Tag: PhD position

The Theoretical Gravitation and Cosmology group at the University of Trento might have one funded PhD position starting in November 2026 and supervised by Prof. Massimiliano Rinaldi.
The selection process is led by a committee, appointed by the Department of Physics, that evaluates all candidates in all physics fields and makes a ranking based on letter of motivation, academic CV and interview (live or online). Details of the selection process can be found here.
Please note that the official 2026 call is not open yet and this announcement is just an unofficial gathering of expressions of interest, to be sent by March 31 2026 and is not an application. The call is expected to open around mid-April 2026.

The net salary is about 1200 per month, which is OK to live in Trento in a shared accommodation. For healthcare regulations, please see
https://www.unitn.it/en/international/coming-unitrento/all-you-need-know/health-insurance
Some travel money is also granted every year. PhD students in our group are usually included in the local section of the INFN (National Institute for Nuclear Physics), which can provide for extra travel funding.
The position does not require any teaching although a limited amount of (paid) tutoring can be arranged.

The project

The research project is centred at the interplay of theoretical gravitation, cosmology and black hole physics, with particular attention to the so-called cosmological coupling of compact object masses and the corresponding phenomenological signatures. The detailed project can be tuned upon the specific skills of the selected candidate. The ideal candidate has a strong background in theoretical physics, especially in general relativity. A good knowledge of topics such as black hole physics, dark matter, dark energy, and cosmology is a plus. Also, skills in numerical computation might be important, although not essential. To have a better idea of the research work, please look at my recent publications here.

The city
Trento is a charming, medium-sized medieval town located in the heart of the Italian Alps. The town regularly tops rankings for quality of life in Italy. It is surrounded by nature (mountains, lakes, woods,…), and the Trentino Alto-Adige region (https://www.visittrentino.info/en) is home to 2 UNESCO World Heritage sites, while also being a renown skiing site, and boasting a rich culinary and wine-making tradition. The city is well connected to the rest of Italy, as well as Central Europe, with e.g. Milan, Turin, Trieste, Ferrara, Bologna, Padova, Venice, Florence, Pisa, Innsbruck, and Munich all being within no more than a 4-hour train ride or drive. The University of Trento is a young, but highly dynamic and international University, and regularly tops the rankings for medium-sized Universities in Italy, especially within the physical sciences.

Procedure

Please submit the following material:

• Academic CV (with transcript of records, if available);
• Letter of motivation (1 page max);
• One letter of reference.

via AcademicJobsOnline at at this link by March 31, 2026.
Any material sent in other ways will not be considered.

The Italian PhD selection procedures are quite unique, so read carefully the regulations linked above.

For more information (but read the selection procedure first!), please send an email to massimiliano [dot] rinaldi [at] unitn [dot] it.

Please find here full details.

The Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing (CAS) at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne invites applications from high-calibre students of any nationality for its PhD program. CAS is one of Australia's largest astronomy research institutes, with approximately 25 faculty, 20 postdoctoral researchers, and 40 PhD students. Swinburne has guaranteed access to the 10-m Keck telescopes, with our astronomers and students regularly obtaining time at the world's major optical and radio observatories. They also study gravitational wave sources with LIGO, and use Ngarrgu Tindebeek, the next generation Australian Supercomputer for theoretical and observational astrophysics. Application deadline March 13, 2026.

A list of research projects being offered can be found at this webpage. Applicants may express interest in one or more projects and are encouraged to contact potential supervisors prior to submitting their Expression of Interest. The deadline for Expressions of Interest (see associated web link) is 13 March 2026.

While some projects have guaranteed funding, most projects are conditional on receiving a University-wide competitively allocated scholarship. PhD scholarships include a tax free stipend, of approximately $34,700 AUD p.a., receive a tuition waiver, and have access to funding for travel to telescopes, international conferences, and collaborative meetings.

The Centre is located in the lively inner city suburb of Hawthorn, only minutes by public transport from Melbourne’s city centre. Melbourne is top ranked for its quality of life and as a destination for working abroad. Swinburne provides a positive and supportive work environment and comprehensive benefits, including vacation, sick, and parental leave, and thesis publication and relocation cost allowances.

