PhD Student in Non-destructive Elemental Analysis of Archaeological and Cultural Heritage Artefacts (Male / Female)

Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI) - May 30, 2026

Your Tasks

  • Contribute to the further development of the MIXE method and support the operation of the GIANT instrument, with a clear focus on cultural-heritage use cases and reliable, reproducible workflows.
  • Develop and validate spectroscopy-style data-analysis procedures for MIXE measurements (e.g. robust preprocessing, peak/feature extraction, uncertainty-aware quantification) geared toward cultural-heritage artifacts and heterogeneous materials.
  • Plan and execute measurement campaigns on artifacts and reference materials, including comparison/validation against established techniques where available.
  • Investigate and refine the reach of the method and apply it to objects raising culturally important questions about materiality, production, and provenance.
  • Contribute to curated case studies and a reusable database of analysis results, ensuring that findings are continually incorporated into the Muoniverse Museum Platform.

Your Profile

  • Master's degree in natural or material sciences, ideally in physics.
  • Strong interest in method development and data analysis for non-destructive elemental and isotopic analysis in cultural-heritage contexts.
  • Strong Python skills are essential, with hands-on experience using scientific libraries such as NumPy and pandas, as well as plotting libraries like Matplotlib or Plotly.
  • Interest in instrumentation, data analysis, and simulation of complex experimental setups. Prior experience with Monte-Carlo particle-transport simulation tools (e.g., GEANT4 or PHITS) for detector/matter-interaction modeling, acceptance studies, or correction workflows is advantageous.
  • Exposure to spectroscopy/materials characterization (e.g., XRF, PIXE, ICP-MS or related) and an interest in the quantitative interpretation of layered/heterogeneous samples is a plus.
  • Skilled communicator with a passion for interdisciplinary work with museum and cultural heritage-science partners.
  • Excellent command of English; knowledge of German, French, or Italian is a benefit.

We Offer

Our institution is grounded in interdisciplinary, innovative, and dynamic collaboration. You will benefit from systematic on-the-job training, personal development opportunities, and a strong vocational training culture. We support the optimal balance between work and personal life, offering modern employment conditions and on-site infrastructure.

For further information, please contact Dr. Michael Heiss at michael.heiss@psi.ch.

Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

Paul Scherrer Institute, Human Resources Management, Pascale Bärtschi, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland

Location : Villigen PSI
Country : Switzerland

Application Form

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