LIGO PEM Scientist

Caltech is a world-renowned science and engineering institute that marshals some of the world's brightest minds and most innovative tools to address fundamental scientific questions. We thrive on finding and cultivating talented people who are passionate about what they do. Join us and be a part of the diverse Caltech community.

LIGO Laboratory (the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory) seeks a highly motivated and skilledPEM Scientistto join its team.

This position is located in Richland, WA.

LIGO Laboratory is a National Science Foundation major facility dedicated to observing the newly discovered gravitational-wave universe. Jointly operated by the California Institute of Technology and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the LIGO Laboratory operates world-leading observatories near Richland, WA and Baton Rouge, LA as well as R&D centers on the Caltech and MIT campuses. The LIGO Laboratory's mission spans a broad and vibrant array of activities related to gravitational-wave physics and astronomy, including detector operations, R&D toward detector improvements, gravitational-wave astrophysics, observatory operations, and education and public outreach.

For more information, please visit the Laboratory website at www.ligo.caltech.edu

Job Summary

LIGO Hanford Observatory (LHO) relies on continuous efforts by science and operations teams to characterize and improve i) the 4-km interferometer displacement sensitivity, and ii) improve uptime of the interferometer.Both of these enterprises increase the rate of detection of gravitational wave events recorded by the network of detectors that includes LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA interferometers. The successful candidate will collaborate with commissioning scientists and the Operations team at LIGO Hanford Observatory, as well as colleagues at LIGO Livingston Observatory, Caltech, and MIT. As PEM Scientist, you will have the opportunity to apply your skills to the investigation, identification, and mitigation of environmental noise sources and couplings to the displacement noise in the LIGO interferometric detectors. These noise sources include continuous, quasi-monochromatic line features in-andbelow the detector noise floor, as well as transient, glitch-type sources. You will have the opportunity to apply your knowledge to many different parts and aspects of the Advanced LIGO detectors, and there will be many opportunities to develop new skills and expertise, including R&D for future gravitational wave detectors.

Essential Job Duties

• Evaluate the effect of environmental ambient noise on the detector, including acoustic, vibration, magnetic field, electro-magnetic interference.
• Identify and minimize coupling of these environmental disturbances into detector systems.
• Evaluate optimal sensor placements and perform coupling measurements before and during each observation run of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration.
• Develop techniques and algorithms to characterize and remove other non-environmental noise sources.
• Study noise couplings, high-power operations, and thermal compensation impacts in the interferometer.
• Experience in high-quality mentoring of undergraduate or graduate students and/or staff.
• Initiate or collaborate in writing research papers and technical presentations.
• Present research results and highlights at national and international conferences.
• After-hours and weekend work is occasionally required to support commissioning efforts. This position requires occasional travel to other LIGO installations and collaborating institutions in Livingston, Louisiana, Pasadena, California, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and possibly internationally.
• Other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications

• A Ph.D. degree in Physics, Engineering, Optics or related field. In lieu of a Ph.D we will consider 6 years of relevant experience.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience, post-education (i.e. post-Ph.D. or post-6 years of experience), in working with interferometers/optical systems, and/or scientific data analysis, and/or feedback control systems, and/or signal processing.
• Experience working in a multi-disciplinary research environment.
• Possess good verbal and written communication skills, a team attitude, and a high degree of professional discipline.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency with scientific computation, simulation and data analysis in python or similar language.
• Experience with simulation software of optical and mechanical systems.
• Experience with the design or operation of interferometric gravitational-wave detectors.
• Experience with precision electronic circuit design and/or characterization; with precision electro-mechanical system design and/or characterization; and with precision optical system design and/or characterization.

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover letter summarizing your relevant experience and describing your interest in working at LIGO Lab.