Joining the team

We recruit students of any degree at the UPV. No previous knowledge of accelerators is expected: candidates learn what they need inside the team.

Departments

Every member belongs to one of four departments.

As the machines develop, the work divides into two lines: instrumentation, around ALOHA-2, and radiofrequency and beam physics, around ALOHA-1.

What members gain

Members work on real machines in a team run like an engineering project, with reviewed work, recorded decisions, defined interfaces and safety rules. Under a professor’s supervision, they gain practical experience in:

• electronics, from schematic and circuit board layout to assembly, test and microcontroller firmware;
• mechanical design and the integration of vacuum equipment;
• supervised work with vacuum, high voltage and radiation protection;
• simulation of fields, radiofrequency cavities and particle beams, checked against measurement;
• visual identity, figures and science communication;
• version control, design reviews and technical writing in English.

The trial period

New participants enter as Candidates. A Candidate joins a department and spends a trial period on design, simulation or documentation tasks with a defined scope, mentored by the department’s lead. Candidates do not work on laboratory equipment. At the end of the trial, Direction decides on admission on the basis of the work delivered. The tasks, dates and criteria of each round are given to its candidates at the start.

What we expect

• Presence. We work in person. Laboratory and simulation work are done on site, and members attend regularly during term.
• Studies first. Academic obligations come first. Members say in advance when exams or coursework will reduce their availability.
• Handover. A member who leaves hands over open tasks, documentation and access before going.

How to apply

We recruit in rounds, announced on our website and social media. To ask about the next round, write to innovaphysicsupv@gmail.com.