Professorship (W 2) Experimental Particle Physics

The University of Wuppertal is a dynamic, networked and research-oriented campus university. Collectively, more than 25,000 researchers, academic staff and students face the challenges of science, education, culture, economics, society, technology and the environment.

The University of Wuppertal invites applications for a professorship in experi­mental elementary particle physics. The position will be based in the School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. We are looking for an outstanding perso­nality who will continuously develop this area in research and teaching.

DUTIES

• Contribution to the operation of the ATLAS detector at CERN during the high luminosity phase of the Large Hadron Collider, in particular sharing of responsibility for the maintenance and the operation of the detector control system of the ATLAS Inner Tracker Pixel detector.
• Steering and leading the analysis of ATLAS data, expanding the spectrum of analysis topics pursued at the University of Wuppertal.
• Establishment of collaborations with other research groups in the physics research group
• Interdisciplinary cooperation with other researchers at the university in the activity field “Artificial Intelligence for Empowering the Future”
• Establishment of an additional research project in field of experimental particle physics at an intermediate time scale, for example on the development of components for future detectors in the context of one of the Detector Research and Development (DRD) collaborations at CERN
• Teaching courses covering the full spectrum of experimental physics; scientific management of the electronics lab course
• Development of new teaching concepts in experimental physics using digital tools
• Active participation in the further and new development of courses offered in Physics

REQUIREMENTS

• Comprehensive experience in analysing data recorded with the ATLAS detector or the CMS detector at CERN. Experience in one of these areas is desirable: Higgs boson physics, top quark physics, physics of weak gauge bosons, quantum chromodynamics, or direct searches for new particles
• Experience in leading research groups in experimental collaborations at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN
• Experience in the acquisition of third-party funding in experimental particle physics, demonstrated for example by contributions to grant proposals of collaborative research or grant proposals to the DFG
• Experience in teaching at universities; experience with independent teaching of courses or the development of new concepts and formats of teaching are considered as an additional qualification
• Proficiency of the German language (at least level B2) or willingness to acquire adequate proficiency within two years
• Experience in the areas of detector assembly, detector operation, software development, the identification and reconstruction of particles and the application of event generators are considered as additional qualifications
• Experience in public relations and teaching physics to the general public, in particular at schools, is desirable

From 2027 onwards the experimental particle physics group will reside in a new building featuring modern laboratories and an experimental hall.

Start
01 April 2027

Salary grade
W2 LBesG NRW

Reference code
P26008

Contact person
Dean Prof Dr Francesco Knechtli

Applications via
stellenausschreibungen.uni-wuppertal.de

Application deadline
01 June 2026

Formal requirements
§ 36 Section 1 HG NRW

QUALIFICATIONS

• Completed degree (master or equivalent from university or university of applied sciences) in physics.
• Special aptitude for academic work, usually demonstrated by the quality of a doctorate, in experimental particle physics. A doctoral dissertation with a topic on the analysis of data of proton-proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider of a topic of detector development is desirable
• Further relevant scientific achievements performed during a first professorship include junior professorships, habilitations, employment as a research assistant at a university or at a non-university research institution and scientific positions in business, in administration or another social field in Germany or abroad
• Pedagogical aptitude, which is proven by appropriate previous experience or, exceptionally, demonstrated in the appointment procedure

You are able to demonstrate your qualification for the position by publications on measurements with the multi-purpose detectors at the Large Hadron Collider, to which you have made leading contributions in the context of the corresponding collaborations, relevant teaching experience, international orientation (e. g., international collaborations, activities in national and international bodies), the successful acquisition of third-party funds, project experience. Please enclose relevant certificates and supporting documents with your application.

At the University of Wuppertal, we appreciate individual and cultural differences of our employees and support gender equality, equal opportunities, reconciliation of family and working life. Applications from persons of any gender and persons with disabilities as well as persons with an equivalent status are highly welcome. In accordance with the Gender Equality Act of North Rhine-Westphalia, women will be given preferential consideration unless there are compelling reasons in favour of an applicant who is not female. The same applies to applications from disabled persons, who will be given preference in the case of equal suitability.