Open Position PhD Position in Neutrino Group

Opening Date:
Closing Date: Until Filled
Ref:2025/57_NEUTRINO_PhDStudent

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.

About the Neutrino Group

Long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments provide a unique window into CP violation in the leptonic sector. The current world-leading experiment, T2K in Japan, published the first constraints on the CP violation phase in 2020. Since then, T2K has upgraded both its near detector, ND280, and its neutrino beam, significantly enhancing its physics reach. T2K will continue running until its successor, Hyper-Kamiokande (HK), begins operation in May 2028. ND280 will remain central to this effort, playing a key role in achieving HK’s ambitious physics program, such as measuring the delta CP phase.
The IFAE Neutrino Group has been deeply involved in both T2K and HK, with a strong focus on ND280. The group contributed to the construction of the original ND280 (2005–2009) and its recent upgrade (2020–2024). Over the years, several PhD students and Postdoctoral Researchers from IFAE have contributed to the analysis of T2K ND280 data over the years, and today the group holds major responsibilities in preparing ND280 for HK, as well as ensuring its full physics exploitation in the HK era.

What will be your role?

The successful candidate will work on analaysis of data taken with Water Cherenkov detectors, T2K SK and WCTE, to study charged pions.

Required skills and evaluation criteria

The successful candidate will be expected to have:

  • A Master degree or equivalent in physics, computer science, or related field.
  • Good English communication skills.
  • Familiar with data analysis, data representation and programming.
  • Capacity to collaborate in international and diverse groups.

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

  • Scientific excellence based on the CV, 25 points
  • Adequacy and interest for the offered position, 10 points
  • Previous experience in T2K and WCTE, 35 points
  • Previous experience with fitqun, 30 points

Offered contract

  • Full-time Contract (40 h/week)
  • Predoctoral contract (2 years maximum)
  • The position will correspond to a Predoctoral Researcher.
  • Salary will be proportional to experience and qualifications within the corresponding category range.
  • Work with interesting experimental science. Opportunity to gain first-hand learning experience. Personal growth, innovation and learning every day.

Application and Selection process

Applications should be submitted to Dr. Thorsten Lux thorsten.lux@ifae.es and rrhh@ifae.es stating the job reference (2025/57_NEUTRINO_PhDStudent) as the subject of the message. The mail should include an updated CV.

For further information please contact: Dr. Thorsten Lux thorsten.lux@ifae.es

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.

Funding Statement