Job Description
Foundation models represent one of the most powerful and promising advancements in Deep Learning, and their application to scientific domains is a rapidly evolving area of research.
At CERN's IT-CE group, we are exploring the development of a foundation model tailored to particle physics: one capable of interpreting the behavior of particles within High Energy Physics (HEP) detectors and supporting a wide range of tasks relevant to experimental data processing.
This work is carried out in close collaboration with a multidisciplinary team of experts from leading institutes across Europe in the context of TURING, a EC funded project .
As a successful candidate, you will contribute to the design and training of transformer-based architectures using data from calorimeters, specialised detectors that measure particle energy in collider experiments.
Your work will involve investigating methodologies such as self-supervised learning to enable multi-task capabilities, while optimising for computational efficiency.
We are looking for candidates with a strong background in Computer Science or a closely related field. Experience with Deep Learning, transformer models, or scientific data is highly desirable. This position is available immediately.
Your responsibilities:
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Take an active role within the TURING project, leading the performance evaluation and use case validation tasks.
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Developing a robust prototype capable of generalising across multiple detector use cases.
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Contributing to tightening the collaborations with the CERN experimental physics community on the topic of foundation models for HEP.
Your profile:
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PhD in Data Science, Mathematics or Physics.
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Proven experience developing, training, and deploying deep learning models in production environments, with hands-on expertise in neural network architectures, large-scale data processing, model optimisation, and performance evaluation.
Skills:
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Strong proficiency in Python and deep learning frameworks (PyTorch and/or TensorFlow), machine learning algorithms, data analysis libraries (NumPy, Pandas), GPU-based training, software engineering best practices, Git version control, Docker, and MLOps tools for experiment tracking and model deployment.
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Spoken and written English, with a commitment to learn French.
Eligibility criteria:
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You are a national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State.
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You have a professional background in Data Science, Mathematics or Physics (or a related field) and have either:
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a Master's degree with 2 to 6 years of post-graduation professional experience;
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or a PhD with no more than 3 years of post-graduation professional experience.
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You have never had a CERN fellow or graduate contract before.
Additional Information
Job closing date: 15.09.2026 at 23:59 CEST.
Contract duration: 24 months, with a possible extension up to 36 months maximum.
Working hours: 40 hours per week
Job flexibility: Hybrid
Target start date: 01-November-2026
This position involves:
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Stand-by duty, when required by the needs of the Organization.
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Work during nights, Sundays and official holidays, when required by the needs of the Organization.
Job reference: IT-CE-CDS-2026-137-GRAP
Field of work: Data Science, AI & Analytics
Benchmark job: 100020 - Research Physicist
Global Benefits
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A monthly stipend between 6372-7004 Swiss Francs per month (tax free) depending on your degree.
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30 days of paid leave per year plus 2 weeks annual closure.
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Coverage by CERN’s comprehensive health insurance scheme (for yourself, your spouse and children), and membership of the CERN Pension Fund.
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Family, child and infant monthly allowances depending on your individual circumstances.
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A relocation package (installation grant and travel expenses) depending on your individual circumstances.
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Possibility to extend your contract up to 36 months.
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On-the-job and formal training including language classes.
Overview of CERN - Discover a world where the impossible is made possible!
At CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, we are pushing the frontiers of science and technology. Our groundbreaking work brings together not only physicists but also a diverse range of professionals from engineering, technical, scientific, and administrative fields. Together, we foster an environment where innovation and collaboration thrive.
Every day, we face exciting new challenges and opportunities to contribute to cutting-edge research that shapes our understanding of the universe. We meet these challenges through the diverse perspectives within our teams, ensuring every contribution is valued and driving our shared sense of inclusion and purpose. Diversity is a core value of CERN since its foundation, and it remains central to our mission and continued success.
If you are ready to be part of a dynamic, inclusive community pushing the boundaries of knowledge, CERN is the place where your curiosity and skills can thrive. Be part of our mission to uncover what lies at the heart of the universe! TAKE PART!
More information about us, here: careers.cern
