Job description for Project Associates in Beamline for Schools (CERN)

The *Beamline for Schools (BL4S) *project is looking for two “*support scientists*” for the 2017 edition of the competition who would be paid for 8-9 months (1 February to 30 September or 31 October 2017)  to implement and run the experiments of the two winning teams. A detailed job description is attached below.
The young scientists must have a valid contract with their institute until (at least) 1 October 2017 to be eligible to become Project Associates.
Those interested may contact Markus Joos (Markus.Joos@cern.ch <mailto:Markus.Joos@cern.ch>) .

 

 

 

In 2017 CERN will, for the fourth time, organize a Beamline for Schools (BL4S) competition. Details about the editions of 2014 to 2016 can be found at: http://beamline-for-schools.web.cern.ch/

Teams of high school students from around the world can make a proposal for an experiment at the T9 beam line of the PS accelerator. The proposals will be evaluated by a committee of experiences physicists and one or two winners will be nominated.

In the framework of this project CERN is looking for two young researchers (physicist, computer scientist or engineer).

The candidates will be responsible of the preparation and execution of the winner experiments.

In particular, rhe candidates will be in charge of:

  • Answering technical questions of participating teams
  • Participating in the selection process that leads to the nomination of the winners
  • Turning the proposals of the winners into experiments that that can actually be executed with the T9 beamline at the PC accelerator.
  • Training the winners (once they are at CERN) on how to run the experiment and analyze the data.
  • Be responsible for the actual execution of the experiment
  • Help the winners with the post-processing of their data and the writing of a paper or article.

The main task will be the setting up of the TDAQ system of the experiments on the basis of the S/W that has been developed in 2014-2016. Depending on the experiment that will be chosen as the winners of the competition the candidates will have to:

  • Develop additional S/W in C
  • Develop code for the data analysis using C and Root
  • Test and calibrate detectors (Pixel sensor, straw detector, calorimeters, scintillators, etc.)
  • Integrate the detectors with the S/W and test the overall system
  • Install the detectors, electronics and computers in the T9 beam line and debug and commission the system

During the execution of the experiments (10 days in August, September or October 2017) the candidates will be fully responsible for the overall control of the experiment and will help the winning teams to achieve their scientific goals.

In order to fulfill this role, the candidates have to have a solid background in particle physics, computing science or electronics. Experience with small scale experiments would be an advantage. In addition, the candidates should have basic skills in S/W development, detector construction and project management.

The candidates will work together as a team. In addition, the BL4S project leader as well as experts from CERN will provide help. Furthermore, a lot of documentation is available from previous years.

The candidates will be employed as Project Associates from 1. February 2017 to (at least) 30 September 2016.

When is the Best Time for Open Positions in Higher Ed?

Timing is everything in your job search. Higher education professionals conducting a search often ask, “When is the best time of year for open positions?”

Before seeking the answer, you must first understand that your job search is unique and it only takes one offer — and that one job offer can come along at any time.

There are too many variables to solely rely on data from HigherEdJobs to determine the best month of the year. Jobs are steadily posted throughout the year, with anywhere from 8,000 to 12,000 posted each month. However, each year the month with the most jobs is almost always October with September and November frequently the second-best months.

 

Continue reading:  https://www.higheredjobs.com/articles/articledisplay.cfm?ID=491

HERCULES 2017 – European School

HERCULES 2017 – European School
27 Years of Neutron & Synchrotron Radiation Science

2017 session:   27 February-30 March, 2017

    HERCULES is a European course for PhD students and young researchers using Neutrons andSynchrotron Radiation for applications in BiologyChemistryPhysicsHard & Soft Condensed Matter.

The 1-month school includes lectures (60%), hands-on practicals and tutorials at partner institutes (Elettra and FERMI in Trieste, ESRFILL in Grenoble, Soleil and LLB near Paris, SLSin Switzerland) and Grenoble Laboratories (CEA, CNRS, EMBL, IBS).

The school  includes a common part and two parallel sessions:
– Biomolecular, soft condensed matter structure & dynamics
– Physics and chemistry of condensed matter

    Why join Hercules ?
– to learn new techniques using neutron and synchrotron radiation
– to expand your theoretical and practical knowledge, not only for your present research but for your scientific career
– to experiment these techniques on world-class instruments & beamlines
– to build a network of relations with fellow young researchers and experienced teachers from all around the World

Bursaries/reduced costs
– A limited number of bursaries will be available either to reduce registration fees or cover travel costs.

