Postdoc Position: Cosmic Ray Detection Square Kilometre Array

Postdoc Position:
Cosmic Ray Detection at the Square Kilometre Array

We are seeking a motivated postdoctoral researcher to join a pioneering effort to unlock the origins of the highest‑energy cosmic rays in our galaxy. This position offers an opportunity to work at the frontier of astroparticle physics, playing a central role in establishing cosmic‑ray detection at the Square Kilometre Array (SKA).

You will be part of a dynamic, internationally connected team at Radboud University in Nijmegen (Netherlands), embedded within the SKA High Energy Cosmic Particles Science Working Group and collaborating with leading institutions across Europe and Australia. The work spans the full arc of experimental physics: from instrument commissioning and calibration to data analysis, with direct implications for our understanding of the most extreme astrophysical environments in the universe.

As the first postdoctoral researcher on the ERC‑funded SKA‑CR project, you will take a leading role in designing particle detectors that will be installed at the SKA to facilitate cosmic‑ray detection. You will lead a feasibility study investigating whether the detectors can be used to distinguish between muons and electrons in cosmic‑ray air showers, a capability critical to constraining hadronic interaction models that are currently one of the major sources of uncertainty in the field.

Using Geant4 and CORSIKA simulations, you will characterise the signals produced by each particle type in the scintillator detectors and assess whether the high‑frequency SKA electronics (sampling at 800 MSPS) can preserve enough information to enable this novel separation technique. The outcome of this study will directly determine the design path for the particle detector upgrade, and you will work with the PI and a dedicated technician to implement the chosen solution before detector deployment.

You will also have an opportunity to contribute to the development of the SKA radio data pipeline for cosmic‑ray detection, building on established techniques from the LOFAR cosmic‑ray programme and the open‑source Nu Radio Reco  framework. The pipeline you develop will be the backbone of all subsequent scientific analyses on the project, and you will supervise and mentor a PhD candidate working alongside you on complementary aspects of this effort.

This is a uniquely broad role that combines software development, detector physics and observatory coordination, and you will be expected to present results regularly at major international conferences and contribute to high‑profile publications.

• You hold a PhD in astroparticle physics, astrophysics, or a closely related field, with a focus on cosmic particle detection.
• You have experience with data analysis pipelines, ideally in the context of radio or particle physics experiments.
• You have experience with detector simulation tools such as Geant4, or air shower simulation packages such as CORSIKA.
• You have a strong interest in instrumentation and detector physics, and you enjoy working at the interface of hardware and software.
• You have a track record of scientific publications in relevant venues.
• You have excellent communication skills in English, both written and spoken.
• You are a proactive team player who can work effectively across a large international collaboration.
• Experience with radio telescope data, signal processing, or calibration techniques is an advantage but not required.
• You are enthusiastic about mentoring junior researchers and contributing to a collaborative research environment.

• We will give you a temporary employment contract of 2 years.
• Your salary within salary scale 10 depends on your previous education and number of years of (relevant) work experience. The amounts in the scale are based on a 38‑hour working week.
• You will receive an 8 % holiday allowance and an 8.3 % end‑of‑year bonus.
• You will receive extra days off. With full‑time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20.

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