Postdoc for the NL-eEDM project

Nikhef, the national institute for subatomic physics in The Netherlands, is looking for a
Postdoc position for the NL-eEDM project

The Nikhef organization
Nikhef is the national institute for subatomic physics in the Netherlands. At Nikhef, approximately 220 physicists and 80 technical staff work together in an open and international scientific environment.Together they perform theoretical and experimental research in the fields of particle and astroparticle physics. Nikhef is a partnership between six major Dutch universities and the NWO-I Foundation, the Institutes Organization of theDutch Research Council (NWO).

Nikhef participates in a wide range of research collaborations, including the ALICE, ATLAS and LHCb experiments at CERN, the KM3NeT neutrino telescope in the Mediterranean, the Virgo gravitational waves interferometer in Pisa, the Xenon-nT dark matter experiment in Gran Sasso, the Pierre Auger cosmic ray observatory in Argentina, and the eEDM research programme in Groningen. Nikhef furthermore has scientific groups on theory, physics data processing and detector R&D, and has excellently equipped technical departments in mechanics, electronics, and computing. Nikhef hosts a LHC Tier-1 dataprocessing center and offers substantial additional computing resources for end-user data analysis and simulation.

The eEDM group
The aim of thetable-top particle physics eEDM research program is to probe the electron’s electric dipole moment with unprecedented precision using a slow, cold and intense beam of BaF molecules. The experiment is a joint effort of Nikhef, the University of Groningen and the Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam. The experiment is located at the Van Swinderen Institute in Groningen.

The position
We have an opening for a 2-year postdoc position to join the NL-eEDM collaboration. We look for a physicist with a background in experimental atomic, molecular and optical physics. The candidate is expected to be actively involved in different aspects of the project and guide PhD students working on various parts of the research program, which involves a cryogenic beam, Stark deceleration, molecular laser cooling, a carefully shielded interaction zone, laser spectroscopy and state preparation and readout. In the current phase of the experiment, where these various subparts are all being integrated, we look for someone with a broad view and an active attitude towards achieving our common goal - a competitive electron-EDM measurement.

To qualify, the candidate must have a PhD in experimental physics. Atomic, molecular and optical physics expertise, and/or experience with precision measurements is highly valued.


The candidate will be employed by the NWO-I foundation for a period of two years and will obtain the status of postdoctoral researcher. The working location will be the Van Swinderen Institute in Groningen. She/he will receive a competitive salary. The conditions of employment are excellent and include extra months’ salary payment in May and December. The conditions of employment of the NWO-I-foundation can be found at https://www.nwo-i.nl/en/employees/

Further information and application
Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply by clicking the 'solliciteer' button below. Please be prepared to upload a curriculum vitae and a motivation letter, and have the email addresses of at least two referents ready, who are willing to send a letter of recommendation on your behalf. The deadline for applications is May 15, 2024. The starting date will be set on mutual agreement. Further information can be obtained from prof.dr. Steven Hoekstra (s.hoekstra@rug.nl)

All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.