Marie Sklodowska-Curie ITN: INSIGHTS, Data Science, CERN

The EU-funded Horizon 2020 programme has two main strategic objectives: to strengthen the scientific and technological base of European industry and to encourage its international competitiveness, while promoting research that supports EU policies.
 
INSIGHTS is a 4-year Marie Sklodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks project for the career development of 12 Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) at 10 partner institutions across Europe. One of the INSIGHTS research projects will be carried out at CERN full-time.
INSIGHTS is focused on applying latest advances in statistics and in particular, machine learning to particle physics. 
 
The environmentCERN, the European Centre for Nuclear Physics, is the world's largest laboratory for particle physics. Around 10,000 users from more than 100 countries come to CERN for their research, creating one of the most stimulating and rewarding environments for young researchers in Europe. Many are working at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world's most powerful collider.
 
When you're part of INSIGHTS at CERN, you will join a dynamic research team that values science, technology, creativity and quality. We encourage new ideas from young scientists. You will work with a supportive international team that includes enthusiastic young scientists as well as some of the world's top experimental and data science experts in high-energy physics. As part of this project, you will carry out research that applies latest advances in machine learning to address some of the most challenging problems in particle physics such as identifying particles and signatures of new physics in the LHC data.
 
Machine Learning methods play a relevant role in the analysis of the data collected by the LHC experiments and they will play even a bigger role in the future, given the large expected increase of data sizes of the High-Luminosity (HL)-LHC. CERN's EP-SFT group is currently working on the development and integration of modern machine learning techniques, such as deep learning neural networks, for use-cases of interest for high energy physics (HEP). As part of the project, the candidate will develop and apply latest deep learning algorithms to analysis of LHC data on modern computing architectures such as GPU. This project will be performed in collaboration with the LHC experiments.
In addition to the scientific research and training, complementary training (such as communication and management) will enhance researchers' career prospects in both the public and private sectors.
 
How can you take part?
You have a degree in Physics, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science or a closely-related science allowing you to embark on a doctorate?You have an interest and background in Data Science/Machine Learning?You have strong computational skills and good data analysis skills?You are familiar with high-energy physics data analysis ?You have experience with software development in C++ and Python ? You are an highly organised person with independent, self-driven personality?You have good communication skills, and good spoken and written English?
 
 

The following ESR position is open:

ESR 11 - 36 months, employed by CERN.

ESRs must, at the time of recruitment

• (i) be in possession of a university degree allowing them to embark on a doctorate, and
• (ii) have a maximum of four years of full-time research experience, including any period of research training, after obtaining the degree which formally allowed them to embark on a doctorate in the country in which the degree/diploma was obtained or in the host country (irrespective of whether or not a doctorate was envisaged).

ESRs cannot be PhD holders at the start of their employment contract.

The European Commission's mobility rules state: At the time of recruitment by the host organisation, researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc) in the country of their host organisation for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the reference date. Short stays such as holidays and/or compulsory national service are not taken into account. 

Proficiency in English is required; training in other languages can be provided through the ITN's training budget.

Applications should include:

• a completed electronic application form;
• a Curriculum Vitae;
• a copy of the last (highest) qualification;
• a short letter of motivation;
• two letters of recommendation to give as broad as possible overview of your academic and/or professional achievements.

The application and ALL supporting documents should be submitted using the e-recruitment system by the application deadline.

For additional information on this ESR position, please contact Lorenzo Moneta.

• Attractive remuneration under employment contract.
• In accordance with the European Commission's allowances for ITNs, there is an additional training allowance to cover training activities, conference attendance, etc.
• Employment contract will start as soon as possible.

• Interviews will be held as soon as possible after the closing date and might include a video interview. In the event of an interview at the premises of the partner, INSIGHTS will cover travel costs.