PhD Student in Physics Background and Calibration Studies for Neutron-Oscillation Searches

The Department of Physics is located in the AlbaNova University Center and has approximately 240 employees 250 students at undergraduate level and 70 graduate students. There are four research subjects within the postgraduate program: Physics Theoretical Physics Chemical Physics and Medical Radiation Physics. These subjects span over several research groups with different research activities. For information about the Department of Physics see: description

Searches for rare neutron transformations offer a promising approach to investigating baryon-number violation and physics beyond the Standard Model. Proposed experimental concepts including HIBEAM/NNBAR at the European Spallation Source require detailed understanding of potential backgrounds detector performance and strategies for identifying and suppressing unwanted signals.

The PhD project will focus on background and calibration measurements together with simulations and analysis relevant to future neutron-oscillation searches. The work includes measurements of neutron- photon- and cosmic-ray-induced backgrounds; detector calibration and characterisation; studies of detector response and shielding; and event reconstruction and signal-background discrimination. Experimental work with detector prototypes and test beams will be combined with computational studies and where appropriate modern analysis methods such as machine learning.

The student will contribute to feasibility and sensitivity studies for proposed future experiments and work within an international research environment.

The position is based in the Experimental Particle and Astroparticle Physics division at Stockholm University.

In order to be admitted to postgraduate education the applicant must have the general and specific entry requirements. The qualification requirements must be met by the deadline for applications.

You meet general entry requirements if you have completed a second-cycle degree or completed courses equivalent to at least 240 higher education credits of which 60 credits must be in the second cycle or have otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge in Sweden or elsewhere.

Specific entry requircements. In order to be accepted as a PhD student in Physics or Theoretical Physics a BSc in Physics (or equivalent) is required. The studies must include 60 credits of second-cycle courses in physics out of which at least 15 credits correspond to a second-cycle degree project. The degree project does not have to have been examined at the application deadline but work corresponding to half a semester of full-time studies should have been devoted to it. For the subject Chemical Physics courses in chemistry may replace the required physics courses. The subject Medical Radiation Physics requires a second-cycle degree project of 30 credits in the subject area or with 60 credits of physics a second-cycle degree project of 30 credits in another subject area.

In addition proficiency in English language equivalent to English B in Swedish high school is required or

• Previously completed University degree taught in English
• IELTS score (Academic) of 6.0 or more (with none of the sections scoring less than 5.0)
• TOEFL score of 550 or more (computer based test 213 internet based 79)
• Cambridge/Oxford - Advanced or Proficiency level.

The selection among the eligible candidates will be based on their capacity to benefit from the training. The following criteria will be used to assess this capacity:

• documented knowledge in a relevant field of research
• capacity for analytical and creative thinking
• initiative
• independence
• ability to collaborate
• written and oral proficiency.

Admission Regulations for Doctoral Studies at Stockholm University.

We offer a fixed-term employment as a doctoral student according to Chapter 5 of the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100). The period of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education for four years. As a doctoral student you should primarily devote yourself to your own doctoral education but the employment may include work with education research and administration to a limited extent (maximum 20 %).

A new employment as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year the employment is then renewed for a maximum of two years at a time.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

For more information about the project please contact Prof. David Milstead .

For information about the employment Prof. Michael Odelius who can also forward questions to the PhD student council at Fysikum.

Apply for the PhD student position at Stockholm Universitys recruitment system. Attach a personal letter and CV as well as the attachments requested in the application form. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement and that it is submitted before the deadline.

The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position.

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