R&D Nuclear Physicist

Challenges we trust you with

As an R&D Nuclear Physicist, you will harness your expertise in nuclear and particle physics to drive innovation in our particle accelerators and detectors. Your contributions will directly impact shielding design, irradiation techniques, and the development of new cancer treatment modalities.

To this date, all IBA products and systems are based or use either particle accelerators or particle detectors. Therefore, expertise about nuclear and electromagnetic interactions between particle and matter is key for various purposes. For instance, Monte Carlo simulations are used for:
• Shielding design for low- and medium-energy cyclotrons used for isotope production;
• Shielding design for high-energy accelerators used in Particle Therapy;
• Optimization of irradiation techniques for industrial applications using electron and X-ray beams;
• Development of new cancer treatment modalities using proton, heavy ion or electron beams;
• Support to the development of new detector concepts.

These simulations are sometimes experimentally validated through measurement campaigns, and different simulation packages are used depending on their relevance and the results to be obtained. More recently, IBA has also started to grow its expertise in matter activation resulting from the use of proton and electron beams, in preparation of building and equipment decommissioning and as part of its sustainability program.

As R&D Nuclear Physicist, you will be involved in maintaining and developing this very specific expertise. You will learn from IBA’s experience and bring your own skills and motivation to further develop it. This includes developing your own network through collaborations with universities and participation to relevant workshops and conferences.

What we value

Hard skills

• Master degree in Engineering or Physics with a strong background in Nuclear or Particle Physics, preferably with a PhD;
• Proficiency in the use of Monte Carlo radiation transport codes (e.g. MCNP6, PHITS or GEANT4), including modelling complex geometries. Experience with the use of activation code such as FISPACT would be an asset;
• Experience in programming or scripting languages (Python, C/C++/C#, …) in a LINUX environment.

Soft skills

• You are able to organize your work autonomously and take initiatives;
• You are curious and willing to keep on learning and acquiring new skills/tools, as an expert;
• You are rigorous and meticulous in your daily work and its documentation;
• You are able to present your results in a comprehensive way, you adapt your message to your audience;
• You are fluent in English and proficient in French;
• You are willing to travel worldwide (a couple of weeks a year).