PhD position in experimental high-energy particle physics (CMS experiment)

CMS-Latvia group is looking for PhD students in experimental high-energy physics to perform research on the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN). A successful candidate would join the research cluster at the Riga Technical University (RTU) Institute of Particle Physics and Accelerator Technologies (IPPAT) and be enrolled into a doctoral study programme "Particle Physics and Accelerator Technologies" .

About Us. CMS-Latvia group, led by IPPAT, is formed by a collaboration between the two leading universities in Latvia - Riga Technical University and the University of Latvia. Our current physics focus is on the study of the properties of the top quark and the Higgs boson. Furthermore, our group is involved in the MIP Timing Detector (MTD) sub-detector project at CMS.

At present, CMS-Latvia group comprises three senior staff and eight doctoral students, as well as a research engineer.

In addition to our experimental high-energy physics (HEP) activities, our Institute is also involved in accelerator technologies development projects at CERN.

About You. The applicant should have a master’s degree in physics, mathematics or another closely related field of science by the start time of the PhD. The ideal candidate will have at least some programming experience using Python and/or C++, good understanding of methods of analysing experimental data, as well as existing knowledge of modern physics topics, such as quantum mechanics and particle physics.

Minimum requirements:

• Master’s degree in physics, mathematics or a closely related field of science;
• Excellent English proficiency (at least CEFR B2 or equivalent);
• Eligibility to work or to apply for work in the EU.

About the project. A successful candidate will join an established and dynamic research cluster at the IPPAT working towards their thesis at the CMS experiment, where they will undertake a physics study in a given CMS Physics Analysis Group (PAG), as well as contribute to the detector development and/or offline computing projects.

The target thesis topics would include the study of multi-boson physics, with a focus on di-Higgs production or studies of Top quark decay substructure at CMS. In case of previous experience or deep-rooted interest in other areas of experimental HEP, such as Standard Model physics, b-physics or soft-QCD studies, among others, alternative thesis topics could be made available.

In parallel to their thesis analysis, the successful candidate will contribute to the development of one or more areas of the MTD sub-detector project at CMS, such as mechanics, assembly and integration, reconstruction software and/or the detector control and safety systems. Alternatively, if deemed more suitable, the candidate will be involved in the development and maintenance of the WLCG Tier-2 computing site at RTU.

This is a 4 year PhD project, with an option to finish as early as 3.5 years after the commencement of the degree programme, provided the student has fulfilled all the required criteria for the award of the degree. The successful candidate will apply for and be granted a position in the doctoral study program in “Particle physics and accelerator technologies” and graduate with a PhD in the field of Physics and Astronomy .

As part of their studies, the successful candidate will relocate to Latvia for the first year of study. Following this, the student will be given the opportunity to spend up to 24 months on a long-term attachment (LTA) at CERN. The candidate will return to the home institution for the final year of study and for the submission and defense of their thesis.

What we offer.

• Opportunity to work one of the most prominent research collaborations in the world;
• Work in a dynamic and fast growing research cluster;
• Opportunity to spend a prolonged time at CERN;
• Highly competitive remuneration.

In case of several exceptional applicants, multiple positions may be available.

How to apply. The applicants should write to hep@rtu.lv or to karlis.dreimanis@rtu.lv and provide the following documentation:

• CV;
• Cover letter outlining their interest in the position advertised;
• At least one and no more than two reference letters sent by the author directly to karlis.dreimanis@rtu.lv ;
• Proof of eligibility to work or to apply to work in the EU;
• Academic transcript of the master’s level education and a photocopy of the Master’s Diploma (if available);
• Proof of English proficiency (this can include previous education having been obtained in English);

All aforementioned documents should reach us no later than by noon of the 20th of August 2024.

The selected candidates will be invited to a short interview (held remotely via teleconferencing tools) in the week after the application deadline.

The selected candidates will be enrolled into the doctoral study program in “High-energy physics and accelerator technologies” .

We invite all applicants to apply for this position, but note that, due to the constraints of the funding model, preference will be given to EU/EEA applicants as well as candidates from the United Kingdom.

For further information, please, contact hep@rtu.lv or karlis.dreimanis@rtu.lv