PhD Studentship on the FASER(2) experiment

PhD studentship in the Experimental Particle Physics Group

Type of award

Postgraduate Research

PhD project

FASER stands for “ForwArd Search ExpeRiment” and is one the newest experiments based at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. It is a novel experiment searching for exotic long-lived and weakly-interacting new particles. Such particles are excellent candidates to explain the existence of Dark Matter. If they exist, these exotic particles would be produced in collisions inside the ATLAS detector and detected nearly 500m away in FASER.

The Sussex Experimental Particle Physics group has had involvement in the construction and commissioning of the FASER detector that is now installed underground at CERN. FASER is currently taking data during LHC Run 3 and the candidate will make major contributions to the analysis of this data with a view to probing brand new areas of phase-space that have until now been experimentally out of reach.

In addition, R&D studies are underway for a significantly upgraded detector to FASER, known as FASER2. This detector would be housed in the Forward Physics Facility and would be installed in the high-luminosity phase of running for the LHC (Run 4). It has a strong neutrino physics measurement programme in addition to the searches for new physics. The candidate will investigate different designs of FASER2 to determine what layouts and detector technologies will be required to get the best sensitivity to neutrinos and long-lived new particles.

The Sussex Collider physics group has made significant contributions to the construction, commissioning and operation of FASER and is leading R&D efforts on FASER2: profiting from this experience in the group, the candidate will be ideally positioned to make large impact in this sector, also through close contact with CERN-based experts.

Amount

• Fully-paid tuition fees for three and a half years.
• A tax-free bursary for living costs for three and a half years (£19,237 per annum in 24/25).
• Additional financial support is provided to cover short-term and long-term travel.
• If you are not a UK national, nor an EU national with UK settled/pre-settled status, you will need to apply for a student study visa before admission.

Eligibility

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.

Deadline

28 February 2025 23:45

How to apply

Apply through the University of Sussex on-line system, by clicking the 'Apply' button, above.

Select the PhD in Physics/Mathematics, with an entry date of September 2025.

In the Finance & Fees section, state that you wish to be considered for studentship no EPP/2025/04.

Due to the high volume of applications received, you may only hear from us if your application is successful.

Contact us

If you have practical questions about the progress of your on-line application or your eligibility, contact mps-pgrsupport@sussex.ac.uk.

For academic questions about the project, contact:

Dr Josh McFayden at J.A.Mcfayden@sussex.ac.uk.

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