Career Opportunities

WIPAC is responsible to the National Science Foundation and the IceCube Collaboration for the maintenance and operation of the IceCube Neutrino Observatory.  Currently, WIPAC faculty and students are involved in IceCube, the Askaryan Radio Array (ARA), the High-Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) experiment, the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA), the CHIPS experiment, and DM-Ice.  WIPAC is committed to increasing diversity in our field and encourages women and underrepresented populations in particular to apply.

Open Positions

Winterover Experiment Operator
We are hiring two “winterovers” who will be deployed to the South Pole, Antarctica, for 12 to 13 months to operate and maintain the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. Training for two candidates is anticipated to begin in Madison, WI, in August 2024. Deployment to the South Pole is expected to be in October or November 2024 for 12 to 13 months with no possibility of leaving until the end of deployment. Expertise will be balanced between the two candidates over the range of skills required. Individuals must develop a good working knowledge of the entire system. More information and application instructions can be found following this link. Apply by January 31, 2024.

Director of WIPAC
The Wisconsin IceCube Particle Astrophysics Center (WIPAC) is seeking candidates to serve as director of WIPAC. This position reports to the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education. The WIPAC director will oversee the administration and management of WIPAC and will foster an effective and productive research environment at WIPAC. The successful candidate will hold a 50% faculty appointment in the Department of Physics or Astronomy concurrent with the 50% appointment Academic Program Director. Candidates must have a proven track record of innovation and high-impact research and are expected to build a vigorous, well-funded research program with an international profile. More information and application instructions can be found following this link. The deadline for ensuring full consideration is December 4, 2023.

Postdoctoral Researchers

Opportunities exist for postdocs to contribute in several areas, for instance, the search for cosmic neutrinos, studies of high-energy atmospheric neutrinos, searches for dark matter, the study of the composition and arrival direction distribution of cosmic rays, and the search for neutrinos associated with gamma-ray bursts and supernova explosions. WIPAC postdocs are expected to pursue rigorous independent research.

WIPAC supports research on ARA, HAWC, DM-Ice, and CTA. Collaboration is possible with these projects as well as with IceCube.

The center offers two named postdoctoral fellowships, the John Bahcall and the Balzan fellowships. They are awarded for three or five-year terms, with each fellow receiving a stipend and an independent research. For more information about these positions and a list of current and past fellows, see the Fellows page.

Candidates must be within the first three years of earning a PhD in particle astrophysics, high-energy physics, or a related area, and have strong programming and data analysis skills. Application is initiated by sending a CV to postdoc@wipac.wisc.edu.

Current Postdoc Openings

WIPAC is currently hiring several postdoctoral scholars to work on multimessenger and particle astrophysics. Successful applicants will have the opportunity to carry out an active research program in one or more of a variety of topics, such as, but not limited to, neutrino astronomy with IceCube, neutrino oscillation physics with the IceCube Upgrade, and gamma-ray astronomy with HAWC or CTA. Applicants with previous experience in particle astrophysics observations, theory, or instrumentation are especially encouraged to apply.

All applicants will be considered for WIPAC’s John Bahcall Fellowship. The application deadline is December 20, 2023. For further information and specific application instructions, please visit https://hr.wisc.edu/postdoc-and-research-intern-vacancies/.

Students

At UW–Madison, undergraduate and graduate students are involved in many aspects of design, testing, and analysis of WIPAC projects.

If you are a current UW–Madison student interested in working with WIPAC, contact a faculty member about student research positions.

Graduate Students

All WIPAC students are part of the Department of Physics. For general information about applying to UW–Madison, visit the graduate student admissions site maintained by the Department of Physics. If you are a current UW–Madison graduate student interested in working with WIPAC, contact a faculty member in your area of research.

Undergraduate Students

WIPAC and IceCube have a long history of involving undergraduates in research. Students have participated as part of the National Science Foundation “REU” program, or Research Experiences for Undergraduates. WIPAC REU experiences are listed under “Astronomical Sciences” and you can apply directly at the UW–Madison REU site. Applications are due in early February for project placement the following summer.

If you are a current UW–Madison undergraduate student, contact a faculty member or researcher whose research aligns with your interests. WIPAC also hires undergraduate students in non-science areas, such as human resources, video production, graphic design, public education, and reception. Open positions are listed on the UW Student Job Center, but if you have a special interest in working for WIPAC, send an email of interest to hr@wipac.wisc.edu

International Students

WIPAC hosts international students, typically graduate students. International student visits are granted on an individual basis, with invitation from a WIPAC faculty member. See the visitor page for more information.