The postdoctoral fellowship program at iThemba LABS, a National Scientific Facility, operated by the National Research Foundation (NRF).

You are invited to join iThemba LABS, a National Scientific Facility, operated by the National Research Foundation (NRF). iThemba LABS is a multi-disciplinary organisation where our competency is the provision of scientifically and medically useful radiation for training, research and radionuclide production. The facility is situated in a picturesque environment some 35 km east of Cape Town.

Brief Description

• Study Subject: Experimental Nuclear Physics
• Employer: iThemba LABS
• Level: Postdoctoral
• Fellowship Application Deadline: 31 December 2010

The basic research in the Department of Nuclear Physics has carried out with the Separated-Sector Cyclotron (SSC) facility, which produces a variety of beams from 200 MeV protons to 750 MeV 136Xe. Research facilities include:
• the AFRODITE gamma-ray spectrometer, for which 9 Clover and 8 LEPS HPGe detectors are available. Ancillary devices consist of a recoil detector and the DIAMANT light charged-particle array, which will be available under a co-operative agreement. Also under development is a new digital data acquisition system and the commissioning of a TIGRESS clover detector.
• the K600 Magnetic Spectrometer, which has achieved an energy resolution of ~23 keV by applying dispersion matching techniques. Under development is a zero degree facility that will permit the measurement of proton and other light ion scattering reactions at 0° with high energy resolution ?E / E ? 10-4.
• a general-purpose scattering chamber of 1.5 m diameter.

Minimum requirements: PhD in experimental nuclear physics with the emphasis on nuclear spectroscopy with gamma-ray arrays using either light or heavy ions in the energy range available at iThemba LABS. Skills and behavioural attributes: the ability to train post-graduates up to at least M.Sc. level – to initiate and lead research projects. Your key focus will be your own research (proposing, planning and performing experiments, data analysis and interpretation, a publication of results) – training of post-graduates in nuclear physics – contributing to research projects of other members of the group – assisting in facility development and maintenance. Desirable: Experience with the commissioning of gamma-ray tracking detectors and digital signal processing-based data acquisition system

At least one, possibly two, post-doctoral fellowships (2-year appointment with the possibility of 1-year extension) is available in the Department of Nuclear Physics at iThemba LABS, with both positions linked mainly to research performed with the gamma-ray spectrometer.

Further Scholarship Information and Application