We strongly encourage applications from women, Indigenous and First Nations peoples, people with disability, and candidates from diverse backgrounds. Swinburne is committed to the principles of equity, fairness and inclusivity and to a workplace free from discrimination. and has been recognised as a Workplace Employer of Choice for gender equality. CAS values its diverse work environment as has been acknowledged through a Silver Pleiades Award recognising commitment to inclusion, diversity and equity in astronomy.

Applicants should familiarise themselves with the University’s English language certification requirements, which are tied to Australian Government visa conditions. Applicants are requested to confirm that they satisfy these requirements at the time of submission of their expression of interest.

Please find here details.

The Astroparticle and Dark Matter group at the Center for Cosmology and Particle Physics Phenomenology (CP3) at the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) invites applications for a PhD position in Experimental Particle Physics, with a focus on cryogenic single-photon detectors for axion searches.   Application deadline: March 31st, 2026.

The successful candidate will contribute to the development of background-suppression techniques for single‑photon detectors used in axion experiments, operating at optical and infrared wavelengths. The research project includes the installation and characterization of a cold optical filter bench inside a dilution refrigerator, and the evaluation of its performance when coupled to a transition edge sensor (TES) or superconducting nanowire single‑photon detector (SNSPD). Additional responsibilities include developing efficient coupling of free‑space optics to optical fibers, conducting extended data‑taking runs with TES and SNSPD systems, and performing data analysis. Contributions to the development of novel experimental designs for dark matter axion searches are also possible.

Our group provides hands-on access to state-of-the-art cryogenic facilities and the opportunity to work within major international research collaborations. CP3 is embedded in a vibrant and interdisciplinary research environment at SDU, with close ties to leading groups in light–matter interactions and nanophotonics, as well as to theoretical physicists in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. We collaborate closely with scientists of the ALPS II collaboration and parts of the experimental work will be carried out at DESY, Hamburg.

Applicants should indicate whether they are applying for a 3‑year PhD position, in which case a Master’s degree (or equivalent qualification) in physics or a closely related field is required, or for a 4‑year integrated Master’s and PhD program.

Essential qualifications include:

• a strong motivation for fundamental research
• a solid background in particle physics
• experience with optics.

Experience in cryogenics, data analysis, programming, nanophotonics, and working in international research teams or collaborations will be considered an advantage.

For more information about the position, please contact Associate Professor Manuel Meyer (mey(at)sdu.dk).

Please find here full details

The University of Stavanger invites applicants for three 3-year PhD Fellowships in Physics – Neutron Stars & QCD / Gravitational Waves & Black Holes / Generalised Theories of Gravity  - at the Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Mathematics and Physics. The start date is flexible, but no later than September 2026. Application deadline on March 12, 2026

Each of the successful candidates will join the Stavanger Particle, Astroparticle and Cosmology Theory (SPACT) group and conduct research in one of the following areas:

Neutron-star cores, ultradense nuclear matter, and quantum chromodynamics (QCD), supervised by Prof. Aleksi Kurkela
Gravitational waves, black holes and tests of general relativity, supervised by Prof. Alex Nielsen
Quantum field theory in curved spacetime and generalised theories of gravity, supervised by Prof. Eirik Svanes

Applicants should have a strong background in theoretical physics. Experience with quantum field theory, thermal QCD, numerical modelling of neutron stars, gravitational-wave signals, modelling of astrophysical black holes, generalised theories of gravity, supergravity, string theory, and/or quantum field theory in curved spacetime will be considered an advantage.

Candidates who will complete their Master’s degree in spring 2026 are also welcome to apply.

We offer:

• PhD education in a lively research environment with expertise in QCD, gravitational wave physics, cosmology, and related fields.
• Relevant PhD courses
• Salary of NOK 550,800 gross per year, with development according to seniority
• A range of additional benefits

Application process:
The application deadline is 12th March 2026.

Applications must be submitted via the Jobbnorge portal. Please upload your CV, application letter, and other relevant documents.

Note that formal documentation of English proficiency is required.

Contact:
Prof. Aleksi Kurkela – aleksi.kurkela(at)uis.no
Prof. Alex Nielsen – alex.nielsen(at)uis.no
Prof. Eirik Eik Svanes – eirik.e.svanes(at)uis.no

Please find here full details

The Institute for Nuclear Physics in the Faculty of Physics at the University of Münster, Germany, is seeking to fill the position of a Doctoral Research Associate (Wissenschaftlicher MitarbeiterIn, salary level E 13 TV-L) at the earliest possible date. We are offering a fixed-term part-time position (67%) for 3 years. Full-time employees are required to teach 4 hours per week during the semester. Application deadline February 28th, 2026.

