Kafka image in Kubernetes. Experience in setting up Stretched Kafka Cluster. Experience with Kafka Streams or ksqlDB a plus. Proficiency in at least one scripting language (e.g., Python, Shell). Experience with cloud-based Kafka deployments (AWS, Azure, GCP) is highly preferred. Experience with Kafka monitoring and alerting tools. Excellent problem-solving and troubleshooting skills. Strong communication and collaboration skills. Bonus Points: Experience with schema registries (e.g., Avro, Confluent Schema Registry). Contributions to open-source Kafka projects. Relevant certifications (e.g., Confluent Certified Kafka Developer).
Sheffield, United Kingdom
Hybrid
Freelance
14-03-2025
Company background Company brand
Company Name
Rothstein Recruitment
Job Title
Payments Business Analyst - Banking - New Payments Engine
Job Description
Payments Business Analyst - Banking - New Payments Engine Excellent opportunity to join top rated UK Bank to work in broad, long term Payments BA contract role helping to manage the implementation of a new Payments Engine. In this role you will work closely with key vendors and enable bespoke software changes to ensure the new system is fit for purpose. The Payments BA will have demonstrable experience with: BACS CHAPS Faster Payments International SWIFT SEPA Cheques Cash The Payments BA will also have previously worked in multiple Banks, with a full understanding of Bank processing and operations. Ideally with strong 'Core Banking Payments' experience. In this role you will play a key part in a major programme including this Payments systems upgrade, offering a long term and secure contract. Strong communication and stakeholder skills will be essential. Bank Banking Payments BA Payments SME Payments Business Analyst Financial Services
London, United Kingdom
Hybrid
Freelance
14-03-2025
Company background Company brand
Company Name
DataAnnotation
Job Title
Math Professor - AI Trainer
Job Description
We are looking for a math expert to join our team to train AI models. You will measure the progress of these AI chatbots, evaluate their logic, and solve problems to improve the quality of each model. Please ensure you read the below overview and requirements for this employment opportunity completely. In this role you will need to hold an expert level of mathematical reasoning- a completed or in progress Masters/PhD is preferred but not required. Other related fields include, but are not limited to: Applied Math and/or Computer Science. Benefits This is a full-time or part-time REMOTE position You’ll be able to choose which projects you want to work on You can work on your own schedule Projects are paid hourly starting at $40+ USD per hour, with bonuses on high-quality and high-volume work Responsibilities Give AI chatbots diverse and complex mathematics problems and evaluate their outputs Evaluate the quality produced by AI models for correctness and performance Qualifications Fluency in English (native or bilingual level) Detail-oriented Proficient in mathematics, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, probability, statistics, and inductive/ deductive reasoning A current, in progress, or completed Masters and/or PhD is preferred but not required Note: Payment is made via PayPal. We will never ask for any money from you. PayPal will handle any currency conversions from USD. #INDUKMA Job Types: Full-time, Part-time Pay: From £31.64 per hour Expected hours: 1 – 40 per week Work Location: Remote
Southampton, United Kingdom
On site
Freelance
15-03-2025