Job Description

Your responsibilities

The High Field Magnets (HFM) Programme at CERN is driving the development of accelerator magnet technologies for a future energy-frontier circular collider.

In this context, CERN and its international partners are working to advance Nb₃Sn superconducting wires to the required performance, delivering new wire designs and pioneering nano-scale microstructural optimisation.

As an Applied Physicist, you will contribute to these activities by:

• Designing studies and drawing conclusions to guide wire development in collaboration with manufacturers and research institutes.
• Performing quantitative image analysis of superconducting wires.
• Analysing phase transformations and diffusion processes during heat treatment.
• Assessing mechanical deformation of wires during cabling, and of cables under transverse stress, both experimentally and/or through modelling.
• Developing and conducting cryogenic electromagnetic tests of superconductors (e.g. critical current, magnetisation), and analysing the results.

Your profile

Skills:

Essential skills:

• Experience in image analysis.
• Background in materials science, including phase equilibria and deformation.
• Proficiency in scripting for data analysis and automation.

Desirable skills:

• Knowledge of applied superconductivity.
• Experience with finite element (FE) modelling.
• Experience in developing electrical tests.
• Spoken and written English or French, with a commitment to learn the basics of the other language.

Eligibility criteria:

• You are a national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State.
• You have a professional background in Physics, Materials Science (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: republished until 19.10.2025 at 23:59 CEST.

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

Working hours: 40 hours per week

Target start date: 01-December-2025

Job reference: TE-MSC-LSC-2025-142-GRAP

Field of work: Applied Physics

What we offer

• A monthly stipend ranging between 6287 and 6911 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.