Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics / Theoretical Physics
finished (2022/10/04, finished 2023/06/10, listed until 2023/04/01)| Position ID: | King's College London-TPPC Physics-PDRA [#23113] |
| Position Title: | Topology from cosmology: axions, astrophysics, and machine learning |
| Position Type: | Postdoctoral |
| Position Location: | London, London, City of WC2R 2lS, United Kingdom [map] |
| Subject Areas: | High Energy Physics / Dark Matter Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics / Theoretical Physics |
| Appl Deadline: | 2022/12/04 11:59PM finished (2022/10/04, finished 2023/06/10, listed until 2023/04/01) |
| Position Description: |
| The Theoretical Particle Physics and Cosmology (TPPC) group of the Department of Physics at King’s College London, and the London Institute for Mathematical Sciences (LIMS), invite applications for two two-year postdoctoral research positions, as part of a Leverhulme Trust funded project to investigate “Topology from Cosmology: axions, astrophysics and machine learning”. The positions have an open start date, but must begin no later than 1st August 2023. The first position is in the group of Dr David J. E. Marsh at TPPC, and will be concerned with statistically robust astrophysical limits on axion-like particles, including but not limited to X-ray spectrum oscillations, helioscopes, and the early Universe. Familiarity with axion physics (or related dark matter physics) and statistics is essential. The second position is in the group of Prof. Yang-Hui He at LIMS and will be concerned with characterizing four-dimensional effective theories resulting from compactifications of string theory. The physics of axions in these theories will be the primary scientific focus. A background in string compactifications and related geometry is required. Applicants to both positions should have a strong background and demonstrated ability in coding with relevant high-end software in their field. Both applicants will be expected to use machine learning tools to bring their research together. Prior experience is desirable, but not essential. Successful applicants will spend one month out of each year visiting the United States for research with Prof Liam McAllister (Cornell) and Prof Jim Halverson (Northeastern). At Cornell, the postdoctoral fellow will be involved in developing computational geometry techniques for string compactifications. At Northeastern, the postdoctoral fellow will have the opportunity to collaborate at the frontier of physics and machine learning, through the NSF AI Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Fundamental Interactions (IAIFI). While based in London, successful applicants will be part of the academic environments at TPPC and LIMS. TPPC is a vibrant research group across high energy physics, with over a dozen faculty, and many postdocs and PhD students. TPPC is a member of the European Consortium on Astroparticle Physics. LIMS is Britain’s only independent research institute in the mathematical sciences, based in the historic Royal Institution in London. The wider London Physics community includes regular meetings of the London Triangle, London Cosmology Discussion Group, London Strong Gravity Meeting, the LonTI (London Theory Institute), and the London machine learning community, such as LOGML (LOndon Geometry & ML). Postdoctoral fellows in both positions will be part of a collaborative effort, alongside Marsh, He, Halverson, and McAllister, to advance the understanding of axions from the perspectives of astrophysics, cosmology, and string theory. Applicants will be considered for both positions, but should make clear which role they believe they are most suited to. Applicants should submit a CV with publication list, a two-page statement of research and 3 letters of recommendation. We particularly encourage applications from members of groups that are under-represented in Theoretical Physics. |
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