PhD opportunities in Particle Physics at RHUL

The RHUL Centre for Particle Physics is now recruiting applicants for studentships to carry out research towards the PhD degree. Applications are sought, preferably before the end of March 2009, for entry in October 2009.

The Centre for Particle Physics has a long tradition of participating in Particle Physics experiments, and also has an Accelerator Science group (part of the John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science). At the moment we are expanding into the area of Particle Physics phenomenology: we are members of the recently created NExT Institute, and have recently appointed two new academic posts in this area.

The two main research areas which we are now recruiting for are the ATLAS experiment in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, and Accelerator Science research towards the development of future particle accelerators.

In brief, our group's main interests in these areas are

• ATLAS programme: analysis of the experimental data in order to search for the Higgs boson, supersymmetric particles and evidence of extra dimensions, and the physics of the top quark. We also have a major involvement in the trigger and data acquisition system. First ATLAS data is expected already in 2009.

• Accelerator Science programme: development of novel electron accelerator diagnostics, such as laser-wire beam measurement devices, resonant cavity beam position monitors and beam generated radiation monitoring. We are also involved in studies leading to the realisation of a future linear collider, and upgrades of the LHC.

Students in the experimental group spend their first three months following an intercollegiate course of lectures on advanced particle physics with students from other University of London colleges. In January of their first year they begin their project. They are likely to spend some time in the exciting atmosphere of CERN or other accelerator labs in their first and second years giving the opportunity of meeting students from many other countries as well as senior particle physicists and maybe a Nobel prizewinner or two. At the end of the first year there is a three-week summer school at RAL attended by all UK PhD students in particle physics and (group travel funds permitting) our students normally attend a summer school outside the UK at the end of the second year.

Funding for studentships from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and from RHUL is available to work in these areas. In addition, funding for EU PhD candidates is also available for projects on accelerator research within the Marie-Curie DITANET network.

Additional information

• The RHUL Centre for Particle Physics
• The John Adams Institute (JAI) for Accelerator Science
• The NExT institute (New connections between Experiment and Theory)
• Postgraduate Opportunities in Particle Physics at RHUL (poster)
• The RHUL Graduate School website (including: how to apply; other funding possibilities)
• STFC sudentships

Enquiries