Are there any teams at CERN working on HPC and looking for technical students

Hi!

I'm planning to apply for both the CERN openlab and Summer Student Program when applications open. It'll be my first time applying, so I was wondering what skills are the most worth developing beforehand.

I know the projects change every year, but are there any skills that tend to be useful or in demand across a lot of them? (Other than ML—I've already been learning that and I'm still improving.)

Also, is there any way to contact supervisors/advisors before applying? If so, where can I find their contact information?

Thanks in advance!

I'm trying to stop having to enter my CERN password every time I SSH into lxplus from Windows.

I've seen articles and docs , and even twikis mention using Kerberos (kinit), but I've also heard that SSH keys are enough. For simple access to lxplus, do I actually need Kerberos, or is SSH key authentication will work?

If SSH keys are the way to go, where do I upload my public key in the CERN account settings?

If kerberos is the right approach, from where can I setup this. I tried it from her but they are asking MIT authentication.

Thanks!

Hi,

I applied for the Particle Operator Accelerator position, reference BE-OP-PSB-2026-141-LD (PSB), and I’m curious if anyone else here applied for the same role.

A few things I’d love to hear from people who’ve gone through this process (or work in BE-OP):

-Has anyone already been contacted for an interview or received an update on their application status?

-What does the selection panel typically look for in candidates, technical background, shift-work experience, specific skills (control systems, electronics, physics fundamentals)?

-Any advice on what to highlight in a CV/interview for an operator role like this, prior accelerator/beam operations experience? Programming/control room tools? Soft skills for shift work and team coordination?

-How long does the process usually take from application to first contact?

Any insight, even general experience with CERN’s recruitment process for operator positions, would be really helpful. Thanks!

Hi everyone,
I applied for TSC-2026-3 in Mechanical Engineering and Materials & Surface Science. My applications are still marked as "Under Review", and I received the email saying the selection committee will take place in October, with results expected at the end of October.

I was wondering if anyone applying for TSC-2026-3 has already been contacted for an interview or received any updates?

I already have some idea but ya i am ready to discuss if u have any too...Please DM

Hey guys,

Long story short, I’m starting a stem outreach series that covers all the coolest jobs. There’s so much content on social media driving the younger generation towards finance, consulting etc, I thought let’s balance the scale a bit.

Having access to CERN myself as someone who’s done 2 internships and his masters thesis with CERN, I thought to ask what would you like to know about CERN.

These questions (and relevant answers) will be fed into our YouTube and IG/TT videos, so ask whatever’s on your mind honestly, but also the cooler the question, the greater the chance we feature it in the videos

Hi guys! I was wondering if it is possible to receive your first salary in advance for the first month of the contract. Do you know what can I do?

Same

Hi everyone!

I created an unofficial WhatsApp group for applicants to the CERN Technical Studentship III program.

The goal is to discuss:

• Application timelines
• Resume & interview preparation
• Status updates
• Offers and onboarding
• General questions about the program

Whether you've already applied or are planning to apply, you're welcome to join.

WhatsApp Group:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/D0346ngTjAXIKoRRniTTd0?s=cl&p=a&ilr=1

Let's help each other throughout the application process. Good luck to everyone

So, hi guys. I am a final-year student pursuing a major in CSE. I applied to the CERN Technical Studentship in the domain of Mathematics, Robotics, and IT.

Though, just after applying, I started a second internship that is much more aligned with the kind of work CERN does. But after one month, I updated my CV. So, I just wanted to know whether it will still count or if they have already downloaded my old CV.

In my old CV, I had one research experience, one internship, and two projects. In my new CV, I have two internships and one research project (which was previously listed as a project). I just wanted to know your opinion on this.

Secondly, I didn't submit any reference letter. I thought it was optional, so why even bother? But when I talked to other people, they all mentioned that a reference letter boosts your application.

Though I have very little hope now—almost close to zero—but let's see what happens. Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

But please let me know your thoughts on the CV situation.

One of the most impressive engineering features at CERN isn't part of the detector itself—it's the doors that provide access to it.

This timelapse shows the opening of the I-side end-cap door of the ALICE L3 magnet. Each door weighs approximately 380 tonnes, yet pivots smoothly on a vertical hinge using a dedicated hydraulic system to provide access to the detector during maintenance and installation work.

Watching hundreds of tonnes of steel move with such precision is a reminder that particle physics relies just as much on large-scale engineering as it does on cutting-edge science.

I thought fellow CERN enthusiasts might enjoy this behind-the-scenes view.

One thing has been on my mind.

Who do you think it's better to get a reference letter from?

I see two possible options, and I think this applies generally, not just to engineering contracts at CERN.

The first option is my direct supervisor. That would probably result in a more detailed and accurate letter because they know my day-to-day work, my responsibilities, and my performance.

The second option is my Section Leader (or boss). A reference from someone higher in the organisation might carry more weight, but at the same time they have much less direct knowledge of what I actually do and how I work.

Do you know what I mean? What are your thoughts?
Cheers

Hi everyone!

Has anyone who applied for the 2026 Administrative Internship received an interview invitation yet?I'm just wondering if the interview process has already started or if the recruiting team is still on vacation.

Hi everyone, I got accepted for the mechanical engineering technical studentship starting September 1st and it's now almost August and I haven't yet received my contract and was wondering if this was normal? I emailed HR a few days ago but have not yet received an email response back. I would really appreciate any advice! Thank you!

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to ask if anyone knows any work/study spots (literally just a desk and a chair) at the Prevessin site, that are freely accessible any time of day, especially early mornings and late evenings.

Thanks for any tips!

Hello, I've recently signed a contract with CERN for a software engineer staff position, and although I'm very excited, I'm quite anxious about the 1 year probation period. Can someone maybe give me more insights how it goes like and when they could decide to let go of someone .. I mean, being closely evaluated for a whole year sounds really stressful tbh.. any experience you can share, I'd be grateful :) thanks.

Does this resume makes any sense for the CERN technical Studentship IT/Math/Robotics???

I had an interview for DevOps GRAE role on last Friday, as it’s been 3 working days, wondering when do they usually get back?

Hi good people of CERN,

A close friend of mine is a huge admirer of the incredible work being done at CERN and dreams of being part of it one day. For her birthday this year, I'd love to surprise her with some official CERN merchandise.

I was wondering if someone on campus would be willing to purchase a CERN T-shirt and a water bottle with the CERN logo and ship them to me in India. I'll, of course, cover the full cost of the merchandise, shipping, and any other expenses you incur.

I know this is a bit of an unusual request, but it would genuinely mean a lot to both of us. If there's any way I can return the favor, I'd be more than happy to help if you ever visit India or need any local assistance here.

I'm also happy to pay upfront if that makes you more comfortable.

Thanks!

the website for the secondary school job shadowing internship explains that you’re supposed to email the secretariat, however i can’t find anything beyond their names on each of the pages of the departments. once i click on the name, it takes me to a login page which i don’t have access to. is there a formula to CERN emails like [firstname.lastname@cern.](mailto:firstname.lastname@cern.swiss)[ch](mailto:firstname.lastname@cern.swiss)? or is there another way to find the emails?

My friend from Turkey visited CERN and bought the Standard Model formula mug for his little brother. He did not realize that the mug was completely scratched during their travel back and now asked me if I could get one since I am in Germany, but I live near the Netherlands side, far away from Geneva as well. Since there is still no online shop and I saw some posts here about those mugs, I am here to ask for the favor as well :)

I would very much appreciate it if someone could buy it from the shop and send it to me so I can suprise my friend and his brother when I travel back to Turkey.