Area of research:
Scientific / postdoctoral posts
Starting date:
22.08.2025
Job description:
The GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung in Darmstadt operates one of the leading particle accelerators for science. Currently, the new FAIR ( F acility for A ntiproton and I on R esearch) one of the world's largest research projects, is under construction through international cooperation. GSI and FAIR offer the opportunity to work in this international environment with a team of employees committed to world-class science.
The scientific management of GSI and FAIR invites applications for the position
Head of Department - CBM (all genders)
Posting ID: 25.87-5112
The Compressed Baryonic Matter (CBM) experiment belongs to the core scientific projects of FAIR. Its goal is to explore the phase diagram of strongly interacting matter at high net baryon densities with unprecedented precision. The experiment is currently entering the final construction phase with preparation of the installation and commissioning underway. A large international collaboration with 400 scientists and engineers is contributing to a complex suite of detectors.
The CBM department at GSI acts as the host of the collaboration and presently comprises about 20 scientists, engineers and technicians. Its involvement in the CBM experiment comprises the following activities with development life cycle responsibility:
* Silicon Tracking System (STS), a key detector of the CBM experiment
* Software for experiment control, event reconstruction and detector simulation
* Front-end electronics for the Time-Of-Flight (TOF) detector
* Data acquisition system
* Cave and detector infrastructure
GSI is seeking an internationally renowned scientist in the field of relativistic heavy-ion and hadron physics with leadership skills, experience of project management in large instrumentation or software projects and expertise in experiment data analysis. The successful candidate will be responsible for shaping and advancing the technological and scientific program of the CBM department in close collaboration with the international CBM collaboration including universities and research institutes in Germany and worldwide.
Your responsibilities:
* Provide scientific and strategic leadership for the CBM department
* Coordinate the host lab activities directed towards CBM in close collaboration with the management of the CBM collaboration
* Coordinate cooperation between CBM and technical research departments and other groups in the context of realising and running CBM
* Represent the CBM department in internal committees, scientific reviews and funding discussions
* Manage and develop the department team, including scientists (all genders), engineers (all genders) and technicians (all genders) and ensure compliance with safety, legal and administrative regulations.
Your Profile:
* PhD in experimental physics, preferably with a specialization in nuclear or particle physics
* Strong scientific background in the physics of strong interaction matter and experience in large-scale experiments
* Project management experience in complex, international research environments
* Acquainted with detector technologies, data acquisition and/or software development
* Proven leadership and team coordination skills
* Successful track record in acquiring third-party funding is expected
* Experience in academic teaching and in supervising Bachelor, Master, and PhD students is highly desirable.
We offer:
* A leadership role at a major European research facility
* Opportunities for professional development and international collaboration
* Prospect of a joint professorship in cooperation with a partner university in the region.
The position is permanent. The salary and benefits based on the Collective Agreement for the German Public Service (TVöD-Bund) effective at GSI.
GSI promotes the professional development of women and expressly welcomes applications from women. Handicapped persons will be preferentially considered when equally qualified.
Further Information about FAIR and GSI is available at and
If you are interested, please submit your application, including a cover letter, CV, list of publications, research statement, and contact details for references and the posting ID 25.87-5112 by 30th of September 2025 at the latest via the online portal on our job site
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