Area of research:
Scientific / postdoctoral posts
Starting date:
18.07.2025
Job description:
The GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research in Darmstadt operates one of the world’s leading particle accelerator facilities for fundamental research. Together with international partners, GSI is currently building the new FAIR ( F acility for A ntiproton and I on R esearch), one of the largest research projects worldwide. GSI and FAIR offer the opportunity to work in an international environment with a dedicated team committed to world-class science.
Within the research project Adaptive Laser Architecture Development and INtegration (ALADIN), we are looking to fill the following position as soon as possible:
Postdoctoral Researcher (f/m/d) for the Development of an Experimental Platform for Laser Beam Stabilization
Reference Number: 25.71-1700
Project Context (ALADIN & PHELIX):
Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) relies on laser-driven compression of fuel capsules. Future fusion energy facilities (IFE) will require highly stable high-power laser systems with hundreds of beamlines. To meet this demand, ALADIN is exploring adaptive control architectures for the active stabilization of large-scale laser systems.
The work package LAOTSE (Laser Adaptive Optics Testbed for Stabilization Experiments) will establish an experimental platform to emulate dynamic beamline processes in high-energy laser systems. This setup will be used to test advanced adaptive optics concepts and evaluate novel control architectures for next-generation IFE systems.
Your Responsibilities :
* Development of an optical testbed that realistically emulates high-energy laser beamlines and their dynamic influences
* Integration of diagnostic and actuator technologies to experimentally evaluate computer-controlled stabilization concepts under realistic conditions
* Development and implementation of software interfaces to connect the platform to a higher-level control system (TANGO Controls)
* Testing and validation of novel control mechanisms with direct relevance to future high-power laser systems for fusion research.
Your profile:
* Doctorate (PhD) in physics, engineering, optics, or a related field
* Solid expertise in laser physics, optical metrology and adaptive optics
* Experience with building complex optical setups in experimental environments
* Programming knowledge in Python and familiarity with TANGO Controls is advantageous
* Ability to work independently on scientific tasks, along with strong team and communication skills
* Excellent German and English language skills, spoken and written.
We Offer:
* Employment at GSI conducting research within the ALADIN project
* Research at the interface of fundamental and applied laser physics
* Opportunity to build an experimental infrastructure of international relevance for fusion energy
* Involvement in an innovation-driven greenfield project within a committed research team
* Publication of research results in renowned peer-reviewed journals and presenting findings at international conferences
* Career development and training opportunities in an excellent scientific environment
* Flexible working arrangements, including up to two days of remote work per week.
The duration of the position is limited to an initial term of 42 months.
The salary is based on the German civil service employees (Tarifvertrag für den öffentlichen Dienst - TVöD (Bund)).
GSI supports the professional development of women. Therefore, women are especially encouraged to apply for the position.
Severely handicapped persons will be preferentially considered when equally qualified.
For more information on FAIR and GSI, please visit and
If you have questions, feel free to contact Dr. Jonas Ohland (j.b.ohland(at)gsi.de, Tel. +49 6151-71-3381).
If you see this role as an exciting personal challenge and would like to work in an exceptional scientific environment, please submit your complete application, earliest possible start date, and the reference number 25.71-1700, no later than 14.08.2025 via our
Online-Bewerbungsportal
GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH
ABTEILUNG PERSONAL
PLANCKSTRAßE 1
64291 DARMSTADT
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