DSDC offers the possibility of doing a doctorate within the research group, together with IFIC researchers, in the field of development of control electronics for a C6+ ion injector that will be used for radiobiology studies.

The DSDC together with the Corpuscular Physics Institute (IFIC) are looking for candidates for a pre-doctoral contract in order to carry out the research work that will be entitled "Contribution to the development of electronic and instrumentation systems of a linear accelerator for C6+ ions and He2+ for medical applications".

The development of this research work is part of the R&D effort carried out in Europe to maximize the benefits of ion-based cancer therapies, which in some clinical cases have significant advantages over conventional radiotherapies (rays -X and protons). Currently, ion therapy accelerators are scarce in the world and require large and sophisticated facilities because the final energy required in these treatments is higher than with other radiations (X-rays and protons). With a view to advancing in the studies of the advantages of ion therapies, at the IFIC, which is a mixed center of the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) and the University of Valencia, the development of an injector is being carried out of C6+ ions (one of the main parts that constitute a linear accelerator) that will be used for radiobiology studies.

This work aims to face the challenges related to the construction of equipment of these characteristics from the point of view of instrumentation systems, data acquisition and control electronics. This project is being developed by the Center for Energy, Environmental and Technological Research (CIEMAT), the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), the Institute of Corpuscular Physics and various Spanish companies. This part includes stays at CERN and CIEMAT. On the other hand, the candidate will also carry out activities to set up and operate the ion injector.

Detailed description of the objectives:

• Design, construction and commissioning of an electronic acquisition system based on the microTCA (Micro Telecommunications Computing Architecture) platform.
• Design, development and commissioning of a particle beam position measurement device (BPM, Beam Position Monitor).
• Technical support to the start up of the particle injector.

Required knowledge and profile:

• Programmable electronic systems (FPGAs, microcontrollers).
• Knowledge of analog electronics and PCB design.
• Knowledge of electromagnetism and RF/microwave systems.
• Profile: Master's degree in Telecommunications, Electronic or Industrial Engineering, Master's degree in Physics with solid knowledge of electronics, or similar.
• Proficiency in English at a spoken and written level.

The contract will last 4 years, and the estimated start date will be April 2023, although it could be delayed a couple of months if the candidate is pending completion of the Master's.  

Interested candidates should send their CV to daniel.esperante@uv.es or raimundo.garcia@uv.es

More detailed information can be found here.