PhD Studentship on BSM physics with the top quark – ATLAS experiment (2023)

What you get

• Fully-paid tuition fees for three and a half years at the home fee status.
• A tax-free bursary for living costs for three and a half years (£17,668 per annum in 2022/23).
• Additional financial support is provided to cover short-term and long-term travel.
• If you are not a UK national, nor an EU national with UK settled/pre-settled status, you will need to apply for a student study visa before admission.

Type of award

PhD studentship in the EPP Group

PhD project

http://www.sussex.ac.uk/epp/

The ATLAS group at the University of Sussex invites applications from talented and inquisitive students for a PhD place in Experimental Particle Physics, to join work under the supervision of Prof. Iacopo Vivarelli.

Lacking clear signals of physics beyond the Standard Model at the Large Hadron Collider, it is imperative to investigate whether small physics contributions from new phenomena may affect either rare or kinematically difficult Standard Model processes. Focusing mainly on the associated production of top and bottom quarks with vector bosons or missing transverse momentum from the production of invisible dark matter particles, the candidate will develop a strategy to use search techniques together with inclusive and differential cross section measurements sensitive to different Beyond the Standard Model processes, also using the framework of Standard Model Effective Field Theories. Given the current limits, advanced analysis techniques, possibly involving the use of machine learning techniques, will have to be explored.

The ATLAS-Sussex group has a remarkable track record in investigating new physics connected with third generation quarks, in particular in the area of supersymmetry and dark matter production. The group has also had significant contributions in measurements of ttZ, ttW, ttH production mainly in multilepton final states. Profiting from this expertise, the candidate will be ideally positioned to make large impact in this sector, also through close contact with CERN-based experts

Funding is available for a September 2023 start which includes a tax-free bursary (£17,668 per annum in 2022/23) and fully paid (at the Home student level) tuition fees for 3.5 years. Additional financial support is provided to cover short-term and long-term travel. Interviews of shortlisted candidates will be held in February and March initially and will continue until positions are filled. Applications from self-funded students interested in available projects are also welcome at any time of the year.

Eligibility

Applicants must hold, or expect to hold, at least a UK upper second class degree (or non-UK equivalent qualification) in Physics, or a closely-related area, or else a lower second class degree followed by a relevant Master's degree.

This award is open to UK and International students.

Deadline

28 February 2023 18:00

How to apply

Apply through the University of Sussex on-line system. 

https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/phd/apply/log-into-account

Select the PhD in Physics, with an entry date of September 2023.

In the Finance & Fees section, state that you wish to be considered for studentship no EPP/2023/05

We advise early application as the position will be filled as soon as a suitable applicant can be found.

Due to the high volume of applications received, you may only hear from us if your application is successful.

Contact us

For more details about the project, or for academic questions please contact the coordinator of EPP PhD admissions, Prof Iacopo Vivarelli: I.Vivarelli@sussex.ac.uk

For practical questions about applications and/or eligibility for funding, please contact mps-pgrsupport@sussex.ac.uk

Applications: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/phd/apply

Please state in the Finance section of the online form that you are applying for STFC EPP studentships.