One PhD position is available in Lattice Field Theory as part of the EuroPLEx network (europlex.unipr.it).
The fellowship is available at the School of Mathematics at Trinity College Dublin under the supervision of Prof. M. Peardon. The project will be performed in collaboration with Prof. M. Marinkovic at the Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) in Munich, who will provide additional supervision.
The PhD project will be concerned with one of the most prominent quantities in the pursuit of new physics beyond the Standard Model (SM): the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon (muon g–2).
Currently there is an intriguing three-standard-deviation difference between the best measurement of g–2 for the muon and the SM prediction, where the theoretical uncertainty is dominated by hadronic contributions. Ongoing efforts at Fermilab and J–PARC experiments plan to reduce the experimental uncertainty by a factor of four, and a comparable improvement of the SM theory precision is essential in order to fully exploit the expected greater precision of experimental results. The main aim of this project will be to improve precision in the current lattice QCD estimate of the leading hadronic contribution to the muon g-2, by controlling the uncertainties related to the fact that the simulated system is confined to a finite space-time box. This will be achieved through a state-of-the lattice determination of the pion form factor using the sophisticated noise-reduction technology pioneered by the Dublin group. Secondment and frequent visits to LMU Munich are envisaged.
The deadline for applications is the 25th of October, 2019 — late applications will be considered until the position is filled. The expected start date is flexible and on the 1st of January, 2020 at the latest.
The postgraduate fellowship is funded by the European Union H2020 programme through the European network for Particle physics, Lattice field theory and Extreme computing (EuroPLEx), the recently approved Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network (MSCA-ITN). The Europlex network involves leading European Lattice Field Theory groups based at the following institutions: (Denmark) Syddansk University, (Germany) University of Bielefeld, University of Regensburg, Humboldt University Berlin, (Ireland) Trinity College Dublin, (Italy) University of Parma, (Spain) Autonomous University Madrid (UAM), (UK) University of Edinburgh and Swansea University.
The research performed within the network aims to
– Perform precision tests of the Standard Model.
– Investigate Beyond the Standard Model candidate theories.
– Probe the QCD phase diagram.
– Non-perturbatively study theoretical aspects of Quantum Field Theories.
The research provides a solid training in the analytical skills needed in quantum field theory and in particle physics phenomenology, as well as in high performance computing and in software development.
The fellowships are funded for up to three years with a salary corresponding to an early stage researcher (ESR) position with the gross monthly living allowance of 3,270 EUR per month modified by the EU correction coefficient for the country of recruitment. In addition, a mobility allowance of 600 EUR per month will be paid, and, depending on marital status, possibly another 500 EUR per month of family allowance. The ESR salary is subject to local tax, social benefit and other deductions which differ widely between countries and may be substantial (above 40%).
Candidates are expected to have a very good Masters degree in Physics or related areas at the time of the commencement of employment. They must be eligible under the H2020 ITN mobility rules, specifically, the researcher cannot have resided or carried out his/her main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting institution for more than 12 months in the three years immediately before the recruitment date (see the H2020 guide for applicants).
Please direct informal enquiries or your complete application (CV, description of research interests and, if applicable, list of publications) by e-mail to europlex@fis.unipr.it. Two letters of recommendation should be sent to the same address (by the referees directly).
The network is strongly committed to equal opportunity and diversity.
25 November 2019: The EuroPLEx position in Dublin has been assigned.
Information provided by the applicants will be used and processed for the purpose of recruiting and selecting the EuroPLEx fellows in compliance with the provisions of GDPR (UE reg. 2016/679) and Italian DL 196/2003.