PhD Student in Non-destructive Elemental Analysis of …, Villigen

PhD Student in Non-destructive Elemental Analysis of Archaeological and Cultural Heritage Artefacts

This position is part of Muoniverse, a Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) dedicated to advancing muon science across particle physics, quantum materials, and applications ranging from energy research to cultural heritage. Muoniverse brings together 30 research teams from universities, research institutions, and museums in a highly collaborative network, supported by the Muoniverse Research School, which coordinates training, exchanges, and career development for PhD students and postdocs.We are seeking candidates who thrive in collaborative environments, enjoy connecting people and ideas across disciplines, and are comfortable working within networked structures. Your ability to contribute to a culture of openness and shared progress is as important as your technical expertise. Muoniverse is committed to promoting equal opportunities and diversity in science. It actively works towards a diverse scientific community and an inclusive work environment.Your tasks

Contribute to the further development of the MIXE method and support operation of the GIANT instrument, with a clear focus on cultural-heritage use cases and reliable, reproducible workflows Develop and validate spectroscopy-style data-analysis procedures for MIXE measurements (e.g. robust preprocessing, peak / feature extraction, uncertainty-aware quantification) geared toward cultural-heritage artefacts and heterogeneous materialsPlan and execute measurement campaigns on artefacts and reference materials, including comparison / validation against established techniques where available Investigate and refine the reach of the method and apply it to objects raising culturally important questions about materiality, production, and provenanceContribute to curated case studies and a reusable database of analysis results, and help ensure that findings are continually incorporated into the Muoniverse Museum Platform Your profile

Master’s degree in natural or material sciences, ideally in physics Strong interest in method development and data analysis for non-destructive elemental and isotopic analysis in cultural-heritage contexts Strong Python skills are a must, with hands-on experience using scientific libraries such as NumPy and pandas, and plotting libraries such as Matplotlib, or PlotlyInterest in instrumentation, data analysis and simulation of complex experimental setups. Prior experience with Monte-Carlo particle-transport simulation tools (e.g., GEANT4 or PHITS) for detector/matter-interaction modelling, acceptance studies, or correction workflows is an advantage Exposure to spectroscopy / materials characterization (e.g., XRF, PIXE, ICP-MS or related) and an interest in quantitative interpretation of layered / heterogeneous samples is a plusSkilled communicator with an interest in interdisciplinary work with museum and cultural heritage-science partners Excellent command of English; knowledge of German, French, or Italian is a plus We offer

Our institution is based on an interdisciplinary, innovative and dynamic collaboration. You will profit from a systematic training on the job, in addition to personal development possibilities and our pronounced vocational training culture. If you wish to optimally combine work and family life or other personal interests, we are able to support you with our modern employment conditions and the on-site infrastructure.

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