Accelerator Physicist (BE-ABP-LNO-2026-138-GRAP)
Contribute to the design and performance optimization of a potential future collider at CERN.
Overview
Contribute to the design and performance optimization of a potential future collider at CERN.
You have:
- You are a national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State.
- You have a professional background in Physics (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.
Contract
This is a Entry Level contract. More about Entry Level contracts.
Job Description
You will contribute to a proposal covering the layout, optics design, performance optimisation and evaluation of a potential future collider at CERN, the Linear Collider Facility @ 380 GeV (LCF380).
Your responsibilities
- Work on various design aspects of LCF380.
- Perform beam dynamics simulations to demonstrate its performance.
- Investigate the interaction regions (optics design, layout, for a possible dual beam delivery system) and the damping rings to optimise performance.
- Contribute to writing the summary design report.
Your profile
- Knowledge and understanding of lepton beam dynamics and optics design, including synchrotron radiation.
- Knowledge and experience in the setup, analysis and interpretation of particle tracking studies.
- Analysis of experimental data.
Skills
- Accelerator physics codes like MAD, Xsuite, ELEGANT, pyAT, GuineaPig, etc.
- Running simulations on an HPC.
- Good presentation skills.
- Spoken and written English, with a commitment to learn French.
Eligibility criteria:
- You are a national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State.
- You have a professional background in Physics (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: 09.09.2026 at 23:59 CEST.
Contract duration: 24 months, with a possible extension up to 36 months maximum.
Working hours: 40 hours per week
Job flexibility: Hybrid
Target start date: 01-November-2026
Job reference: BE-ABP-LNO-2026-138-GRAP
Field of work: Applied Physics
Benchmark job: 200140 - Applied Physicist
Global Benefits
- A monthly net stipend of either 6372 or 7004 Swiss Francs per month depending on your degree.
- 30 days of paid leave per year plus 2 weeks annual closure.
- Coverage by CERN’s comprehensive health insurance scheme (for yourself, your spouse and children), and membership of the CERN Pension Fund.
- Family, child and infant monthly allowances depending on your individual circumstances.
- A relocation package (installation grant and travel expenses) depending on your individual circumstances.
- Possibility to extend your contract up to 36 months.
- On-the-job and formal training including language classes.
Overview of CERN - Discover a world where the impossible is made possible!
At CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, we are pushing the frontiers of science and technology. Our groundbreaking work brings together not only physicists but also a diverse range of professionals from engineering, technical, scientific, and administrative fields. Together, we foster an environment where innovation and collaboration thrive.
Every day, we face exciting new challenges and opportunities to contribute to cutting-edge research that shapes our understanding of the universe. We meet these challenges through the diverse perspectives within our teams, ensuring every contribution is valued and driving our shared sense of inclusion and purpose. Diversity is a core value of CERN since its foundation, and it remains central to our mission and continued success.
If you are ready to be part of a dynamic, inclusive community pushing the boundaries of knowledge, CERN is the place where your curiosity and skills can thrive. Be part of our mission to uncover what lies at the heart of the universe! TAKE PART!
More information about us, here: careers.cern
Potential interview questions
| Can you describe your experience with accelerator physics codes such as MAD, ELEGANT, or pyAT? | The interviewer wants to understand your familiarity with essential tools in accelerator physics. | Discuss specific projects where you've used these codes and your contribution. |
| Detail a project where you had to perform beam dynamics simulations. What were the outcomes? | This question assesses your practical experience in simulations relevant to the job. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you approach the analysis and interpretation of particle tracking studies? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Describe a time when you had to collaborate with others on a complex project. What was your role? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What challenges have you faced in optics design and how did you overcome them? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How would you communicate complex technical information to a non-technical audience? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What motivates you to pursue a career at CERN? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Can you explain your understanding of synchrotron radiation and its implications in accelerator physics? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
Added 3 days ago
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Updated 5 hours ago
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Source:
careers.cern
