TRIUMF
Canada's National Laboratory for Particle and Nuclear Physics
STUDENT JOB PROGRAM
Spring 2019 job posting
Job number TR19-1-9

Position Title:

Cryostat R&D Student with CMMS 

Name of Project:

R&D of Control Scheme and Designing of Cryostats used in MuSR and beta-NMR. 

Overview:

The Centre for Molecular and Materials Science (CMMS) provides unique tools for Canadian and international scientists to better understand matter at the microscopic level. We provide intense spin-polarized beams of muons (µ+ or µ−) and lithium-8 (8Li), which are implanted into a material and characterized with novel magnetic resonance techniques known as µSR (muon spin rotation / relaxation / resonance) and βNMR (beta-detected nuclear magnetic resonance). µSR and βNMR can provide unique information about a wide range of materials (magnetic systems, superconductors, semiconductors, batteries and free radicals) that is unavailable with conventional spectroscopic methods.

Cryostat is a device used to cool the specimen for measurement to a low temperature (1.5K-300K). Temperature is generally controlled by two components to achieve the set point: needle valve to control the supply of liquid helium (cryogen) and the heater power to stabilize the temperature. Conventional approach is to empirically set the need valve value for each temperature region and control the heater power relying on the preset scheme built in a commercially available temperature controller. The convergence time to the target temperature is not as fast as anticipated due to the empirical and/or factory preset nature of the control scheme.
This project aims to achieve a much faster convergence to the target temperature: using the machine learning technology recently focused or something similar to establish a better scheme of controlling both the needle valve and the heater.

Duties:

-Weekly meetings with the supervisor (usually on the Monday of the week, but flexible) to discuss ideas, goals and progress.
-Recognizing that 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:

Theory of stability control, especially fast and stable control of temperature beyond the established PID control of the heater.
Implementation of the control theory to a computer program.
Experience in cryogen (liquid helium) handling and cryostat control.

Qualifications:

-Physics or Electronics Engineering course work.
-Basic knowledge of specific heat and thermodynamic response.
-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 TR19-1-9
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