The Institut de Física d’Altes Energies (IFAE) is a public consortium of the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Autonomous Government of Catalonia, and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB, a public university) whose main objective is to carry out research and to contribute to the development of high energy physics from a theoretical, experimental and technological point of view. IFAE has the status of a “University Institute" attached to the UAB and its premises are within the campus of the University.
The ATLAS Pixels Group at IFAE plays a leading role in the upgrade of the ATLAS experiment at CERN for the High-Luminosity phase of the Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC). We are deeply involved in the construction and integration of two of the most advanced detector systems of the upgrade: the High-Granularity Timing Detector (HGTD) and the Pixel Detector of the new Inner Tracker (ITk).
Our research focuses on the development of next-generation silicon pixel detectors capable of delivering unprecedented spatial and timing precision in the extreme radiation environment of the HL-LHC. In close collaboration with the nearby National Center of Microelectronics (IMB-CNM), we design and characterize cutting-edge technologies, including radiation-hard 3D silicon pixel sensors and ultrafast Low Gain Avalanche Detectors (LGAD) with internal charge multiplication for precision timing at the picosecond level.
The group is also strongly engaged in R&D on Depleted Monolithic Active Pixel Sensors (DMAPS), partially designed at IFAE, pushing the integration of sensing and readout electronics into a single silicon device. In addition, we work with state-of-the-art readout ASICs such as the Timepix4 chip, enabling high-rate, high-resolution measurements with simultaneous timing and energy information.
Beyond particle physics, our detector developments find applications in synchrotron radiation instrumentation and advanced medical imaging, offering PhD students the opportunity to contribute to technologies with impact across multiple scientific and societal domains.
The successful candidate will be expected to have:
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A Master’s degree in Physics or satisfy the requirements to be admitted in the Physics PhD program of the UAB (https://www.uab.cat/en/phds/physics ) before the start of the contract.
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Proficiency in the English language.
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Strong academic record.
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Previous experience in detector R&D.
Researcher in the ATLAS Pixels and Applied Physics Group of IFAE, participating in the design, testing and characterization of advanced silicon detectors.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
POINTS
Scientific excellence based on the CV and recommendation letters
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Full-time contract (40 hours/week).
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Internship contract (6 months) + then predoctoral contract; it will have an approximate duration of 2 years and the possibility of extending it for another 2 years (maximum 4).
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The position will correspond to “Research Technician” and later to “Predoctoral Researcher (R1)” within the professional categories of the IFAE.
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Salary will be proportional to experience and qualifications within the corresponding category range.
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Work with interesting experimental science. Travelling to scientific singular infrastructures. Opportunity to gain experience learning first-hand. Personal growth, innovation, and learning every day.
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The selected candidate is expected to join the IFAE as soon as possible.
Applications should be submitted to [email protected] and [email protected] stating the job reference (IFAE2026/29_ATLAS_PIXELS_PhDStudent) as the subject of the message. The mail should include an up-to-date CV, a letter of interest and arrange for two letters of reference to be sent to the above e-mail addresses.
You may contact Dr. Stefano Terzo [email protected] for any questions related to this job opening.
Sending CVs to the above addresses implies consent to the IFAE’s legal warning on data privacy.
The application must contain a personal identification number (DNI, NIE or passport) in order to proceed to the verification of absence of conflict of interest required by Recovery and Resilience Mechanism of the Spanish Government.
IFAE is committed to equal opportunities, diversity and inclusion. With the aim of promoting a real gender balance in the institution, women will be especially encouraged to submit their candidacy in the calls. Likewise, IFAE reaffirms its commitment to the integration of people with disabilities and underrepresented groups in the scientific field and in accordance with article 59 of the EBEP to reserve seven percent of places so that at least two percent of the total staff are people with disabilities.
A Selection Committee will evaluate the received applications. If more than one candidate seems equally suitable for the position, the Selection Committee will arrange an on-line interview with each one of them as part of the Selection process. In compliance with article 121 of the Spanish Public Sector Legal Regime Act, staff with a pre-existing relationship with the Consortium administration (Generalitat de Catalunya and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona) will have priority in the awarding of the position.