    More information: (see programme overview below)

Contact email: hercules@hercules-school.eu

Dr. Manuela Garnica hace materiales de un átomo de espesor

Dr. Manuela Garnica hace materiales de un átomo de espesor

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Dr. Manuela Garnica es Doctora por la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid y se encuentra actualmente trabajando en la Technische Universität München (Múnich, Alemania) con una beca postdoctoral Marie Sklodowska-Curie. En la foto se encuentra ella junto con una maquina de ultra-vacío muy sofisticada que la permite crear pequeños materiales perfectos en 2D. Sus recientes estudios le han llevado a publicar recientemente un artículo en Nature Chemistry http://www.nature.com/nchem/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nchem.2600.html#affil-auth

Se puede encontrar más información en http://horizon-magazine.eu/article/making-materials-just-one-atom-thick_en.html

Votación para la presidencia de la Sección Exterior

Estimados/as socios/as de la Sección Exterior de la RSEF:
 
En nombre del Presidente de la Sección Exterior de la RSEF, se convocan elecciones para renovar el cargo de Presidente de la Sección Exterior.
Los candidatos enviarán sus nombres con la propuesta correspondientes a: secret.y.admon@rsef.es
desde mañana día 21 de septiembre hasta el 3 de octubre. Pueden consultar el Reglamento General de Secciones
 
Las fechas señaladas para el calendario electoral son las siguientes:
 
Convocatoria: 20 de septiembre de 2016
Recepción de candidatos: del 21 de septiembre al 3 de octubre
Proclamación provisional de candidatos: 4 de octubre
Reclamaciones: del 5 al 7 de octubre
Votación electrónica: del 10 al 13 de octubre
Proclamación del candidato: 14 de octubre
 
La votación se realizará a través de la web RSEF-elecciones (www.rsef.es/votaciones). Cada miembro de la Sección Exterior recibirá un correo electrónico con sus claves para realizar la votación online.
 
Muchas gracias a todos por vuestra participación.
 
Un cordial saludo,
 
Rolf Tarrach Siegel
Presidente Sección Exterior RSEF

Carlos López Otín: “España es una sociedad sin afición por la ciencia”

Carlos López Otin es hoy el científico español más citado en el campo de la biología. Desde su laboratorio en la Universidad de Oviedo, se ha ganado a pulso un enorme prestigio mundial por sus investigaciones pioneras sobre las claves genéticas del cáncer y el envejecimiento. En esta entrevista -que forma parte de 15 citas con la ciencia, una serie de encuentros entre periodistas y grandes figuras de la investigación en España organizados por la Fundación Lilly para conmemorar su decimoquinto aniversario-, este apasionado detective del ADN humanolamenta la falta de interés por la ciencia en la sociedad española, y apuesta por la educación como la única esperanza para un futuro mejor en el que el conocimiento tenga el peso que se merece en nuestro país.

Más: http://www.elmundo.es/ciencia/2016/07/24/579272dc268e3e8a788b4654.html

Españoles en Stanford explican el éxito del mejor campus de EEUU

El profesor de Stanford Eric A. Hanushek, pionero de la economía de la educación y especialista en evaluar la calidad educativa de los distintos países, explica a EL MUNDO que, «en un contexto donde todas las universidades estadounidenses compiten muy activamente por ser las mejores», la suya «se ha dado cuenta de que, si no se centra todo el rato en la calidad, se quedará atrás».

«Stanford tiene un modelo muy sencillo: contrata a buenos profesores y recompensa a los que hacen bien su trabajo. Esta calidad del profesorado atrae a muchos estudiantes, lo que permite seleccionar a los mejores. Como hay tan alto nivel en la docencia y en el alumnado, puede atraer muchos fondos para investigar y promover el talento, proporcionando todo tipo de recursos para mantener y mejorar la calidad».

More: http://www.elmundo.es/sociedad/2016/07/31/57928884ca4741122e8b4639.html

How to Teach Scientific Imagination

Treating important concepts playfully, from Einstein to Richard Feynman to ‘Sim City’

In one of the most famous of his authentic quotes, Albert Einstein said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.”

This raises the interesting question of whether imagination—specifically, scientific imagination—can be taught. I can’t answer that definitively, but I can imagine some promising possibilities.

One way is to provide models. There are many books that convey accurate scientific knowledge, and many more for which scientific knowledge isn’t the point. The sweet spot between them is the place where important concepts are treated playfully…

More: http://www.wsj.com/articles/how-to-teach-scientific-imagination-1464881401

XII Quark Confinement and Hadron Spectrum

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Inaugurated in 1994 in Como, Italy, this series of conferences has become an important forum for scientists working on strong interactions, stimulating exchanges among theorists and experimentalists as well as across related fields.

The twelfth edition of this conference series will take place in Thessaloniki (Greece) from 29th August to 3rd September 2016 in Makedonia Palace conference centre. Thessaloniki, founded more than 2500 years ago in the north Greece, overlooking the gulf of Thermaikos, has always been a meeting point for people of different cultures. Today, a modern city with marks of the past, is an inspiring place welcoming international events and conferences.

This edition of the conference is dedicated to the memory of Michael Müller-Preußker. His scientific contribution will be remembered during the conference.

The conference will also include a variety of events addressing school children and general public as well as different cultural events open to the public.

The conference will be followed by a Workshop on “Accelerators Revealing the QCD Secrets” that will take place from 3rd to 5th September 2016 in Makedonia Palace conference centre.