Neutrino Oscillation Study and Nucleon Decay Search with DUNE

DUNE is a large international project to design, construct and operate a multi-kiloton scale liquid argon detector for neutrino physics, neutrino astrophysics and a search for physics beyond the Standard Model. The detector will be built deep underground at the SURF facility (South Dakota, USA). The particle physics and particle astrophysics (PPPA) group at the University of Sheffield is involved in the DUNE project with a broad range of responsibilities in detector construction, modelling and software development. This PhD project will focus on development of a methodology for DUNE detector calibration, in particular using atmospheric muons. It may also include development of analysis based on machine learning techniques to search for nucleon decay events and separate them from a much larger background from cosmic-ray muons and atmospheric neutrinos. Participation in the SBND (Short-Baseline Near Detector) experiment is possible via detector operation shifts (from 2023) and data analysis. The main goal of SBND is to test some neutrino oscillation anomalies reported by several experiments and search for sterile neutrinos. The analysis of the SBND data will also help to validate calibration techniques and particle identification algorithms. There will be an opportunity to spend 6-12 months at Fermilab and participate in SBND operation. The candidate should have a good knowledge of particle physics and programming skills. 

How to apply:

https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/physics/postgraduate/phd/apply