In December 2019, Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) was selected as the host site for the future Electron-Ion Collider (EIC), a next-generation nuclear physics facility designed to explore the internal structure of nucleons and nuclei with unprecedented precision. One of the central scientific goals of the EIC is to investigate the non-linear dynamics of dense gluonic matter, including the phenomenon of gluon saturation expected to emerge in heavy nuclei at small Bjorken-x. As the highest-priority construction project for the U.S. nuclear physics community in the coming decade, the EIC represents a major scientific effort, with the BNL Physics Department playing a critical role in its development and scientific program. The ePIC collaboration is developing the flagship detector for the EIC. The Physics Department at BNL is actively engaged in detector design, simulation, software development, and physics performance studies to ensure the experiment achieves its broad scientific objectives.

Position Description

The ePIC group within the BNL Physics Department invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position focused on studies of gluon saturation physics at the Electron-Ion Collider. Reporting to Dr. Rongrong Ma, the successful candidate will play a leading role in developing and carrying out a comprehensive physics program aimed at quantifying the EIC’s sensitivity to gluon saturation phenomena at the baseline beam energies. This work will involve implementing modern theoretical descriptions of gluon saturation, such as those based on the Color Glass Condensate (CGC) framework, into state-of-the-art electron-ion event generators. The candidate will simulate electron-ion collisions using realistic ePIC detector simulations and evaluate the detector’s capability to measure key observables sensitive to gluon saturation. The position combines phenomenological modeling, software development, detector simulation, and feasibility studies.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop expertise in gluon saturation and small-x QCD physics
• Implement gluon saturation effects into event generators
• Evaluate detector effects on observables sensitive to gluon saturation with ePIC detector design
• Present research results at meetings, workshops, and conferences

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• PhD in Nuclear Physics, Particle Physics, or a closely related field
• Experience with Monte Carlo event generators and physics simulations
• Strong programming skills
• Ability to communicate scientific results effectively, both orally and in writing

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Experience with deep inelastic scattering physics and familiarity with gluon saturation physics
• Experience with ROOT and detector simulation frameworks
• Familiarity with collaborative software development environments and version control systems

Other Information:

• Travel to conferences and workshops, including foreign travel, is expected for this position.
• This position is for a 2-year term. It may be renewed for one more year depending on performance and availability of funds.
• Expected start date 10/5/26
• Candidates must have completed all degree requirements by the commencement of employment.
• BNL policy requires that after obtaining their PhD, eligible candidates for research associate appointments may not exceed a combined total of 5 years of relevant work experience as a post-doc and/or in an R&D position, excluding time associated with family planning, military service, illness or other life-changing events.
• Brookhaven National Laboratory is committed to providing fair, equitable and competitive compensation. The full salary range for this position is $80800 - $84000 / year. Salary offers will be commensurate with the final candidate’s qualification, education and experience and considered with the internal peer group.

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About Us

Brookhaven National Laboratory (www.bnl.gov) delivers discovery science and transformative technology to power and secure the nation’s future. Brookhaven Lab is a multidisciplinary laboratory with seven Nobel Prize-winning discoveries, 37 R&D 100 Awards, and more than 70 years of pioneering research. The Lab is primarily supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science. Brookhaven Science Associates (BSA) operates and manages the Laboratory for DOE. BSA is a partnership between Battelle and The Research Foundation for the State University of New York on behalf of Stony Brook University. BSA salutes our veterans and active military members with careers that leverage the skills and unique experience they gained while serving our country, learn more at BNL | Opportunities for Veterans at Brookhaven National Laboratory.

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