Academic Physicist AGOR Cyclotron PARTREC

If you want to work at the interface of accelerator operations, applied research, and technological innovation within a collaborative and international environment, this position offers you a unique opportunity.

Academic Physicist AGOR Cyclotron PARTREC

Closing date: August 16

Your role

As Staff Academic Physicist, you will contribute to the scientific, technical, and operational activities of the AGOR cyclotron facility. The position combines accelerator physics, beam optimization, experimental support, and infrastructure development. You will work closely with accelerator engineers, technicians, radiation safety personnel, faculty members, industrial partners, and scientific users from both academia and industry.

Key Responsibilities

Cyclotron Operation & Beam Physics

• Support routine operation of the AGOR cyclotron and beamlines.
• Improve beam quality, transmission efficiency, and overall performance.
• Participate in commissioning new beamlines and experimental setups.
• Develop and refine beam diagnostics and monitoring tools.
• Contribute to safe operation in compliance with radiation safety regulations.

Experimental & User Support

• Assist users in planning and executing beam experiments.
• Advise users on beam parameters and experimental feasibility.
• Collaborate with internal and external users in nuclear physics, materials science, radiation hardness testing, as well as medical and radiobiological applications.
• Contribute to scheduling and operational coordination.

Technical Development & Innovation

• Contribute to upgrading and improving the cyclotron facility.
• Support development of accelerator control systems and automation.
• Participate in feasibility studies for new beam applications and technologies.

Research & Scientific Contributions

• Contribute to accelerator- and beam-related research activities.
• Co-author scientific publications and conference contributions.
• Participate in collaborative national and international research proposals.
• Support translational and applied projects, including isotope production and radiation effects studies.

Education & Training

• Supervise MSc and PhD students working on facility-related projects.
• Train users and junior staff.
• Contribute to teaching activities where appropriate.

Working environment

The Particle Therapy Research Center (PARTREC) at the University Medical Center Groningen is seeking a highly motivated Staff Academic Physicist to support and advance the operation and scientific development of the AGOR superconducting cyclotron and associated beamline infrastructure. PARTREC is an internationally oriented research facility.

The AGOR superconducting cyclotron operated at PARTREC is one of the few facilities worldwide capable of delivering a broad range of proton and heavy-ion beams for both fundamental and applied research. PARTREC is embedded within the University Medical Center Groningen and builds upon the long-standing accelerator expertise of KVI-CART. The center develops and applies advanced particle beam technologies for research in radiation oncology, radiobiology, accelerator physics, translational medical applications, nuclear physics and radiation hardness testing.

What do we need

Required Qualifications

• A PhD in Physics, preferably in Accelerator Physics, Nuclear Physics, Applied Physics or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience with accelerator systems or charged-particle beam physics.
• Strong analytical and computational skills.
• Experience working in technical or scientific infrastructure environments.
• Familiarity with radiation safety principles.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience operating cyclotrons or similar accelerator systems.
• Experience with beam diagnostics and instrumentation.
• Knowledge of accelerator control systems.

Personal Competencies

• Strong technical problem-solving skills in complex operational systems.
• Reliability and commitment to operational excellence.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a user-facility environment.
• Strong communication skills with scientists, engineers, and technical staff.
• Commitment to safety and quality standards.

What do we offer

An appointment for one year (0.9 – 1.0 FTE) which is intended to become permanent after a positive evaluation at 9 months. Additionally, the UMCG offers an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus. The conditions of employment comply with the Collective Labour Agreement for Medical Centres (CAO-UMC).

Furthermore, key characteristics of the function are:

• a staff academic position within a leading research infrastructure;
• a unique combination of operational responsibility and scientific contribution;
• participation in cutting-edge accelerator and particle therapy research;
• opportunities to contribute to the long-term development of AGOR and PARTREC;
• an international and multidisciplinary working environment with researchers and students from around the world;