PhD studentship on the NOvA neutrino experiment and detector R&D

Applications are invited from talented, creative, and motivated students for a PhD place in Experimental Particle Physics to join the Sussex group working on the NOvA neutrino experiment and doing detector R&D under the supervision of Prof Jeff Hartnell.

On NOvA you will have the opportunity to work towards answering the question of the neutrino mass hierarchy and to develop the search for leptonic CP violation. The group plays leading roles in both the 3-flavour neutrino oscillation analysis and the joint analysis with T2K. Across NOvA, reconstruction, machine learning and calibration are areas of expertise. The Sussex group has a long history of neutrino research and a number of senior leadership roles internationally, including overall physics analysis coordination for NOvA.

For the detector R&D part you will have the opportunity to work on the exciting new idea of using opaque scintillators. Instead of relying on light travelling to the outside of a transparent scintillator, a lattice of fibre optic cables is embedded in an opaque scintillator that allows light to be collected near its point of origin. This concept is expected to have many applications since it combines high resolution and fast imaging of particle interactions with what is expected to be relatively straightforward, lower-cost manufacture.

This project also includes the opportunity to spend an extended period of time at Fermilab in the USA or at a lab in Europe.

Applicants must hold, or expect to hold, at least a UK upper second class degree (or non-UK equivalent qualification) in Physics, or a closely-related area, or else a lower second class degree followed by a relevant Master's degree.

This award is open to UK and International students.