Postdoc in digital twins for neutron scattering methods

Are you passionate about simulating neutron scattering measurements, and do you see the potential in applying such virtual tools to support, or even replace, hands-on training of students and users?

This postdoc position is a part of the ACCESS project, Augmenting the STEM classroom by ESS digital twins. The ACCESS project is funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, and it is a collaboration between DTU – Technical University of Denmark, University of Copenhagen (UCPH) and the European Spallation Source (ESS) in Lund, Sweden. ESS is a future large-scale research facility for neutron-based investigation of materials in a broad sense.

The aim of this postdoc position is to design, implement, and validate McStas digital twins of selected ESS instruments to a level of detail that mimics the authentic experience of the full experimental pipeline with a set of representative and relevant virtual samples to facilitate realistic training in state-of-the-art data analysis.

The overall strategic objective of the ACCESS project is to develop even better education to train the scientists and engineers of the future. In addition to this postdoc position, the ACCESS project includes two other postdocs and one PhD position.

Responsibilities and qualifications
In our ACCESS team, we have developed McStas, the leading Monte Carlo-based ray-tracing simulation tool to design and predict the performance of neutron instruments. The first simple McStas digital twins for teaching neutron methods exist, and we have successfully applied these. Your responsibility will be to design, implement, and test the full experimental pipeline for a set of authentic samples and the related data analysis. You will validate the data produced by the digital twins by linking the virtual experiments with real data that you acquire. Depending on your competence, you will work with two neutron scattering methods selected among imaging, small-angle scattering, diffraction, and inelastic scattering, relating to the ESS instruments ODIN. LOKI, DREAM, and BIFROST. You will be responsible for choosing relevant samples, and you will also have the option of conducting experiments on more complex samples within the neutron methodologies in focus.

You will design the virtual experiments, so they are fit for teaching at BSc and MSc-level for both non-expert students, focusing on applications of the methods, and more specialized expert students, focusing on the development of the methods. Eventually, the digital twins will be fit for training new neutron scattering users.

You will work closely with the ACCESS team that also comprises a similar postdoc, as well as a postdoc and a PhD student who will work on the didactical aspects of teaching using digital twins. We will employ a design-based research methodology by iterative cycles of design, testing, and refinement of the digital twins in real educational settings.

Qualified applicants must have:

• A PhD in physics, engineering, material science, or similar.
• Experience with performing neutron scattering experiments.
• Experience with analysing neutron scattering data.
• Experience with scientific programming in Python or similar.
• Experience with McStas will be preferred
• An interest in developing high-quality university teaching and training.
• Ability to work independently and plan and carry out complicated tasks.
• Good communication skills in English, both written and spoken.

We offer

The position is located at the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen. The Institute is internationally leading in a range of fields within Physics, including the study of materials with neutron methods.

Further information on the Department is linked at http://www.science.ku.dk/english/about-the-faculty/organisation/. Inquiries about the position can be made to Prof. Kim Lefmann; lefmann@nbi.ku.dk .

The position is open from 1 Sept. 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The University wishes our staff to reflect on the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

Terms of employment

The position is covered by the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State.

The contract is initially for 2 years.

Negotiation for salary supplement is possible.

The application, in English, must be submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include

• Curriculum vitae
• Diplomas (Master and PhD degree or equivalent)
• Research plan
• Complete publication list
• Separate reprints of 3 particularly relevant papers
• A short text (max. 1 A4 page) where you outline your research vision for this project

A similar postdoc position is announced in parallel at DTU in the group of Professor Luise Theil Kuhn. If you want to be considered for both positions, you must submit your online application via the DTU and the UCPH application portals.

The deadline for applications is 1 May 2026, 23:59 GMT +2.

After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Appointment Committee.

You can read about the recruitment process at http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.