TRIUMF
Canada's National Laboratory for Particle and Nuclear Physics
STUDENT JOB PROGRAM
Summer 2020 job posting
Job number TR20-2-6

Position Title:

Junior machine learning engineer 

Name of Project:

AI-supported accelerator tuning 

Overview:

TRIUMF accelerator complex enables world class research in fields ranging from nuclear physics to material sciences, life sciences and nuclear medicine offering a major advantage in probing nuclear physics processes and uniquely place TRIUMF as a leader in experiments at the “precision frontier” to address some of the fundamental scientific questions of our time. The priorities of the accelerator physics research at TRIUMF include the support for operation and development of TRIUMF accelerators, target systems and beam lines.
To deliver isotope beam produced by the ISAC facility and ARIEL in the future with the desired intensity and quality to various nuclear physics experiments, multiple parameters of the ISAC-I accelerator need to be tuned during a lengthy, manual procedure. Tuning process must be performed after any adjustments or maintenance of the accelerator.
The student will develop a framework for the automated procedure of control of the accelerator utilizing modern machine learning techniques such as reinforcement learning. Modern model-free and model-based techniques will be explored. Input from accelerator physicists in designing the desired qualities of the control mechanisms will be incorporated into the machine learning models. The student will utilize and configure existing accelerator simulation packages and develop a software environment for interfacing the machine learning methods to the simulation environments as well as the actual accelerator controls.

Duties:

Duties of the student will include
- Development of machine learning techniques for accelerator control.
- Utilizing existing software packages to build simulation environments for beamlines.
- Development of software framework for interfacing the model to machine controls.
- Development of software framework for interfacing the model to simulation environments.
- Model training and performance evaluation.
- Collaboration with beam physicists and machine operators.
- Presentations and reports to peers and experts in the field.

Skills learned during this work experience:

- Ability to tackle a complex, multi-faceted problem

- Deep learning
- Reinforcement learning
- Experience with deep learning libraries (pytorch) and artificial intelligence environments (Open-AI gym)
- Accelerator physics
- Oral and written presentation skills

Qualifications:

The position targets a senior undergraduate in an Engineering-Physics, joint Physics and Computer Science, Computer and Electrical Engineering or similar programme.
Ideally the candidate will have completed at least one work term.

Qualifications required:
- Strong knowledge of physics curriculum at senior undergraduate level.
- Strong background in python programming.
- Experience with numerical libraries in python: numpy, matplotlib, scikit-learn
- Basic knowledge of statistics and machine learning concepts.

Beneficial experience:
- Concepts in accelerator physics
- Concepts in deep learning and reinforcement learning.
- Concepts in control theory (e.g. PID)
- Experience with deep learning libraries in python (pytorch, tensorflow)
- C++ programming experience
- Experience with batch processing systems (slurm, torque)
- Experience with versioning tools (git)

Shiftwork required:

No

Period of work:

May - Aug 2020 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 2020-01-26.

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 TR20-2-6
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