Organisation/Company IFIC (CSIC-UV) Department Particle Accelerators Research Field Physics » Applied physics Engineering Physics » Electromagnetism Researcher Profile Leading Researcher (R4) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 11 Oct 2026 - 17:23 (Europe/Madrid) Country Spain Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 16 Nov 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

NoOffer DescriptionCategory: Predoctoral contract.

Requirements

Master's degree required.

Bachelor's degree preferably in physics or engineering, including courses in Electromagnetism.

Duration: 4 years.

Where: Instituto de Física Corpuscular (IFIC), (UV-CSIC), Valencia, Spain and AVS (Added Value Solutions) company in the Basque Country, Spain.

Start of contract: Starting in 2026.Title: Development of SCDTL accelerating cavities and RF system for the energy upgrade of the ALMA linac for radiobiology and hadron therapy applications.

Description

This Industrial PhD project will be carried out within the AITANA Accelerator Physics Group at IFIC in close collaboration with AVS, a leading company in accelerator technologies and scientific technology. As an Industrial Doctorate, the research will combine academic excellence with direct industrial involvement, providing the candidate with hands‐on experience in both cutting‐edge accelerator research and technology transfer activities.

The project is part of the ALMA (Multi‐Hadron Linear Accelerator) initiative, a strategic infrastructure aimed at developing an advanced ion accelerator facility for radiobiology studies and other research applications. The PhD research will contribute to the upgrade of the ALMA accelerator from 10 MeV/u to 60 MeV/u through the development of novel SCDTL (Side‐Coupled Drift Tube Linac)



accelerating structures operating at 3 GHz.

The work will involve electromagnetic and beam dynamics design simulations, mechanical integration studies, RF power systems, cavity prototyping and low‐and‐high‐power testing. The candidate will work in a multidisciplinary environment involving physicists, RF engineers, mechanical engineers and industrial partners, contributing to technologies with strong potential impact in future medical and scientific accelerator facilities.

Detailed description of the objectives: Training on the operation of the ALMA accelerator 750 MHz injector RF systems, cavity handling, and IH accelerating cavity conditioning at the IFIC facility.

Develop and operate the 3 GHz IFIC RF laboratory for low-power characterization, proof‐of‐concept studies, and conditioning of accelerating cavities.

Design and build an SCDTL cavity prototype, considering electromagnetic, beam dynamics, mechanical, thermal, and manufacturing constraints.

Experimentally validate the cavity through low‐power measurements, tuning procedures, modal analysis, field measurements, and high‐power RF testing.

Design the complete accelerating cavity system for the ALMA energy upgrade, incorporating experimental feedback, cooling requirements, manufacturing tolerances, and integration with the beamline.

Develop the focusing system compatible with the SCDTL cavity design and with multi‐species linac operation.

Define the RF power distribution system and the RF source required to feed the new accelerating section.

Contribute to competitive funding applications, proposal writing, and technology valorisation activities in collaboration with AVS and IFIC.RequirementsResearch Field Physics » Electromagnetism Education Level Master Degree or equivalentResearch Field Engineering » Other Education Level Master Degree or equivalentSkills/QualificationsBachelor's degree preferably in physics or engineering, including courses in Electromagnetism.

📌 PhD position (4-years), Development of SCDTL accelerating cavities and RF system for the energy upgr (Madrid)
🏢 IFIC (CSIC-UV)
📍 Madrid