Postdoctoral Fellow, Physics, College of Arts & Sciences

Current UC employees must apply internally via SuccessFactors > http://bit.ly/UCEMPL

Founded in 1819, the University of Cincinnati ranks among the nation’s best urban public research universities. Home to 53,235 students, more than 11,000 faculty and staff and 350,000+ living alumni, UC combines a Top 35 public research university with a physical setting The New York Times calls “the most ambitious campus design program in the country.”

With the launch of Next Lives Here, the Cincinnati Innovation District, a $100 million JobsOhio investment, three straight years of record enrollment, worldwide leadership in cooperative education, a dynamic academic health center and entry into the Big 12 Conference, UC’s momentum has never been stronger. UC’s annual budget stands at $1.85 billion, and its endowment totals nearly $1.8 billion.

Job Overview

The High Energy Physics (HEP) group in the Department of Physics at the University of Cincinnati seeks candidates for a post-doctoral fellow position to develop novel techniques incorporating machine learning in particle physics event generators. The individual hired will help lead the development of machine learning driven techniques in the Pythia 8 event generator, with a focus on hadronization phenomenology and the speed up of hadronization simulations in Pythia 8, as part of the MLhad collaboration effort. The position will be preferentially based at Cincinnati, OH, with the possibility of longer stays at Fermilab, IL and/or CERN in Geneva, Switzerland.

Essential Functions

• Conduct research in a particular field within the pre-determined research scope and methodology
• Gather and analyze data and develop new ideas that promote current research.
• Prepare data summaries, reports, manuscripts and presentations of research results.
• Participate/assist in manuscript writing for publication in scientific journals and/or presentation; may assist in grant writing.
• Keep informed of developments in field to maintain and enhance professional expertise.
• May teach techniques to others, train, and mentor junior research staff.
• Engage in appropriate training and professional development opportunities. 
• Play an active role in seeking career and research advice, both from the faculty supervisor and from other faculty members as well. 
• Perform related duties based on departmental need. This job description can be changed at any time.

Required Education

Doctoral Degree in the appropriate field or discipline, or the recognized terminal degree

Required Experience

• In-depth knowledge of specialized field, process or discipline.
• May require experience with specialized software programs. 

Required Trainings/Certifications

N/A

Additional Qualifications Considered

Candidates should have a Ph.D. (or equivalent) in HEP phenomenology or a closely related field, e.g. theoretical, experimental, or computational HEP. The ideal candidate would have experience in: (1) particle physics phenomenology; (2) building production-quality, sustainable, software written in C++ and Python; (3) developing machine learning models; and (4) communicating effectively.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment

• Office environment/no specific unusual physical or environmental demands.

Application Process

Applications received by December 15, 2024 will receive full consideration, while the position will remain open until it is filled. The initial term will be for three years, with a competitive salary. If funds are available, the term may be extended to a maximum of five years. Further information may be obtained by contacting Philip Ilten, Stephen Mrenna and Jure Zupan via e-mail: philip.ilten@uc.edu, mrenna@fnal.gov and zupanje@ucmail.uc.edu. The University of Cincinnati is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Women and minority candidates are particularly encouraged to apply. Applicants will be evaluated on their commitment and contributions to diversity, as well as their appreciation for the University’s culture of inclusion and equity.

Compensation and Benefits

UC offers a wide array of complementary and affordable benefit options, to meet the financial, educational, health, and wellness needs of you and your family. Eligibility varies by position and FTE.

• Competitive salary range dependent on the candidate's experience.
• Comprehensive insurance plans including medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage.
• Flexible spending accounts and an award-winning employee wellness program, plus an employee assistance program.
• Financial security via our life and long-term disability insurance, accident and illness insurance, and retirement savings plans.
• Generous paid time off work options including vacation, sick leave, annual holidays, and winter season days in addition to paid parental leave.
• Tuition remission is available for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Enjoy discounts for on and off-campus activities and services.

As a UC employee, and an employee of an Ohio public institution, if hired you will not contribute to the federal Social Security system, other than contributions to Medicare. Instead, UC employees have the option to contribute to a state retirement plan (OPERS, STRS) or an alternative retirement plan (ARP).

To learn more about why UC is a great place to work, please visit our careers page at https://www.uc.edu/careers.html.

For questions about the UC recruiting process or to request accommodations with the application, please contact Human Resources at jobs@uc.edu. 

The University of Cincinnati is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

REQ: 97455 

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