Proposals are requested addressing the two main areas identified as priorities for HL-LHC R&D within the U.S. CMS S&C program: (1) Analysis Facilities and Analysis Tools and (2) Computing and Software Infrastructure. For Analysis Facilities and Tools, the primary areas of interest are centered around testing/debugging, development, and support of these new tools and infrastructure through their active use (including heterogeneous computing) in publication-targeted analysis. An example of such a proposal could be to extend experiment software tools to work well within a new software ecosystem and use that contribution in analysis, or to extend well-adopted analysis tools to be better integrated with accelerators. Computing and Software Infrastructure priorities include new approaches in distributed computation workload management, distributed storage, networking, new operational approaches that utilize containerization, or extending adoption of HPCs and/or heterogeneous computing for CMS workflows. Interested PIs are encouraged to contact U.S. CMS HL-LHC R&D area co-leads Lindsey Gray and Mike Hildreth with questions about topics and the application process. To enable PIs who have not yet worked in the area of software & computing to write the best possible proposal, we are happy to match the PI with an experienced mentor from the software and computing area.

Proposals should be submitted by institute PIs and consist of a cover letter, and a research statement (5 pages maximum). The research statement should summarize the proposed plan of work to be undertaken by the postdoc over a year-long period, the importance of the project and its impact on HL-LHC Software and Computing. A timeline for all major activities including milestones and deliverables over this one year period should be included. The proposal should also describe the postdoc’s past accomplishments and competency and/or present a plan for mentorship and supervision of a potential new hire (if funds allow). For a postdoc who has already been identified, please submit a biographical sketch (limited to two pages). The cover letter submitted as part of the application should specify the requested start and end dates and support needed (postdoc salary and fringe). In addition to salary support, some limited travel funds, if needed, may be requested in the cover letter. The preferred starting date for the project/award is in Summer 2022 with the award covering an initial period of one year. During this period, up to 50% remuneration for postdoc support will be provided by the U.S. CMS S&C Operations program with the remainder provided by the home institution. The remuneration will be limited to salary and fringe benefits; university overhead will not be paid. Renewals for a second year are possible but require a new proposal to be submitted; these proposals will go through the same review process as others. The research statement, in this case, must include goals and milestones achieved in the prior award in addition to work planned for the forthcoming year, as well as related milestones and deliverables. Renewals beyond the second year may be possible for exceptional cases.

The deadline for submitting applications is Monday, April 18th, 2022. Applications will be handled online at https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/21510. A review of the proposals will be conducted soon after the deadline and the results will be communicated to the applicants shortly thereafter.

The U.S. CMS Software & Computing Operations program is committed to building a diverse team and welcomes applications from universities that are currently not involved in U.S. CMS Software & Computing tasks.