Postdoc; f​/m​/d Development radiation transport module particle-in-cell simulation

Overview

Organisation/Company Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR). Research fields include energy, health and matter. The Institute of Radiation Physics conducts research for states of matter under extreme conditions and in very small dimensions. The Department of Laser Particle Acceleration is seeking a Postdoc (f/m/d) Development of a radiation transport module in the particle-in-cell simulation PIConGPU
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Area of research:
Scientific / postdoctoral posts. Final date to receive applications: 13 Feb 2026 - 23:00 (UTC). Starting date: 1 Apr 2026. This is a research position within the Helmholtz Association; the contract type is to be defined and the job status is listed as Other.

• Goal: develop a fully functional radiation transport module in the plasma simulation code PIConGPU, based on a pilot implementation of an atomic rate solver for electron excitations and ionization.
• Implement and individually test all relevant processes, including photonic excitations and ionization, recombination, Auger cascades and transport, against analytic, numeric and experimental test cases.
• Emphasize testing and validation; participate in experiments at XFELs to study heating, ionization and recombination in high-intensity and high-energy laser-solid interactions; conceive and participate in experiments and study existing data to validate aspects of the simulation.

• Completed PhD in Physics or comparable Natural Sciences
• Experience in Plasma Physics
• Knowledge in simulations of many-body systems or plasmas
• Atomic physics and the interaction of radiation with atoms and ions
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team
• Experience with managing connections to external collaborators
• Ability to set individual goals, self-structure and fulfill milestones
• Parallel programming, ideally in C++ and with GPUs
• Knowledge of Python
• Excellent command of English (spoken and written)

• A vibrant research community in an open, diverse and international work environment
• Scientific excellence and extensive professional networking opportunities
• Salary and social benefits in accordance with the collective agreement for the public sector (TVöD-Bund) including 30 days of paid holiday leave, company pension scheme (VBL)
• Support for good work-life balance with part-time work, mobile working and flexible hours
• Numerous company health management offerings
• Employee discounts with well-known providers via Corporate Benefits
• Employer subsidy for the "Deutschland-Ticket Jobticket"

We look forward to receiving your application documents (including cover letter, CV, diplomas/transcripts, etc.), submitted via our online-application system. This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over €5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany s largest scientific organisation.