Assistant Researcher

Position overview

Position title: Assistant Researcher

Salary range: The UC academic salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See Table13 B for the current salary scale(s) for this position. The current base salary range for this position is $93,400 - $122,100. "Off-scale" salaries, which yield compensation that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions.

Percent time: 100%

Review timeline: Spring 2026

Position duration: Two years, with the possibility of reappointment based on performance and availability of funding.

Application Window

Open date: April 7, 2026

Next review date: Tuesday, Jul 14, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Final date: Tuesday, Jul 14, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Position description

The Department of Physics at the University of California, Berkeley seeks applications for an Assistant Researcher to work in the area of particle and nuclear physics.

This position will be in the Weak Interaction group in the Physics Department of UC Berkeley. The group focuses on searches for Lepton Number and Lepton Flavor violating processes with the CUORE and CUPID experiments at Gran Sasso, Italy; the MOLLER experiment at Jefferson Laboratory; and the Mu2e experiment at Fermilab.

The successful candidate will conduct independent research and development of novel instrumentation for particle and nuclear physics experiments. In particular, they will lead the development of state-of-the-art bolometric detectors for the CUPID experiment, including design, organization, deployment, operations, simulations, and data analysis of the detectors at underground laboratories and locally at UC Berkeley. They will also develop new simulation and analysis tools for the searches for lepton number violation with CUORE, CUPID, and related experiments. Prepare high-profile publications and annual reports to the Department of Energy, and assist in developing funding proposals

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
Ph.D. or equivalent international degree.

Preferred qualifications
- Ph.D. in Physics or Nuclear Engineering, with specialization in particle physics, nuclear physics, or instrumentation development.
- 5 years of experience since Ph.D. in particle and nuclear physics.
- Expertise with operation of the cryogenic detectors.
- Experience with the development of the analysis or simulation tools for rare event searches.
- Demonstrated leadership in producing high profile scientific results.
- Ability to mentor students.
- Working knowledge of analysis and simulation tools (ROOT, Geant4).
- Record of preparing scientific or technical publications in peer-reviewed journals.