Postdoctoral Researcher in the ALICE Experiment
The Department of Physics, the Finnish team in the ALICE experiment is seeking a postdoctoral researcher. The 1+2 years postdoctoral position will start on 1 September 2026.
Our group is part of the Center of Excellence in Quark Matter (CoE), recognized by the Finnish Research Council. The CoE consists of approximately 35 researchers across three theoretical and two experimental teams, forming an international community with members from over 15 countries. By combining experimental and theoretical research, the CoE provides a unique environment and community for work in QCD and relativistic heavy‑ion physics.
Who we are looking for
Requirements: we are looking for a candidate who:
- has a completed PhD degree in a relevant field,
- performs jet analysis with Run 3 data collected by ALICE, and
- contributes to the ALICE forward calorimeter (FoCal) upgrade.
We appreciate prior experience with:
- data analysis in a large experimental collaboration,
- instrumentation, electronics, and test‑beam measurements, and
- responsibilities within an experimental collaboration.
The duties, qualification requirements, and language skills of a postdoctoral researcher are stipulated by the University of Jyväskylä Regulations and language skills guidelines. The PhD degree required for the position must have been completed before the starting date. A trial period of six months will be used in the beginning of the employment.
Benefits
The starting salary will be approximately 3,800 EUR per month, subject to taxation. For comparison, the Finnish median salary was about 3,300 EUR per month in 2024. We also support your relocation to Jyväskylä with a settling-in allowance.
The University of Jyväskylä offers excellent occupational healthcare benefits in addition to broad public healthcare services. Information about the University of Jyväskylä, the Department of Physics, and the city of Jyväskylä can be found via the provided links.
Located in Central Finland, Jyväskylä offers a peaceful environment with beautiful nature and numerous outdoor activity opportunities. At the University of Jyväskylä, we offer a great and lively campus area with opportunities to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. Finland has a high standard of living, with free schooling (also in English), affordable childcare, good family benefits, and healthcare. The city of Jyväskylä is a major educational center and the city has a large student population. As such there is a vibrant cultural scene in the city. To find useful information about the University of Jyväskylä, the City of Jyväskylä and living in Finland, see also the University's International Staff Guide.
At the University of Jyväskylä, you are a recognized member of our community with a unique opportunity to influence international research. You get to participate in our international and multidisciplinary community where the welfare of each individual is important.
How to apply?
Please make sure that your ORCID-profile (https://orcid.org) works: your publications are listed and public (Set visibility: Everyone). You cannot apply to this job without an ORCID profile.
The application documents that should be included in English and in PDF format:
- A Curriculum vitae, composed according to good scientific practice and considering the template for researcher´s curriculum vitae by The Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity.
- A Short and free-form motivation/cover letter (max. 1 page), outlining your expectations for the postdoctoral position, your research interests, career goals and previous experience and merits in relation to the qualifications for this position.
- Degree certificate (PhD degree).
- A Compact portfolio (max. 3 pages) describing relevant skills for the position, with justifications when possible (Other attachement).
Applications should be submitted via the University of Jyväskylä online application form by March 1, 2026. Applications sent via email are not considered.
For further information, please contact Associate Professor Sami Räsänen, sami.s.rasanen@jyu.fi.
We offer good working conditions for researchers and promote the principles of HR Excellence in Research, HRS4R. The Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R) is based on the values of the European Charter for Researchers & The Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (Charter & Code). JYU is committed to fairness, consistency and transparency in selection decisions, and undertakes the recommendations for the responsible evaluation of a researcher in Finland. JYU has signed the DORA Declaration. By signing the agreement, JYU is committed to complying with the CoARA principles.
Our application process is transparent, professional and international. We communicate openly with the applicants throughout the recruitment process. All appointment decisions are based on careful consideration within the faculty. We value equality and diversity in our work community and encourage qualified applicants, regardless of background, to apply for this position.
Department of Physics
The primary areas of research at the Department of Physics are materials physics, nuclear physics and particle physics. In materials physics, the core research fields are the physics of nanomaterials and thin films, quantum matter and quantum technologies, light-matter interaction and physics and chemistry of nanoparticles. Nuclear physics concentrates on nuclear astrophysics, nuclear structure and applied accelerator-based research, and particle physics on the physics of the strong interaction and ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions, particle cosmology and neutrino physics. Starting January 2026, the Department hosts three Finnish Centre of Excellences (CoEs) funded by the Research Council of Finland: CoE in Quark Matter, CoE in Quantum Materials, and CoE in Neutron-Star Physics. Experimental research at the Department is conducted in the Accelerator Laboratory, the multidisciplinary Nanoscience Center (NSC) and in foreign research centers, such as CERN and FAIR.
The University of Jyväskylä is a human-centered environment of 2,500 experts and 14,500 students. Our goal is to create wisdom and well-being for all. JYU's naturally beautiful campus is located in the heart of the city of Jyväskylä. JYU is the third largest employer in Central Finland.
The application form cannot be saved as draft. However, you have 6 hours to complete your application before the timeout. After submitting you can return to edit your application via the link you receive by email. The application can be edited until the application deadline.
