Postdoctoral Position with the SuperCDMS Experiment, Queen’s University

Deadline on Jun 18, 2025

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral researcher in the SuperCDMS group at Queen’s University in Kingston, ON. 

SuperCDMS is a direct-detection dark matter experiment that searches for interactions of dark matter in cryogenic germanium and silicon detectors equipped with sensors that detect the thermal energy released in the interactions. The SuperCDMS Collaboration has a history of world-leading dark matter results. The next-generation experiment, featuring novel detector upgrades, is currently being installed in SNOLAB, located 2 km underground in the Vale Creighton Mine near Sudbury. Our international collaboration aims for world-leading sensitivity to a variety of dark matter candidates and masses over the next six years. The chief advantage of SuperCDMS’s cryogenic technology is the extremely low detection thresholds achievable, while SNOLAB provides a very low-background environment.

The Queen’s SuperCDMS group is led by Prof. Jodi Cooley whose team members have led efforts in data analysis, background estimations, and material characterization. The group works works closely with the SNOLAB SuperCDMS group that is led by Dr. Andy Kubik and Dr. Matthew Stukel.

The successful candidate will be stationed at SNOLAB. Working closely with Dr. Kubik and Dr. Stukel, they will take a significant role in building, simulating, and operating the SuperCDMS experiment, participating in on-site shifts and off-site data quality monitoring as well as leading the analysis of first SuperCDMS physics data. Additional duties will consist of organizing meetings, documenting software, and reviewing and authoring internal reports as well as published papers. 

Remuneration:

Remuneration is $70,000 to $75,000 CAD per year based on experience.

Start Date and Duration of Appointment:

This full-time one-year position is expected to begin September 1, 2025, and is renewable based on project funding and employee performance.

APPLY

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in experimental particle physics, experimental astrophysics, or other related research areas, by the time of the appointment.
• Strong record of accomplishments in experimental physics.
• Strong teamwork skills in collaborative research environments.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills as demonstrated by presentations at conferences and a record of publication(s) in peer-reviewed journals.
• Ability to descend the SNOLAB mineshaft and traverse the mine tunnels.
• Experience with cryogenic experiments and/or strong coding skills are preferable.
• Required Documentation:
• Applicants are required to submit a CV with publications list, a statement of research interests and 3 letters of recommendation.
• Application Deadline:
• The review of applications will begin on June 18th and continue until the position is filled.
• Application Procedure:
• Applications should include a CV with a publications list and a statement of research interests. Please also arrange for 3 letters of recommendation to be sent to the email address below. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.   
• Application materials should be emailed to Jodi Cooley jodi.cooley@snolab.ca.

EMPLOYMENT EQUITY: The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Queen’s is strongly committed to employment equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace and encourages applications from Black, racialized/visible minority and Indigenous/Aboriginal people, women, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQ+ persons.

ACCOMMODATION IN THE WORKPLACE: The University has policies in place to support its employees with disabilities, including an Accommodation in the Workplace Policy and a policy on the provision of job accommodations that take into account an employee’s accessibility needs due to disability. The University will provide support in its recruitment processes to applicants with disabilities, including accommodation that takes into account an applicant’s accessibility needs. If you require accommodation during the interview process, please contact Jodi Cooley at jodi.coooley@queensu.ca or +1(705)692-7000 ext 2299.

Contact: 

• Jodi Cooley (jodi.cooley@snolab.ca)

Letters of Reference should be sent to: 

• jodi.cooley@snolab.ca