Device Physicist for the SECAR Recoil Separator and the JENSA Gas Jet Target

Michigan State University East Lansing, MI , United States

Published Wed, 05/06/2020 - 2:16 PM Expiration Sat, 08/15/2020 - 12:00 AM or until the posting is filled


The Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) is seeking to fill a position of a Device Physicist for the SECAR Recoil Separator and the JENSA Gas Jet Target. Together, these two world-class unique devices will be used at FRIB to measure the rates of nuclear reactions that are of critical importance to understand stellar explosions and the formation of the elements in the cosmos. The SECAR Recoil Separator is currently under construction at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) on the campus of Michigan State University. FRIB will be a new national user facility for nuclear science, funded by the Department of Energy Office of Science (DOE-SC), Michigan State University (MSU), and the State of Michigan and is currently under construction on the site of NSCL. When FRIB comes online, it will supplant the Coupled Cyclotron Facility and provide the highest possible intensity rare isotope beams as input for SECAR.

JENSA is already operating and SECAR is nearing completion. This position affords an exciting opportunity to become part of the FRIB user facility from the beginning, and transition SECAR from a construction project into a device that enables a successful world leading nuclear astrophysics experimental program at FRIB.

Major Position Responsibilities

  • Support use of JENSA and SECAR by NSCL and FRIB users
  • Initiate, develop, and implement improvements and upgrades to the SECAR/JENSA system to enable nuclear science experiments and achieve ultimate performance
  • Contribute to scientific research with SECAR/JENSA and the publication of scientific results
  • Operate SECAR/JENSA safely and reliably with high availability
  • Establish and document standard operating procedures for SECAR and JENSA
  • Contribute to the mentoring of early career scientists, undergraduate and graduate students, and post-doctoral research associates


    Required Qualifications
  • PhD or equivalent in Physics, Accelerator Physics, or a related field
  • 3+ years of experience with nuclear science experiments using beams (including pre-PhD experience)

How to Apply

For immediate consideration, please go careers.msu.edu search for posting number  642448  and follow the application process. Please don’t hesitate to contact Hendrik Schatz (schatz@msu.edu) with any questions you may have concerning the position. Review of applications will begin August 1, 2020.


MSU is committed to achieving excellence through cultural diversity. The university actively encourages applications and/or nominations of women, persons of color, veterans and person with disabilities.

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