We are looking for the following qualifications, skills and competencies:
1. Master’s degree in physics, engineering or a related field, or equivalent through relevant experience
2. Experience with research at PhD-level is a distinct advantage
3. Knowledge of and expertise on experimental techniques based on radioactive ion beams, particle detectors and related electronics, and high vacuum. Specific experience with an isotope separation facility is a plus but not mandatory. Experience of programming in object-oriented languages such as C++ and Python. Knowledge of LabView is a plus
4. Proven success in planning, co-ordinating and undertaking complex technical tasks, including the development and commissioning of novel instruments, ideally involving the use of ion beams
5. Confident with maintaining and enforcing Health and Safety guidelines to ensure the safety of users
6. Ability to learn quickly and sense of responsibility to further their own professional development
7. Good organisational skills with proven success in responding positively to conflicting priorities and to tight deadlines whilst maintaining specified service standards
8. Demonstrable collaborative attitude, with the ability to work independently and autonomously
9. Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, with the affinity to interact fluently in an international and diverse environment
10. Experience of providing training and guidance to users
As Instrument Specialist, you will contribute to our ion beam production and manipulation platform, located on our premises on the Campus Arenberg. This platform includes the Leuven Isotope Separator for the development of ion beam production and implantation techniques, and a new ion trapping laboratory for high-resolution ion spectroscopy and quantum manipulation. You will be responsible for hardware control and integration, beam line instrumentation, data acquisition, and laboratory safety.In addition, you will support the institute’s activities at radioactive ion beam facilities such as ISOLDE at CERN (Switzerland) or IGISOL at the Accelerator Laboratory of the University of Jyväskylä (Finland), where we are involved in various laser spectroscopy activities. You will contribute to the development and maintenance of both hardware control and data acquisition. Within those international collaborations, you will become the contact person for the long-term support of those installations. To achieve this, you will combine your expertise on experimental techniques based on radioactive ion beams, particle detectors and related electronics, programming, data handling, and high vacuum with your strong communication, teamwork and interpersonal skills.You will be based in Leuven but will also participate in activities at the international research infrastructures listed before. Working closely with your colleagues, you will take on the following responsibilities:
11. Developing the hardware control system for the Leuven Isotope Separator and its beam instrumentation, including the proper safety interlocks for its safe operation
12. Developing the hardware control system and data acquisition system for the new ion trap laboratory
13. Developing and maintaining the data acquisition system for collinear laser spectroscopy at IGISOL and at the CRIS experiment at ISOLDE
14. Supporting the stakeholders of those different infrastructures, including students at Masters and Doctoral level in using our instrumentation and in analysing experimental data, technical support teams contributing to the development and maintenance of the infrastructure, and the international collaboration members at CERN and Jyväskylä
15. Applying, communicating and enforcing relevant Health and Safety guidelines to ensure the safe operation of the instruments and laboratories associated with this position
The Department of Physics and Astronomy is a vibrant community of about 400 researchers and professionals, delivering forefront research and excellent teaching in different domains of modern physics and astronomy. Our goal is to understand the fundamental laws of nature, from the very smallest to the very largest scales. The department has seven research units covering areas such as biophysics, nuclear and radiation physics, semiconductor physics, solid state physics, theoretical high-energy physics, soft matter research, astronomy and cosmology. The department belongs to the Faculty of Science of KU Leuven's Science & Technology Group.
We are offering a full-time appointment on an open contract (contract of indeterminate duration) in an innovative and international working environment which will give you all possible opportunities to develop your talent and skills.
If you are able to take up all responsibilities of the role immediately you will be offered a Grade 8 salary. If you require additional training to do so, you will start in Grade 7. Exceptional candidates with sufficient skills and experience to take up additional responsibility from the start will be offered Grade 9.
In addition, KU Leuven offers extralegal benefit including free hospital insurance and free group insurance, additional holidays, ecocheques, free commuting on public transport, a company bicycle, end-of-year bonus, and access to exclusive discounts with a range of retailers (Samenaankoop).
Further details are available on our job site.