Post-Doctoral Research Associate: Department of Physics and Astronomy - UTK

This postdoctoral position focuses on R&D for a future Muon Collider, spanning both experimental and accelerator physics. The successful candidate will work with a cross-institutional team to conduct key studies to evaluate collider feasibility and physics potential and contribute to the design of a muon collider technology demonstrator.

Funding has been secured for this position for two years. While Muon Collider R&D is the primary activity for this role, it may be possible to support a fraction of the successful candidate’s time on the CMS Experiment. At the end of the two funded years, there is a possibility of extension, potentially with a shift in primary focus for the role.

The successful candidate will:

• Lead simulation-based studies using FLUKA, Geant4, G4Beamline, and other tools to address key challenges in Muon Collider design and feasibility.
• Work closely with physicists and accelerator experts at Fermilab and other collaborating institutions.
• Contribute to documentation and knowledge-sharing efforts across the team.
• Mentor students and contribute to group-level collaboration and planning.
• Present results at meetings and conferences and contribute to publication efforts.

Required Qualifications:

• Education: PhD in experimental particle physics, accelerator physics, or a closely related field, completed by employment date.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
  • Familiarity with large-scale simulation and computing in particle physics (though no experience with the specific packages we will use is required).
  • Strong communication skills and ability to work within a collaborative team.
  • Commitment to mentoring and collaborative problem-solving.
  • Ability to produce clear documentation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Interest in working at the intersection of experimental particle and accelerator physics, experience in both fields, or an interest in transitioning from one to the other.

Work Location:

This role can be located in Knoxville, at Fermilab, or some combination of the two.

Application Instructions

For full consideration, applications should be submitted by August 1, 2025. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

The application should include:

• A cover letter
• A CV (including publications and names of letter writers)
• A research statement describing prior experience, interest in this position, and future goals
• At least three letters of recommendation, emailed to Dr. Tova Holmes (tholmes@utk.edu).

About The Department

This position is part of UTK’s expanding efforts in collider physics and national laboratory partnerships. The Physics & Astronomy department has had a long-standing engagement in the CMS Experiment and has more recently become a leader in the effort towards a future Muon Collider.

The Department has an exemplary research record, with eight professors earning NSF CAREER awards since 2012, eight professors among the world’s top two percent of physicists based on citation count, the award of the prestigious American Physical Society 2021 Bonner Prize, eleven APS Fellows, and four AAAS Fellows. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville is Tennessee’s flagship state research institution, a campus of choice for outstanding undergraduates and a premier graduate institution with a number of nationally and internationally ranked programs and with national and international leadership in numerous fields.