Contact: u2grc-faculty@googlegroups.comLocation: Dartmouth, MA and Kingston, RI, USA
We seek candidates for multiple, fully-funded PhD positions at UMass Dartmouth and the University of Rhode Island in the broad area of gravitational-wave science.
Gravitational physics researchers at both universities have recently established the UMass-URI Gravity Research Consortium (U2GRC) — a joint gravity research group. Several new researchers have been hired by both universities, including Drs. Aidan Chatwin-Davies (URI), Sarah Caudill (UMassD), Derek Davis (URI), Deborah Ferguson (URI), Michael Puerrer (URI), and Vijay Varma (UMassD). This is in addition to others who were already present, i.e. Drs. Rob Coyne (URI), Scott Field (UMassD), Bob Fisher (UMassD), Doug Gobeille (URI), and Gaurav Khanna (URI/UMassD). Most are members of the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Collaboration, LISA Consortium and the SXS Collaboration. U2GRC currently has over 20 PhD students working on various aspects of gravitational-wave science.
We are particularly interested in applicants interested in working in these specific research areas: gravitational-wave data analysis and detector characterization, data-driven surrogate models, numerical relativity, black hole perturbation theory, and quantum information/gravity. Please apply by February 1st, 2026, for the best chances of receiving funding.
Please reach out with any questions to Drs. Scott Field (UMass Dartmouth) and Gaurav Khanna (URI) by emailing u2grc-faculty@googlegroups.com. Candidates are welcome to apply to either or both universities, but may wish to consult Drs. Field and Khanna first on the best match for their interests and goals. To find out more about the PhD programs at both universities: UMass Dartmouth Interdisciplinary EAS PhD program and URI Physics PhD Program.