Work group:
Institute of Materials Physics
Area of research:
Scientific / postdoctoral posts
Starting date:
25.11.2025
Job description: Scientist Development of neutron scattering instruments
Job ID: 930
Location: Geesthacht
Application deadline: January 4th, 2026
The Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon in Geesthacht, near Hamburg operates the German Engineering Materials Science Centre (GEMS), a centre for synchrotron and neutron radiation materials research. Currently Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon is involved in a project dealing with neutron scattering instrumentation at a new planned compact accelerator driven neutron source in Germany.
Within this framework we are looking for a PostDoc as Scientist for neutron scattering and imaging instrument development. You will work in close co-operation with colleagues from GEMS and with the project partners, e.g. colleagues from Forschungszentrum Jülich. The position will initially be limited to 31.12.2027. In principle, the full time position (39 h/week) is also sharable.
Equal opportunity is an important part of our personnel policy. We would therefore strongly encourage qualified women to apply for the position.
Project description:
You will be responsible for the development of neutron scattering and imaging instruments by numerical calculation and Monte-Carlo ray-tracing simulations. The emphasis will be on the development of neutron instruments for engineering materials research, e.g. a diffractometer for the analysis of stress, texture and phases as well as an imaging instrument for radiography and tomography measurements and advanced techniques such as Bragg edge imaging
Your tasks
- development of instrument concepts
- numerical calculation of instrument performance
- simulation of instrument performance with Monte-Carlo ray-tracing programmes
- virtual experiments to validate the instrument performance
- pursue own scientific research in the field of engineering materials science within the scope of our Helmholtz programme-oriented funding
- presenting and publishing scientific results
Your profile
- PhD in physics or a related discipline
- experience with neutron scattering instrumentation
- experience with Monte-Carlo ray-tracing programmes (e.g. McStas, Vitess)
- background knowledge with imaging and diffraction techniques will be beneficial
- background knowledge in materials science
- team spirit
- very good communication skills
- good English language skills
Content-related enquiries regarding this position can be directed to Dr. Fenske (Jochen.Fenske@hereon.de)
We offer you
- an exciting and varied job in a research centre with around 1,000 employees from more than 60 nations
- a well-connected research campus (public transport) and best networking opportunities, subsidy for the Deutschlandticket if certain conditions are met (job ticket)
- individual opportunities for further training
- social benefits according to the collective agreement of the public service
- an excellent technical infrastructure and modern workplace equipment
- 6 weeks holiday per year; company holidays between Christmas and New Year's Day
- very good compatibility private and professional life; offers of mobile and flexible work
- family-friendly company policy with childcare facilities, e. g. nursery close to the company
- free assistance program for employees (EAP)
- corporate benefits
- a varied offer in the canteen on campus
Severely disabled persons and those equaling severely disabled persons who are equally suitable for the position will be considered preferentially within the framework of legal requirements.
Interested? We are looking forward to receiving your application. Application deadline January 4th, 2026.
Apply now!
jobs2.hereon.de/job/Scientist-%28Development-of-neutron-scattering-instruments/930-en_US/
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.
Company
The Helmholtz Association contributes to solving major challenges to assure the future of our society. With more than 47.500 people on staff in 18 national Research Centers and an annual budget of more than 6 billion euros, the Helmholtz Association is Germany’s largest scientific organization. The name Helmholtz stands for concerted research, in which networks form the key principle behind inquiring thought and action.
The profile of the Helmholtz Association
The Helmholtz Association performs cutting-edge research which contributes substantially to solving the grand challenges of science, society and industry. To succeed in meeting these responsibilities, Helmholtz concentrates its work in six research fields: Energy, Earth and Environment, Health, Information, Matter, as well as Aeronautics, Space and Transport. Within each of these fields, research programs are developed by our scientists and regularly evaluated by renowned international experts. Their evaluation forms the basis for the program-oriented funding that is allocated to Helmholtz research. Within the six research fields, Helmholtz scientists cooperate with each other and with external partners – working across disciplinary, organizational and national borders.
Moreover, Helmholtz specializes in large-scale research infrastructures – from accelerator facilities, earth observation satellites, research ships to supercomputers. They form the basis for scientific advances in tackling global societal challenges. Managing national research infrastructure is part of the Helmholtz Association's mission.
Promoting young academics
Helmholtz scientists, a high-performance infrastructure and modern and efficient research management are the ingredients to the Helmholtz Association‘s success and global impact.
Promoting young researchers is a major priority for the Helmholtz Association. Its qualification schemes for young researchers are geared mainly towards PhD students, postdocs and young managers. The Helmholtz Association has set high standards for its talent management. Its strategy begins with targeted recruitment of highly qualified staff at all levels, followed by comprehensive support aimed at further developing their potential. Ensuring equal opportunities is an essential element in all talent management activities undertaken by the Helmholtz Association.
The Helmholtz Graduate Schools and Research Schools at almost all Helmholtz Centers provide doctoral students with the general and specific skills and training they need, as well as ample opportunity to network. The period following a doctorate is decisive in determining the direction and success of a scientific career. For this reason, we established Career Development Centers for postdoctoral researchers in the Helmholtz Centers. This equips young researchers with the skills they need to go on to head a Helmholtz Investigator Group, for example. As an Investigator Group leader, junior scientists can independently set up their own group to conduct research in their specialist field and acquire management skills.
Within its talent management strategy, the Helmholtz Association pays special attention to the increased recruitment of talented female scientists both from Germany and abroad. To this end, there are currently two funding programs supporting this policy: and Helmholtz Distinguished Professorship – Funding for the recruitment of leading international female scientists (W3) .
The increasing complexity of the content, structures and framework conditions of scientific work today requires researchers to organize their projects, their employees and, of course, themselves in a highly professional and effective way. In response to these demands, we have set up the Helmholtz Leadership Academy to provide leaders in science with professional management training. Furthermore, the Helmholtz network provides a platform for the alumni of the Helmholtz Leadership Academy to come together and share their experiences of leadership, career development and lifelong learning.
All of this combined makes the 18 Research Centers of the Helmholtz Association a highly attractive environment for talented researchers from all over the world.
Company info
Telephone
0049-30-206329-0
Location
Anna-Louisa-Karsch-Str. 2
Berlin
Berlin
10178
Germany