Research Fellow - School of Physics and Astronomy Grade 7

Job Description Position Details

School of Physics and Astronomy

Location:

University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,636 to £46,049 with potential progression once in post to £48,822

Grade: 7

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to September 2027

Closing date: 3rd February 2026

UK and International travel may be required for this role

To create and contribute to the creation of knowledge by undertaking a specified range of activities within the research programme of the Elementary Particle Physics Group. To work on detector development and contribute to future experiments dedicated to kaon physics. To work on particle identification and tracking detectors, including simulation and design aspects, and on research and development of photon detectors in the context of the DRD4 collaboration.

The Birmingham Particle Physics group has a vacancy for a Research Fellow working on detector developments to contribute to future experiments dedicated to kaon physics. Specifically, the successful applicant will work on development of particle identification and tracking detectors, including simulation and design aspects, and on research and development of photon detectors in the context of the DRD4 collaboration. The post holder will be based in Birmingham and must be willing to travel and spend periods at CERN and J-PARC Laboratories.

The Group currently has 12 academic staff, 17 post‑doctoral researchers and engineers, 3 support staff and 19 research students. Beyond kaon physics, our present activities include ATLAS and LHCb experiments at the LHC, the future Brookhaven Electron Ion Collider, and non‑accelerator interests in direct Dark Matter searches. We operate substantial laboratory space, including a 200 m² set of clean room facilities, and we maintain a Tier 2 site as part of the UK contribution to LHC world‑wide distributed computing.

The School of Physics and Astronomy is an Institute of Physics Juno Champion since 2014 and holder of the Athena SWAN Silver Award. Both initiatives recognise the School’s commitment to promote diversity and equality, and to encourage better practice for all members of the community, whilst also working towards developing an equitable working culture in which all students and staff can achieve their full potential.

• Work within Particle Physics research grants and projects and contribute to writing bids
• Work within and support the activities of the Elementary Particle Physics Group related to kaon physics.
• Work with local, national and international collaborators to successfully deliver high quality research outcomes
• Analyse and interpret research findings and results
• Contribute to generating funding
• Contribute to licensing or spin‑out deals with demonstrated commercial success and/or public understanding of the discipline or similar

The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below.

• Take a prominent role in delivering the research goals of the group
• Conduct a research program, defined in agreement with the group
• Fulfil group responsibilities on development of new detectors for particle detection and identification, and in research and development on photon detectors in the context of the DRD4 collaboration
• Conduct individual and collaborative research projects
• Contribute to writing bids for research funding
• Collect, analyse and interpret data related to the research project
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
• Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline
• Communicate complex information and material of a specialist or highly technical nature
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods
• Contribute to departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
• Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the Department and the University
• Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any…