Postdoc in FEL Physics

Work group:

MPY

Area of research:

Scientific / postdoctoral posts

Starting date:

23.09.2026

Job description:

DESY

FLASH is DESY's (and the world's first) free-electron laser user facilily. Within the FLASH2020+ project, the multi-beamline FEL facility FLASH has upgraded its primary arm, FLASH1, to accommodate the first externally seeded beamline, with 1 MHz repetition rate in burst mode. We also adapt the diagnostics on both the photon and electron beam sides to match this goal. Stability is a key factor. A stable seeded source opens the door to many new experiments. Through the ErUM-Data and LEAPS-funded proposals, we develop resource-efficient and reliable Al and machine learning methods to advance ML for photon science applications while keeping large-scale research more sustainable. We are looking for a motivated postdoc to join the team and take an essential role in advancing the capabilities of FLASH with a focus on the externally seeded FLASH1 FEL branch.

About your role:

• Investigation of the coherent properties of undulator and FEL radiation with particular emphasis on transverse and spatial coherence
• Development of machine-learning-based methods to characterize (coherent) FEL radiation and deduce electron-beam properties using non-invasive single-shot photon diagnostics
• Enhance photon diagnostic capabilities, e.g. with respect to performance on ultrashort pulses
• Integration of the developed methods into the existing FLASH diagnostic infrastructure with the aim of providing non-invasive electron-beam diagnostics and supporting beam matching and optimization
• Support of FLASH operation and participation in dedicated experiments when appropriate
• Presentation of the achieved results in scientific journals and at international conferences

About you:

• PhD or equivalent, preferably with expertise in FEL physics, accelerator physics, or related field(s)
• Strong background in physics of coherent electromagnetic radiation
• Experience with machine-learning techniques and their application to partially or fully coherent x-ray sources
• Motivation to develop diagnostic methods, concepts, or instruments for the characterization of photon pulses
• Experience with Benchmarking theory against modeled or experimental data at light-source facilities as well as experience with numerical simulations using FEL and accelerator simulation tools (e.g. GENESIS, Elegant, or equivalent) are advantageous
• Good command of high-level scripting languages (Python/Matlab) is essential
• Good command of English
• Excellent teamwork abilities in an international environment

Look forward to a unique working environment on our international research campus. Respectful cooperation and the well-being of our DESY employees are particularly important to us. Gender equality is an important aspect for us. To support work life balance we offer flexible working hours, variable part-time, job-sharing models and participation in mobile work (up to 50%). You will benefit from our family-friendly and collegial atmosphere, our established health management and occupational pension provision. As a public funded employer, we offer you a secure workplace and facilitate your individual career with our comprehensive training and development opportunities. Remuneration is according to the regulations of the TV-AVH. DESY offers its employees a financial supplement for a German job ticket (Deutschland-Ticket) at both locations.

We look forward to receiving your application via our application portal:Apply now DESY promotes the professional development of women and therefore strongly encourages women to apply for the position to be filled. In addition, severely handicapped persons with equal aptitude are given preferential consideration. The advertised positions are basically suitable for part-time employment.You can find further information here: https://www.desy.de/career/Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESYPersonalabteilung | Notkestraße 85 | 22607 HamburgPhone: +49 40 8998-3392

This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over € 5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany's largest scientific organisation.