Ph.D. Student for dosimetry at FLASHlab@PITZ

Ph.D. Student for dosimetry at

Join to apply for the Ph.D. Student for dosimetry at role at DESY

Limited: 3 years | Starting date: | ID: APDO015/2025 | Deadline: | Full‑time/Part‑time | Remote work possible

DESY, with more than 2900 employees at its two locations in Hamburg and Zeuthen, is one of the world’s leading research centres. Its research focuses on decoding the structure and function of matter, from the smallest particles of the universe to the building blocks of life. With its ultramodern research infrastructure, interdisciplinary research platforms and international networks, DESY offers a highly attractive working environment in the fields of science, technology, administration and the education of highly qualified young scientists.

The Photo injector Test Facility PITZ in Zeuthen (near Berlin) is one of the leading international groups in developments on modern photo injectors and their applications. Current R&D goals of PITZ include improving electron source brightness beyond state‑of‑the‑art for X‑ray Free Electron Lasers as well as applications of high‑brightness beams for FLASH radiation therapy ( ).

FLASH radiation therapy (FLASH RT) involves treatments delivered at ultra‑high dose rates, and is a new and exciting opportunity for cancer treatment. The PITZ accelerator is the perfect test facility for this new technique as it is extremely flexible in the timing of the irradiation bunches and the corresponding dose rates and can deliver full treatment doses within a 1 ms bunch train. Detectors and methods established for dosimetry of conventional radiotherapy are not suitable for FLASH RT. The student will develop suitable detection and dosimetry methods at ultra‑high dose rates, making use of the detector expertise developed for particle, astroparticle and accelerator physics applications at DESY Zeuthen in cooperation with national and international partners.

About your role:

• Simulate beam interactions using software packages such as GEANT
• Prototype and test several sensors for dosimetry
• Implement the sensors and readout at and test them with the unique beam properties available
• Optimize beam dynamics and test with phantoms to optimise the delivered dose
• Analyze experimental data and compare with simulation results
• Participate in shift operation for R&D at PITZ

Good reasons to join:

Look forward to a unique working environment on our international research campus. Respectful cooperation and the well‑being of our DESY employees are particularly important to us. Gender equality is an important aspect for us. To support work‑life balance, we offer flexible working hours, variable part‑time, job‑sharing models and participation in mobile work (up to 50%). You will benefit from our family‑friendly and collegial atmosphere, our established health management and occupational pension provision. As a public funded employer, we offer you a secure workplace and facilitate your individual career with our comprehensive training and development opportunities. Remuneration is according to the regulations of the TV‑AVH. DESY offers its employees a financial supplement for a German job ticket (Deutschland‑Ticket) at both locations.

About you:

• Excellent university degree in experimental physics, with very good knowledge in detector physics and corresponding simulations or equivalent qualification
• Strong background in numerical and statistical methods
• Good knowledge in experimental characterization of particle beams; good programming skills are of advantage
• Knowledge in beam dynamics simulations / radiation physics / dosimetry is of advantage
• Very good command of English is required and knowledge of German is of advantage
• Excellent teamwork abilities in an international environment

For further information please contact Dr. Steven Worm at + ‑7‑7208 ( ).

DESY in Zeuthen does not grant doctoral degrees directly but collaborates with the University of Potsdam or the Humboldt University. Candidates for thesis research will have to satisfy the terms of admission for doctoral theses of the University.

Please submit your complete application documents (letter of motivation, CV, relevant certificates and two letters of references) via our application portal. Please use our online tool for the submission of the letters of reference: Additional application documents.

We look forward to receiving your application via our application portal.

DESY promotes equal opportunities and diversity. The professional development of women is very important to us and therefore we strongly encourage women to apply for the vacant position.

Applications from severely disabled persons will be given preference if they are equally qualified (sbv.desy.de).

You can find further information here:

Phone: