International PhD Program

Training in High Energy Physics, Astroparticle Physics and Cosmology or Nuclear Physics, with a strong emphasis in the international dimension, has always been a key activity at the Institute. Our PhD program in Particle and Nuclear Physics provides world-class training for young graduates in Physics and related areas interested in starting a scientific career in one of the topics included in our Research Programs.

Entrance to the PhD program follows the rules of the University of Santiago de Compostela (https://www.usc.gal/en/studies/doctoral-programme). We invite all interested candidates to contact us for information at phd_program@igfae.usc.es. Some specific topics for thesis are:

Background

High-Energy Experimental Physics

SA1: The Standard Model to the Limits
  • Radiation hard silicon pixel detectors with timing capabilities
  • Development of readout systems for silicon pixel detectors
  • Measurements of CP-violating observables in LHCb
  • Exploring dark sectors with the LHCb experiment at CERN
  • Lepton Flavour Universality tests in the LHCb experiment
  • Search for New Physics at LHCb
  • Study of heavy-ion collisions in LHCb

Theoretical Physics

SA1: The Standard Model to the Limits
  • Establishing the non-linear regime of QCD at the LHC and future colliders
  • Yoctosecond imaging of QCD collectivity
  • The structure of neutron stars in effective field theories and gravitational wave observables
  • Studies in gauge/gravity duality, integrability and String Theory
  • Quantum Information
  • Phenomenology of Standard Model and Beyond the Standard Model Physics

Astroparticle Physics and Cosmology

SA2: Cosmic Particles and Fundamental Physics
  • Ultra-high-energy cosmic ray and neutrino detection in Astroparticle physics
  • Search for the nature of neutrinos with the NEXT-100 detector at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory
  • Gravitational waves & multi-messenger astronomy
  • R&D in optical TPCs for neutrinos and dark matter experiments

Nuclear Physics and Applications

SA3: Nuclear Physics from the Lab to Improve People’s Health
  • Laser induced particle acceleration and medical applications at L2A2
  • Reactions for nuclear structure, dynamics and astrophysical studies with rare relativistic ion beams at R3B
  • Structure and dynamics of exotic nuclei at low energy RIB facilities
  • Development of nuclear instrumentation from experiments to applications
The PhD program includes secondments in international research centres as CERN, GSI/FAIR, Pierre Auger, LIGO, LSC, etc, a mentoring program, training courses and schools. Help with bureaucratic formalities and a welcome pack are provided by the Institute for international students.
If you are interested in carrying out a PhD in one of the topics above, please, send your expression of interest through:
https://igfae.usc.es/igfae/job-offer/open-call-phd-program-2021/
We work in defining industrial PhD’s in collaboration with external companies — candidates interested in this possibility should clearly make this statement in his/her Motivation Letter
IGFAE is an equal opportunity employer. IGFAE is committed to increasing the diversity of its personnel and particularly welcomes applications from women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.