Please find here full details.

The University of Auckland in New Zealand is seeking a highly motivated and skilled student with a strong background in physics, mathematics, statistics, computer science, or a related discipline to take on a three-year PhD project that will help us prepare for the next galactic supernova using deep learning.

Core-collapse supernovae are among the most energetic events in the Universe and are expected to produce rich gravitational-wave (GW) signals that encode information about extreme matter, rotation, and explosion mechanisms. Unlike compact binary mergers, these signals are poorly modelled and difficult to detect using traditional matched-filtering techniques. This PhD project aims to develop and apply modern deep learning methods to detect and characterise supernova GW signals in data from ground-based detectors such as LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA.

The successful candidate will design probabilistic deep learning models to learn physically meaningful signal representations and to perform Bayesian inference in the presence of realistic detector noise and transient glitches. The project will explore how learned latent spaces can be used for detection, parameter estimation, and model comparison, and how these approaches complement existing burst and excess-power searches used by the LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA Collaboration.

This research sits at the intersection of astrophysics, statistics, and artificial intelligence, and will involve close interaction with international GW data-analysis efforts. The student will gain experience in deep learning, Bayesian inference, high-performance computing, and gravitational-wave astronomy, with opportunities to contribute to cutting-edge searches for the first gravitational-wave detection of a core-collapse supernova.

Applicants should have a strong background in physics, mathematics, statistics, computer science, or a related discipline, with an interest in machine learning and astrophysical data analysis. Programming experience (e.g. Python, PyTorch/JAX) is desirable.

The PhD scholarship is available from March 2026 and provides an annual (tax-free) stipend of $35,000 NZD plus tuition fees for three years.

To apply for this scholarship, please send your CV, academic transcript, and a description of yourself to Dr Matt Edwards (matt.edwards(at)auckland.ac.nz).

Possibility of pursuing a PhD in gravitational wave physics at the Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC) in Barcelona [see a description below] through the: Doctoral INPhINIT Incoming fellowship program of the LaCaixa Foundation. Application deadline: January 23rd, 2025, at 2 pm CET.

Candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Spain for more than twelve months in the three years immediately preceding the closing date of the call.

The ICE-CSIC, as a research centre accredited with the Spanish Seal of Excellence María de Maeztu will support applications of interested candidates to work in any aspect of gravitational wave astronomy, from instrumentation to theory. ICE members participate in LISA, LVK, and ET.

Contact: Carlos F. Sopuerta (carlos.f.sopuerta(at)csic.es), Sascha Husa (sascha.husa(at)csic.es), Miquel Nofrarias (nofrarias(at)ice.csic.es)

Please find here full details.

Prof. M. Czakon and Prof. M. Worek invite applications for Ph.D. positions in theoretical particle physics (hep-ph) with a starting date in the fall of 2024. The PhD projects concern precision Standard Model predictions for the LHC, perturbative QCD, top quark and Higgs boson physics. The recipients will be hosted by the Institute for Theoretical Particle Physics and Cosmology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany. The deadline for applications is June 7, 2024.

We explicitly encourage applications from qualified women. Applicants with disabilities will be given preference if equally qualified.

More information about the Institute for Theoretical Particle Physics and Cosmology, RWTH Aachen University can be found at:

https://www.particle-theory.rwth-aachen.de

The PhD positions are funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The PhD students will be eligible for association with

• the Research Training Group: Physics of the Heaviest Particles at the LHC – http://www.rwth-aachen.de/rtg2497
• the Transregional Collaborative Research Centre: P3H – Particle Physics Phenomenology after the Higgs Discovery – https://p3h.particle.kit.edu/.

Please enclose in the application:

• cover letter stating your interests, motivation, and preference for either Prof. Czakon or Prof. Worek
• research statement,
• curriculum vitae,
• degree certificates and study transcripts with a description of the grading scheme,
• abstract (maximum half a page) of your diploma or masters thesis,
• list of your publications (if any).

Please arrange for 2 letters of recommendation to be submitted via AcademicJobsOnline.org.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a job interview shortly after the deadline. The job interview will include:

• an oral scientific presentation (20 minutes) given by you on a subject of your choice,
• an interview to gain a deeper understanding of your knowledge and motivation.

Please find here full details.