Postdoctoral Researcher CMS Experiment (Physiker/in)

For our location in Hamburg we are seeking:

Postdoctoral Researcher CMS Experiment

Remuneration Group 13 | Limited: 5 years | Starting date: earliest possible | ID: FHPO009/2026 | Deadline: 24.09.2026 | Remote work possible

DESY, with more than 2900 employees at its two locations in Hamburg and Zeuthen, is one of the world's leading research centres. Its research focuses on decoding the structure and function of matter, from the smallest particles of the universe to the building blocks of life. In this way, DESY contributes to solving the major questions and urgent challenges facing science, society and industry. With its ultramodern research infrastructure, its interdisciplinary research platforms and its international networks, DESY offers a highly attractive working environment in the fields of science, technology and administration as well as for the education of highly qualified young scientists.

The CMS DESY group is based in Hamburg and is one of the largest groups worldwide participating in the CMS Experiment at CERN. The successful candidate will join a newly established Helmholtz Investigator Group at DESY, working within the CMS Collaboration to study how top quarks interact with the heavy bosons (W, Z, and Higgs) at the highest energies reached at the LHC. Using the full CMS dataset, the project targets these interactions in the boosted regime and interprets the measurements in the framework of Effective Field Theory, searching for subtle deviations from the Standard Model that could point to new physics. The work combines advanced jet reconstruction and identification with modern machine-learning techniques, offering the opportunity to develop expertise at the interface of experimental data analysis and cutting-edge ML methods.

About your role:

- Develop and apply advanced jet reconstruction and machine-learning techniques for the identification of boosted top quarks and heavy bosons, forming the methodological foundation shared across the group's measurements.
- Take a leading role in the unfolding of the differential cross-section measurements and in the global Effective Field Theory interpretation combining them into constraints on top-boson couplings.
- Co-supervise the group's PhD students and help shape the strategic direction of the measurement methods and analysis setup, ensuring continuity and knowledge transfer across the staggered projects.
- Contribute to CMS service and object-performance tasks.
- Represent the group within the CMS Collaboration and at international conferences, with the possibility of regular short-term research stays at CERN.

About you:

- PhD in experimental particle physics, completed or nearing completion.
- Demonstrated experience with machine-learning methods in high-energy physics, ideally applied to jet or boosted-object reconstruction and identification.
- Experience with differential cross-section measurements and unfolding techniques; familiarity with Effective Field Theory interpretations is an advantage.
- Strong scientific programming skills (e.g. Python and C++) and experience with modern ML frameworks; knowledge of the CMS software environment is beneficial.
- Ability to work both independently and within a team, to support and mentor students, and to communicate results effectively in English.
- Experience in supervising students is a bonus.
- lnterest in outreach activities is advantageous.
- Experience with global fits is a plus.

Good reasons to join:

Look forward to a unique working environment on our international research campus. Respectful cooperation and the well-being of our DESY employees are particularly important to us. Gender equality is an important aspect for us. To support work life balance we offer flexible working hours, variable part-time, job-sharing models and participation in mobile work (up to 50%). You will benefit from our family-friendly and collegial atmosphere, our established health management and occupational pension provision. As a public funded employer, we offer you a secure workplace and facilitate your individual career with our comprehensive training and development opportunities. Remuneration is according to the regulations of the TV-AVH. DESY offers its employees a financial supplement for a German job ticket (Deutschland-Ticket) at both locations.

For further information please contact Dr. Anna Benecke, [email protected].

Please arrange for three letters of reference to be sent to the DESY human resource department by using our online tool: Additional application documents (https://www.desy.de/career/additional_application_documents/index_eng.html)

We look forward to receiving your application (letter of motivation, CV and relevant certificates) via our application portal:

Apply now (https://www.desy.de/career/online_application/index_eng.html?p=18404:10:0&jobid=FHPO009/2026&P_LANG=en)

DESY promotes equal opportunities, diversity and inclusion (https://www.desy.de/career/working_at_desy/what_we_offer/diversity__inclusion/index_eng.html) . We therefore welcome applications from people of all dimensions of diversity. The professional development of women (https://www.desy.de/career/working_at_desy/what_we_offer/equal_opportunities/index_eng.html) is very important to us and therefore we strongly encourage women to apply for the vacant position. Applications from severely disabled persons and those with equivalent status will be given preference if they are equally qualified (sbv.desy.de) (https://sbv.desy.de/) .

You can find further information here:
https://www.desy.de/career/apprenticeship/ (https://www.desy.de/career/apprenticeship/)

Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY
Personalabteilung
Notkestraße 85
22607 Hamburg
Phone: +49 40 8998-3392