We are seeking a PhD Student in Non‑destructive Elemental Analysis of Archaeological and Cultural Heritage Artefacts to join the Low Energy Muons group at PSI.
Responsibilities
* Contribute to the further development of the MIXE method and support operation of the GIANT instrument, with a clear focus on cultural‑heritage use cases and reliable, reproducible workflows.
* Develop and validate spectroscopy‑style data‑analysis procedures for MIXE measurements (e.g. robust preprocessing, peak / feature extraction, uncertainty‑aware quantification) geared toward cultural‑heritage artefacts and heterogeneous materials.
* Plan and execute measurement campaigns on artefacts and reference materials, including comparison / validation against established techniques where available.
* Investigate and refine the reach of the method and apply it to objects raising culturally important questions about materiality, production, and provenance.
* Contribute to curated case studies and a reusable database of analysis results, and help ensure that findings are continually incorporated into the Muoniverse Museum Platform.
Qualifications
* Master’s degree in natural or material sciences, ideally in physics.
* Strong interest in method development and data analysis for non‑destructive elemental and isotopic analysis in cultural‑heritage contexts.
* Strong Python skills are a must, with hands‑on experience using scientific libraries such as NumPy and pandas, and plotting libraries such as Matplotlib or Plotly.
* Interest in instrumentation, data analysis and simulation of complex experimental setups. Prior experience with Monte‑Carlo particle‑transport simulation tools (e.g., GEANT4 or PHITS) for detector/matter‑interaction modelling, acceptance studies, or correction workflows is an advantage.
* Exposure to spectroscopy / materials characterization (e.g., XRF, PIXE, ICP‑MS or related) and an interest in quantitative interpretation of layered / heterogeneous samples is a plus.
* Skilled communicator with an interest in interdisciplinary work with museum and cultural heritage‑science partners.
* Excellent command of English; knowledge of German, French, or Italian is a plus.
Benefits
Our institution is based on an interdisciplinary, innovative and dynamic collaboration. You will profit from systematic on‑the‑job training in addition to personal development possibilities and a pronounced vocational training culture. Modern employment conditions and on‑site infrastructure support a healthy work‑family balance.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Muoniverse is committed to promoting equal opportunities and diversity in science. It actively works towards a diverse scientific community and an inclusive work environment.
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