Research Associate for the Project “Optical testing and optimal signal combinations for the LIS

Your responsibilities

Duties include academic services in the project named above. Research associates may also pursue further academic qualifications outside of their work responsibilities. They may also pursue doctoral studies outside of working duties.

The position is part of the proposed project “LISA ground-support equipment:
Support for the usage of a Phasemeter simulator and optical testing”. Specifically, the candidate will participate in the optical testing of an electrical ground-support equipment version of the LISA phase readout system (phasemeter), based on the MicroTCA.
4 standard. The candidate will also use the multi-channel readout provided by the ground-support equipment phasemeter to study noise sources in a dedicated in-house optical experiment, investigating also use of machine learning techniques for noise reduction. Finally, the candidate will support the usage of ground-support equipment phasemeters for the verification and testing of LISA engineering models and flight hardware in laboratories of national and international partners.

The project is funded by the German Aerospace Agency (DLR) and the phasemeter development is conducted in close collaboration with the local partner, DESY MSK, and in collaboration and coordination with the LISA Consortium and national and international partners that make use of the ground-support equipment to assembly, integrate, verify and test the LISA instrument.

The position will be situated in the research group for gravitational wave detection at the University of Hamburg. The group studies metrology and develops instrumentation for ground and space-based detectors like the Einstein Telescope, LIGO, the Lunar Gravitational Wave Antenna (LGWA) and the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) with a focus on laser interferometry, inertial sensing, seismic isolation and digital readout and control.

The successful candidate for this position can pursue a doctoral degree in Physics at the University of Hamburg.

The successful candidate can become members of the Quantum Universe Research School (QURS), which provides academic and soft skills training, as well as career planning support. They will join the LISA consortium and attend international conferences.

A university degree in a relevant field.

• excellent command of the English language and the ability to communicate and engage in an international team environment
• high motivation and self-organisation skills
• experience with laboratory experiments, ideally gravitational wave detection and laser interferometry

Prior experience in several of the following fields is beneficial:

• laser stabilization
• opto-electronics
• optics and laser interferometry, specifically noise analysis
• space-based instrumentation
• hardware development and testing
• analogue and digital electronics
• FPGA programming
• machine learning

Outstanding candidates will bring a high, intrinsic motivation, individual responsibility, creative scientific thinking and extensive social and team skills.

• Reliable remuneration based on wage agreements
• Continuing education opportunities
• University pensions
• Attractive location
• Flexible working hours
• Work-life balance opportunities
• Health management, EGYM Wellpass
• Educational leave
• 30 days of vacation per annum

Universität Hamburg
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