The ATLAS accelerator user facility , located in the Physics Division of Argonne National Laboratory (Lemont, Illinois, USA), is now seeking a diverse slate of candidates for a postdoctoral position planned to start around September-October, 2023.

The successful candidate will be primarily working with physicists and computer scientists in the development of an automated machine-learning (ML) based system, called CARIBU-matic, designed to optimize the transport of radioactive heavy-ion beams produced by the Californium Rare-Isotope Upgrade (CARIBU) source. Over the course of the appointment, the successful candidate will contribute to the comprehensive testing, improvement, and deployment of CARIBU-matic, which is expected to be fully operational by the end of the second year. Additionally, this position coincides with the commissioning of a significant upgrade to the CARIBU source, which will enable a dynamic and high-impact experimental program.

The new CARIBU-matic system will leverage tools and computer codes recently developed for a proof-of-principle system for CARIBU beam tuning. The new full-scale CARIBU-matic system will assist scientists by efficiently transporting the particle beams from source to target station. This will increase the particle beam availability to our users, thereby providing users with more opportunities to perform scientific discoveries and to produce key nuclear data for national security and other applications.

The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to participate in other areas of the rich low-energy nuclear research program at the ATLAS facility, write scientific papers, and give presentations at conferences.

About Argonne, the Physics Division, the ATLAS facility and CARIBU

Argonne National Laboratory (Argonne) is a multidisciplinary science and engineering research center, where talented scientists and engineers work together to answer the biggest questions facing humanity. The laboratory works in concert with universities, industry, and other national laboratories on questions and experiments too large for any one institution to do by itself. Surrounded by the highest concentration of top-tier research organizations in the world, Argonne leverages its Chicago-area location to lead discovery and to drive innovation in a wide range of core scientific capabilities, from nuclear physics and materials science to biology and advanced computer science.

The Physics Division (PHY) at Argonne has a long and distinguished history in nuclear physics and currently has a staff of around 110, including more than 30 Ph.D.'s and 20 postdoctoral scholars. PHY research focuses on developing a fundamental understanding of the constituents of matter, and has major programs in nuclear theory, low-energy nuclear physics, medium-energy nuclear physics, fundamental interactions, and accelerator technology, with additional smaller-scale programs in optical trapping of atoms, quantum simulation, and applications of nuclear science. A primary mission of PHY is to operate the Argonne Tandem Linac Accelerator System (ATLAS) as a national user facility for low-energy nuclear physics.

The ATLAS user facility is operated by a team of approximately 30 staff members spanning groups for control systems, cryogenics, ion sources, accelerator operations, electronics, vacuum systems, and so on. The facility uses 3 ion sources, including CARIBU, and services 6 target areas by delivering heavy-ion beams at energies from ~1- 15 MeV/nucleon. In addition, the CARIBU source can deliver low-energy radioactive beams to a dedicated target area independent of the rest of the ATLAS operations. Recent selected publications enabled by the CARIBU source include: the first direct experimental evidence of a “pear-shaped” nucleus , mass measurements that help us better understand how the chemical elements were produced in stellar environments , and study of beta decay properties of Er isotopes that explain the emerging deformation observed around nuclei with 98 neutrons .

Position Requirements

• Recent PhD in physics, scientific computing, engineering or a related field
• Strong background in computer code development, preferably in Python or C/C++
• Ability to model Argonne’s core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity, and teamwork.

Desired qualification

• Experience with machine-learning methods
• Experience with remote control of experimental equipment.

Questions about the position should be directed to Daniel Santiago-Gonzalez (dsg@anl.gov). Note that only applications through Argonne website will be considered. Applicants must include a Cover Letter or 1 page response on why they want the position.

The review of applicants will begin by August 23, 2023. The position will remain open until filled.

As an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. In support of this commitment, Argonne encourages minorities, women, veterans and individuals with disabilities to apply for employment. Argonne considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

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As an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. In support of this commitment, Argonne encourages minorities, women, veterans and individuals with disabilities to apply for employment. Argonne considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Argonne employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation in the application phase for review by Argonne's Legal Department.  

All Argonne offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes an assessment of criminal conviction history conducted on an individualized and case-by-case basis.  Please be advised that Argonne positions require upon hire (or may require in the future) for the individual be to obtain a government access authorization that involves additional background check requirements.  Failure to obtain or maintain such government access authorization could result in the withdrawal of a job offer or future termination of employment.