Contact: j.janquart[AT]uu.nlLocation: Louvain, Belgium
The gravitational-wave (GW) group of the University of Louvain (UCLouvain, Belgium), hosted at the Centre for Cosmology, Particle Physics and Phenomenology (CP3) of the Research Institute in Mathematics and Physics (IRMP), welcomes applications for a four-year PhD student position on gravitational lensing data analysis for ground-based GW detectors (LIGO, Virgo, KAGRA, Einstein Telescope, Cosmic Explorer, …).
The CP3 center hosts research in physics of the Universe and fundamental interactions on the experimental and theoretical fronts. The UCLouvain GW group is part of the Virgo Collaboration at the European Gravitational Observatory (EGO) and has been active so far in searches for ultra-light dark matter, anisotropic stochastic GW background, and on a multi-messenger project aiming to detect neutrinos and gravitational waves originating from common astrophysical sources. All the data analysis studies are performed in collaboration with theory specialists and use the IRMP computing center that also serves CERN experiments (CMS and NA62), IceCube, KM3NeT, muography, and projects in theoretical particle physics and cosmology. The UCLouvain GW group is also involved in instrumentation projects for both Virgo and the future Einstein Telescope, notably at the two research and development facilities, E-TEST and ETPF. In September 2024 a new data analysis activity focusing on gravitational lensing will be launched under the direction of the newly hired professor Justin Janquart. The selected candidate will start a PhD on gravitational lensing of gravitational waves for current and future GW detectors under the supervision of Prof. Janquart.
Activities related to the commissioning, operation, and monitoring of Virgo, implying presence on site, are also envisaged as part of the PhD. Constant and careful supervision of the candidate is also guaranteed thanks to the presence in the group of several postdoctoral researchers. Computing resources and support for traveling are excellent. The UCLouvain GW group, and more generally the CP3 center, is a highly international, diverse, and stimulating environment. The PhD research work will also be conducted in close contact and cooperation with the rest of the Belgian GW community and international partners.
The UCLouvain campus is located some 25 km south of Brussels, to which it is conveniently connected by public transport, thus allowing life either in the EU capital or in the pleasant green countryside surrounding the campus. UCLouvain offers several advantages to its personnel, including reimbursement of public transport season tickets between home and workplace and free language courses. More information about life in Belgium and at UCLouvain is available here. The appointment is available for four years. The selected candidate is ideally expected to start the PhD as soon as September 2024, with some flexibility on the starting date. Applications from women and minorities are especially encouraged.
Applications must include a curriculum vitae, a personal motivation letter, the academic transcript of university studies, and at least two recommendation letters from senior scientists. Applications must be submitted online, by the 20th of June 2024, at: https://cp3.irmp.ucl.ac.be/jobs/101. Applicants should hold, by the time of the start of the appointment, a Master Degree in physics or equivalent with a remarkable academic record and they should demonstrate a strong interest and motivation in fundamental physics research. The position will remain open after the first deadline indicated above until a suitable candidate is found.