Position Summary
The NSSC is consortium of eight universities: University of California at Berkeley, Irvine, and Davis, University of Nevada at Las Vegas, Texas A&M University, University of Tennessee – Knoxville, George Washington University, and Michigan State University. The NSSC also includes five national laboratory partners: Lawrence Berkeley, Lawrence Livermore, Los Alamos, Oak Ridge, and Sandia National Laboratories. The mission of the NSSC is to support of the nation’s nuclear security agenda, recruit and train students and postdoctoral researchers in relevant nuclear disciplines in preparation for research and leadership roles at the U.S. national laboratories. The local PIs at MSU include S.N. Liddick, A. Gade, H. Iwasaki, and A. Spyrou. The successful candidate will work within the group of one of the NSSC PIs but is encouraged to participate in other opportunities available within the NSSC and NSCL. The focus of the NSSC PIs are listed below:
Alexandra Gade: Nuclear structure studies with ?-ray tagged direct reactions to probe single-particle and collective degrees of freedom
Hironori Iwasaki: Nuclear Spectroscopy and excited-state lifetime measurements
Sean Liddick: Nuclear structure and astrophysics probed through the decay of neutron-rich rare isotopes.
Artemisia Spyrou: Nuclear astrophysics experiments with radioactive beams, with a focus on heavy element nucleosynthesis
NSCL is one of the world’s flagship nuclear science research facilities. The Laboratory’s research program is broad: fast, stopped, and reaccelerated beams of rare-isotopes are available to address key scientific questions concerning the creation of the elements in the cosmos, the limits of nuclear stability, the properties of nuclei with extreme neutron-to-proton ratios, and the equation of state of neutron-rich nuclear matter as it may exist inside neutron stars. Postdoctoral researchers play an important role in expanding, improving and utilizing the world-class experimental capabilities at the Laboratory. Experimentalists often work closely with theorists in the Laboratory and beyond and projects can involve high-performance computing.
NSCL is part of the Facility for Rare Isotope Beam (FRIB) Laboratory, which aspires to become the world’s leading laboratory for education and research in rare isotope science, in accelerator science, and in applications of rare isotopes to meet societal needs. To realize this vison, the FRIB Laboratory builds on the expertise and the achievements of NSCL as it establishes FRIB, which will extend the frontier of nuclear science through unprecedented discovery potential.
Research Associate positions are typically for two years, depending on the availability of funds. Renewal for the second year is based on a performance evaluation. A third year is possible, subject to funding and satisfactory performance evaluations.
Besides the excellent research environment, the FRIB Laboratory offers a strong program for mentoring postdoctoral researchers in preparation for the next steps in their careers. You can read more in the postdoc mentoring plan. Postdoctoral researchers play a role in running the Laboratory, from leading forefront research to serving on important committees. They help supervise students and, for those interested, there are opportunities to engage with teaching and outreach.
NSCL is funded by the National Science Foundation through the Nuclear Physics program of the NSF Physics Division to be a national user facility with a mission to provide beams of rare isotopes for researchers from around the world. Hundreds of users come to Michigan State University each year to take advantage of our facilities and explore the inner workings of atoms and their role in the universe.
The FRIB Laboratory is a major administrative unit within Michigan State University, comprised of NSCL and the FRIB Project. MSU is establishing FRIB as a scientific user facility with financial assistance from the Office of Nuclear Physics in the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science (DOE-SC).
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.
Required Degree
Doctorate
Minimum Requirements
- Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics, Nuclear & Radiochemistry, Nuclear Astrophysics, or related fields
- US citizenship
- Interest expressed in one of the research areas listed above
- Ability to work with export controlled technologies
Desired Qualifications
- Demonstrable knowledge of principles and techniques pertaining to nuclear science, nuclear astrophysics, and experimental research
- Experience with computer programming for the purpose of acquiring and analyzing data and for the comparison with model predictions
- Excellent communication skills to present approaches, plans, and findings both verbally and through written documents to peers
Required Application Materials
- In the cover letter of their application, applicants must highlight their interest in and experience/expertise related to the open position in the NSSC.
- Applicants must provide a Curriculum Vita including a complete list of publications and presentations.
- Applicants must also provide contact information for at least three letters of recommendation.
Special Instructions
Review of applications will begin immediately and the search will continue until the positions are filled. General questions regarding the position may be sent to the Associate Director for Experimental Science, Prof. Sean Liddick (liddick@nscl.msu.edu).
NSCL Experimental Research, with links to research pages of faculty members: https://www.nscl.msu.edu/researchers/experiments.html.
Profile of Prof. Gade: http://www.nscl.msu.edu/directory/gade.html
Profile of Prof. Iwasaki: http://www.nscl.msu.edu/directory/iwasaki.html
Profile of Prof. Liddick: http://www.nscl.msu.edu/directory/liddick.html
Profile of Prof. Spyrou: http://www.nscl.msu.edu/directory/spyrou.html
NSCL: https://www.nscl.msu.edu/
FRIB: https://frib.msu.edu/
Review of Applications Begins On
06/03/2021
Website
https://frib.msu.edu/
MSU Statement
Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.