TRIUMF
Canada's National Laboratory for Particle and Nuclear Physics
STUDENT JOB PROGRAM
Spring 2019 job posting
Job number TR19-1-10

Position Title:

Detector R&D Student with CMMS 

Name of Project:

R&D of GHz speed Particle Detectors used in MuSR and beta-NMR. 

Overview:

At the Centre for Molecular and Materials Science (CMMS), particle detectors convert charged particle arrival events into electronic pulses. The goal of this project is to test and configure new ultra-high-speed detectors for use with future spectrometers to be built for condensed matter research. Such spectrometers detect both the incoming particles, i.e. muons or unstable nuclei ( 8Li) implanted into a sample of interest, and the emergent decay positron, which encodes the evolution of the incoming particle in the local microscopic electronic/magnetic environment of the sample. Accomplishing this spectroscopic task with very high precision requires detectors that can respond on the nano-second time scale.

Duties:

The research scope has two potential branches from which the student may chose depending on his/her interest:
Designing and testing detector arrays composed of solid-state photo sensors called SiPMs for various spectrometer geometries:
Testing and programing the electronics interface (called a “Front-End”) which detects, digitizes and partially processes the pulses from the sensors and communicates the processed digital data to a data-analysis computer.
The former includes optical, mechanical and simple electronic designs. The latter includes control and testing of an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) which involves the programing of Field Programmable Gated Arrays (FPGAs) in their specific hardware description language.
This project will strongly appeal to those students in electrical engineering or experimental physics who are interested in designing experimental apparatus and/or device-level hardware programming with advanced built-in processing and controls.

-Weekly meetings with the supervisor (usually on the Monday of the week, but flexible) to discuss ideas, goals and progress.
-Recognizing that prototype R&D, programing and testing tasks might not match with fixed length daily work hours, the work schedule will accommodate the required flexibility.
-Consolations with the supervisor (as needed) to ensure project progress.

Skills learned during this work experience:

How to test GHz speed Analog and Digital electronics using a pulse generator, laser and a scope.
How to control ASIC by pulse sequence or how to program FPGA using a hardware description language, such as VerilogHDL.
How to control FPGA by socket programming in C++ or python.

Qualifications:

-Physics or Electronics Engineering course work.
-Basic knowledge of electronic components and familiarity with basic electronic testing devices.
-Knowledge of computer programming (C++ or python) is desirable, but could be learned on the job.

Shiftwork required:

No

Period of work:

Jan - Apr 2019 with possible 4-month extension  
Salary is commensurate with academic progress and previous relevant work experience, and ranges from $ 2080 to $ 2800 per month plus 4% vacation pay.
TRIUMF pays round-trip airfare (this does not apply to Vancouver/Victoria students); for Vancouver Island students, TRIUMF will pay ferry costs.

TRIUMF is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace, and we welcome applications from all qualified undergraduate students as defined below:

  • Canadian undergraduate students or Canadian Permanent Resident undergraduate students enrolled in an accredited post secondary institution in Canada (or outside Canada) who are studying in a vocational or professional training program that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate.
  • Foreign full-time undergraduate students currently enrolled at a designated learning institution at the post-secondary level, and who are studying in an academic, vocational or professional training program that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate that is at least six months in duration, and who have a valid Canadian study permit which allows for employment off-campus, and who have applied for a Social Insurance Number
  • Foreign undergraduate students enrolled in a recognized undergraduate program of study abroad who have accepted, or are in the process of accepting, an "Invitation to Apply" for a work permit under the International Experience Canada (IEC) program http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/iec/apply.asp

Applications must be received at TRIUMF by 4:00pm Pacific time on 2018-09-24.

To apply for any of the job postings, you must submit one application for each and every job for which you wish to be considered. Please combine all documents into one PDF for each job. All applications can be attached to one email in PDF format. Please do not send electronic documents in formats other than PDF. Please save the PDF as lastname-job number (eg Smith-15.pdf)

    An application consists of a:
  • Covering letter
  • Resume
  • Transcript of all post secondary grades (unofficial copies are accepted)
  • in addition, an online application form must be filled out for each job
    Applications must also clearly indicate:
  • The number of academic terms completed (i.e. terms, semesters, or quarters)
  • The number of work terms completed (or the equivalent)
  • The TRIUMF Job Number must be clearly stated in the covering letter

Students within an university co-op program MUST apply for TRIUMF jobs through their university co-op education office.

Email to:

student@triumf.ca

Mail to:

TRIUMF Student Program
Job Number TR19-1-10
4004 Wesbrook Mall
Vancouver, B.C.
V6T 2A3

No phone calls please. TRIUMF wishes to thank all applicants for their interest, and regrets that only those being considered will be contacted.

TRIUMF is located on the campus of the University of British Columbia.
For more information, visit our web site
http://www.triumf.ca