Job Description

Your responsibilities

Are you an engineer/physicist with a passion for radiation protection and a drive to shape the future of one of CERN's pioneering experiments? Do you excel in Monte Carlo simulations and want to apply your expertise in a world-leading scientific environment? Join our dynamic team at CERN and be part of a legacy of groundbreaking research!

You will join the Occupational Health & Safety and Environmental Protection (HSE) Unit, more specifically the Accelerators & Sites section of the HSE Radiation Protection (RP) group. The section monitors and enforces compliance with radiation protection regulations and execute projects, studies and services aimed at protecting people and the environment from the ionising radiation generated by CERN's activities.

By joining the RP group, you will work in close contact with RP Physicists and RP Engineers in charge of the operational radiation protection of the Proton Synchrotron (PS) complex and, in particular, of ISOLDE. ISOLDE is a facility dedicated to the production of a large variety of radioactive ion beams for many different experiments in the fields of nuclear and atomic physics, solid-state physics, materials science and life sciences.

For this role, the main project you will be involved in is conducting radiation protection studies using the FLUKA Monte Carlo particle transport code to support the replacement of the ISOLDE beam dumps and the improvement of the surrounding shielding, enabling the facility to handle a higher beam power (from 2.8 kW up to maximum 12 kW).

Key Responsibilities:

1. Conduct detailed Monte Carlo Simulations to:

• Refine the dismantling phases of the worksite from a radiation protection standpoint
• Optimize and finalize the shielding design
• Radiologically characterise the new beam dumps and the surrounding structures.

2. Radiation Measurements: benchmark Monte Carlo simulations through experimental measurements, including neutron stray radiation, residual dose rate and gamma spectrometry

3. Documentation and Reporting: Document the results of your studies in comprehensive technical reports and presentations.

4. Conferences and Workshops: Present your findings at international conferences and workshops.

Your profile

Skills and/or knowledge

• Previous experience in radiation protection
• Monte Carlo simulation codes for radiation transport (FLUKA, MCNP, PHITS, etc)
• Programming skills (Python, C++, Fortran)
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Fluent in English, the ability to work in French would be an advantage

Eligibility criteria:

• You are a national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State.
• You have a professional background in Physics or Nuclear Engineering (or a related field) and have either:
  • a Master's degree with 2 to 6 years of post-graduation professional experience;
  • or a PhD with no more than 3 years of post-graduation professional experience.
• You have never had a CERN fellow or graduate contract before.

Additional Information

Job closing date: 27.08.2024 at 23:59 CEST.

Job reference: HSE-RP-AS-2024-140-GRAP

Contract duration: 24 months, with a possible extension up to 36 months maximum.

Target start date: 01-November-2024

This position requires:

• Work in Radiation Areas.

What we offer

• A monthly stipend ranging between 6212 and 6828 Swiss Francs per month (net of tax).
• Coverage by CERN's comprehensive health scheme (for yourself, your spouse and children), and membership of the CERN Pension Fund.
• Depending on your individual circumstances: installation grant; family, child and infant allowances; payment of travel expenses at the beginning and end of contract.
• 30 days of paid leave per year.
• On-the-job and formal training at CERN as well as in-house language courses for English and/or French.

About us

At CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, physicists and engineers are probing the fundamental structure of the universe. Using the world's largest and most complex scientific instruments, they study the basic constituents of matter - fundamental particles that are made to collide together at close to the speed of light. The process gives physicists clues about how particles interact, and provides insights into the fundamental laws of nature. Find out more on http://home.cern.

We are on a Quest. A Journey into discovery like no other. Bring your expertise to our unique work and develop your knowledge and skills at pace. Join world-class subject matter experts on unique projects, in a Quest for greater knowledge and deeper understanding.

Begin your CERN Quest. Take Part!

Diversity has been an integral part of CERN's mission since its foundation and is an established value of the Organization. Employing a diverse workforce is central to our success.