Open Position PhD Student Position for the TH BSM Group

About IFAE

The Institut de Física d’Altes Energies (IFAE) is a public consortium of the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Autonomous Government of Catalonia, and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB, a public university) whose main objective is to carry out research and to contribute to the development of high energy physics from a theoretical, experimental and technological point of view. IFAE has the status of a “University Institute" attached to the UAB and its premises are within the campus of the University.

IFAE is an internationally recognized center for fundamental research in Particle Physics, Astroparticle Physics, and Cosmology. IFAE offers an international, dynamic, and competitive environment for the training of young researchers. IFAE has been accredited three times with the “Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence” distinction, most recently for the 2025-2029 period.

About Theoretical Physics Group

The Theory Group at IFAE is a vibrant international group with active senior members working on BSM and Cosmology: D. Blas, E. Masso, A Pomarol, O. Pujolas, M. Quiros, F. Rompineve, E. Salvioni and A. Wulzer (check https://www.ifae.es/ for more information about the group). The previous areas are complemented with a very active collaboration with the experimental colleagues at IFAE working on colliders, cosmology, gravitational waves, astroparticles and quantum technologies (check also https://www.ifae.es/ for more information about these groups).

Required skills and evaluation criteria

The successful candidate is expected to have:

• Master’s in Physics or satisfy the requirements to be admitted in the Physics PhD program of the UAB (https://www.uab.cat/en/phds/physics ) before the start of the grant (expected fall 2026)
• Proficiency in the English language
• Pro-active attitude and good communication skills

The evaluation criteria and their weighting for the submitted applications will be the following:

• CV and previous achievements, 40
• Suitability of the candidate to the research activities, 45
• Letters of recommendation, 10
• Interview, 5

What will be your role?

The candidates should have a University degree in Physics or related topics and a Master degree. Being enroled in a master program in some of the strategic lines of the members of the Beyond the Standard Model and Astroparticle Physics and Cosmology groups (https://www.ifae.es/groups/theory/ ) is desirable. These include physics beyond the Standard Model, formal aspects of quantum field theories, gravitation, gravitational waves, quantum sensing of fundamental backgrounds, cosmology and astroparticle physics. Candidates are expected to carry independent and collaborative research in these topics leading to a PhD in 4 years.

Offered contract:

• Full-time contract (40 hours/week).
• Predoctoral Contract 4-year
• The position will correspond to “Predoctoral Researcher (R1)” within the professional categories of the IFAE.
• Salary will be proportional to experience and qualifications within the corresponding category range.
• Work with interesting experimental science. Travelling to scientific singular infrastructures. Opportunity to gain experience learning first-hand. Personal growth, innovation, and learning every day.
• The selected candidate is expected to join the IFAE as soon as possible.

Application and Selection process:

Applications should be submitted to phd2025bsm@ifae.es and rrhh@ifae.es stating the job reference (IFAE2025/28_THBSM_SO_PhDStudent) as the subject of the message. The e-mail should include: 1) a motivation letter, 2) updated CV, 3) a full list of university grades (Master and Bachelor). Additionally candidates should arrange to have two letters of reference sent to the above e-mail addresses.

Sending CVs to the above addresses implies consent to the IFAE’s legal warning on data privacy.

The application must contain a personal identification number (DNI, NIE or passport) in order to proceed to the verification of absence of conflict of interest required by Recovery and Resilience Mechanism of the Spanish Government.

IFAE is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace and social integration of people with a disability. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates. People from groups that are typically underrepresented in the labour market in general and in Science and Engineering in particular, such as women, minorities, or people with a disability, are particularly encouraged to apply.

A Selection Committee will evaluate the received applications. If more than one candidate seems equally suitable for the position, the Selection Committee will arrange an on-line interview with each one of them as part of the Selection process.

In compliance with article 121 of the Spanish Public Sector Legal Regime Act, staff with a pre-existing relationship with the Consortium administration (Generalitat de Catalunya and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona) will have priority in the awarding of the position.

You may contact Dr. Alex Pomarol (pomarol@ifae.es ) for any questions related to this job opening.

Funding Statement

Esta plaza está financiada en el marco de la acreditación Severo Ochoa de IFAE CEX2024-001441-S (2025–2028), concedida por el MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033.