PhD Student in Optimizing Electron Beam Transport and Compression in SwissFEL

Key information

Publication date:11 June 2025
Workload:100%
Contract type:Internship
Place of work:Villigen PSI

Job summary

The Paul Scherrer Institute PSI is Switzerland's largest research facility. Join us for innovative research in energy, health, and natural sciences.

Tasks

Collaborate with the SwissFEL Beam Dynamics Group on research.
Characterize beam quality and develop physics models for optimization.
Publish findings and assist in teaching accelerator physics courses.

Skills

Master's degree in physics; knowledge of accelerator or plasma physics is a plus.
Strong English communication skills, both written and spoken.
Ability to work in a dynamic, interdisciplinary environment.

Is this helpful?

The Paul Scherrer Institute PSI is the largest research institute for natural and engineering sciences within Switzerland. We perform cutting-edge research in the fields of future technologies, energy and climate, health innovation and fundamentals of nature. By performing fundamental and applied research, we work on sustainable solutions for major challenges facing society, science and economy. PSI is committed to the training of future generations. Therefore, about one quarter of our staff are post-docs, post-graduates or apprentices. Altogether, PSI employs 2300 people.

For the SwissFEL Beam Dynamics Group we are looking for a

Your tasks

You will work with the SwissFEL Beam Dynamics Group

You will experimentally characterize the degradation of the longitudinal beam quality along the facility, and will build up a physics model including the most relevant effects such as the microbunching instability and intra-beam scattering

You will optimize the machine configuration and layout to better preserve the electron beam brightness for an improved performance of SwissFEL. The work will combine experimental and numerical studies

You will publish your results in scientific journals and reports

For one semester, you will be part of the teaching team of the accelerator physics course at EPFL

Your profile

You have a Master degree in physics

Knowledge in accelerator, plasma or FEL physics is beneficial but not required

You have a very good command of written and spoken English

You will enroll in the doctoral school of physics, EDPY at EPFL/Lausanne

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.

For further information, please contact Sven Reiche, phone +41 56 310 51 19.

Please submit your application online by 10 July 2025 (including addresses of referees) for the position as a PhD Student (Index-Nr. 8122-00).

Paul Scherrer Institute, Human Resources Management, Robin Schmid, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland

www.psi.ch

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