The High Energy Physics Group at Purdue University has an opening for a postdoctoral research associate to work on the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment. The Purdue CMS group is consistently making crucial contributions in many aspects of CMS, including hardware, software, and physics analysis. The current physics analysis activities of the group include measurements of Standard Model (SM) processes, the search for new heavy gauge bosons, and the study of the Higgs boson. In addition, our group plays an active role in CMS tracker detector upgrade projects using in-house facilities to design, develop, build and test semiconductor detector modules and their support structures. We also operate a Tier-2 computer center, providing resources for data analysis both locally and as part of the CMS computing Grid.

 The successful candidate is expected to devote 70% of the time to advancing top quark physics with machine learning techniques. Such topics include improving top quark reconstruction, systematic variation sample statistical power with machine learning methods as well as investigation of Matrix Method Element measurements with differential programming. The first targeted objective is to enhance CMS’s sensitivity of studying top quark entanglement and search for toponium. The candidate is strongly encouraged to participate in CMS experiment operation and coordination work, with flexibility of contributing to other efforts in improving real-time detection of charged lepton flavor violating decay processes (such as tau->3mu) and semi-supervised Graph Neural Network based pileup mitigation in CMS level-1 trigger, quantum algorithms or proposed Dark Sector searches using SpinQuest data at Fermilab. 

The candidate is expected to work closely with graduate and undergraduate students. Candidates should have a Ph.D. in experimental particle physics, excellent data analysis, advanced computing and programming skills, and the ability to carry out an independent research program. The selected candidate is expected to be based at Purdue University, with frequent travels to the LHC Physics Center at Fermilab and CERN.

The position is available immediately and to ensure full consideration, applications should be received by Feb 29, 2022. The appointment is initially for one year, with the potential extension considered on a yearly basis thereafter. Questions and inquiries should be sent to Prof. Mia Liu (liu3173@purdue.edu ) or Prof.Andy Jung(anjung@purdue.edu ). Interested candidates should apply for the position here: https://careers.purdue.edu/job-invite/24078/

by submitting a CV including a list of publications with major contributions and invited talks, a research statement, and three to five letters of recommendation. Applications will be considered until the position is filled.

Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer. Applications from minority and female candidates are encouraged.