Position Description

The SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC) is seeking a Research Associate (RA) to work on Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for high energy physics (HEP) in connections with the TREASURE, a DOE HEP American Science Cloud Intelligent Data Pilot, and with the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. 

TREASURE is multi-DOE laboratory and multi-experiment HEP energy frontier collaborative effort that is developing AI-ready data and using such data to develop and study data tokenization and multi-experiment AI model training, and explore foundation models for fundamental physics.

The SLAC ATLAS group consists of approximately 20 people, of which 5 are currently based at CERN. Information on the SLAC ATLAS group can be found on our web page https://atlas.slac.stanford.edu/. The SLAC ATLAS group provides exciting and cutting-edge research opportunities on a variety of experimental areas, including

• ATLAS Physics Analysis, including SM and BSM Higgs and di-Higgs physics
• Machine learning applications in simulation, reconstruction, trigger, and analysis
• Reconstruction & Performance, including b-tagging, tracking, jets and jet substructure
• High luminosity upgrade, including the Inner Tracker (ITk) upgrade and physics studies
• Detector R&D, including targeted studies for experiments at future colliders.

The position is initially a two-year term with the possibility of renewal.

Position Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will contribute to the TREASURE project, including developing data tokenization methods and delivering AI-ready data to the American science cloud, developing multi-experiment training and fine-tuning methods, and exploring multi-experiment foundation models. The successful will also help develop LHC and other experimental open datasets for use in TREASURE. The successful candidate may also engage with physics analysis and related tasks such as simulation, reconstruction, and machine learning for ATLAS / LHC data, and other research opportunities in the SLAC ATLAS group, while also demonstrating alignment with the SLAC mission and values (https://careers.slac.stanford.edu/working-slac/mission-vision-values).

Qualifications: 


These are highly competitive positions as part of the general research associate program at SLAC, requiring a background of demonstrated excellence in research and a recent PhD in experimental particle physics, or related field, or have completed the requirements for such a degree prior to starting the position.

Deadline:

The review of application materials will begin February 20, 2026. The position will remain open until filled. The potential start time for this position is Summer 2026.