The gravitational-wave (GW) group of the University of Louvain (UCLouvain, Belgium), hosted at the Centre for Cosmology, Particle Physics and Phenomenology (CP3) of the Research Institute in Mathematics and Physics (IRMP) and the Institute of Information and Communication Technologies, Electronics and Applied Mathematics (ICTEAM), welcome applications for two four-year PhD student positions on GW data analysis using machine learning (ML) with expected starting data September/October 2025. One position focuses on the problem of parameter estimation for modelled signals in current and future ground-based detectors, while the other position focuses on the characterization of continuous waves and the stochastic GW background.
The CP3 center hosts research in physics of the Universe and fundamental interactions on the experimental and theoretical fronts. The UCLouvain GW group is part of the Virgo Collaboration at the European Gravitational Observatory (EGO) and has been active so far in searches for ultra-light dark matter, anisotropic stochastic GW background, gravitational wave lensing and on a multi-messenger project aiming to detect neutrinos and gravitational waves originating from common astrophysical sources. All the data analysis studies are performed in collaboration with theory specialists and use the IRMP computing center that also serves CERN experiments (CMS and NA62), IceCube, KM3NeT, muography, and projects in theoretical particle physics and cosmology. The UCLouvain GW group is also involved in instrumentation projects for both Virgo and the future Einstein Telescope, notably at the two research and development facilities, E-TEST and ETPF. The selected candidates will work in the GRAVIT-AI consortium led by Giacomo Bruno (GW), Laurent Jacques (ML), Justin Janquart (GW), and Estelle Massart (ML). Each candidate will have two main promoters coming from the two different fields.
Constant and careful supervision of the candidate is also guaranteed thanks to the presence in the groups of several postdoctoral researchers. Computing resources and support for traveling are excellent. CP3 and ICTEAM are a highly international, diverse, and stimulating environments. The PhD research work will also be conducted in close contact and cooperation with the rest of the Belgian GW community and international partners.
The UCLouvain campus is located some 25 km south of Brussels, to which it is conveniently connected by public transport, thus allowing life either in the EU capital or in the pleasant green countryside surrounding the campus. UCLouvain offers several advantages to its personnel, including reimbursement of public transport season tickets between home and workplace and free language courses. More information about life in Belgium and at UCLouvain is available here.
Applications must include a curriculum vitae, a personal motivation letter (specifying a preference for one of the two topics, if any), the academic transcript of university studies, and at least two recommendation letters from senior scientists. Applications must be submitted online, by the 23rd of May 2025 at: https://cp3.irmp.ucl.ac.be/job/113. Applicants should hold, by the time of the start of the appointment, a Master Degree in physics or equivalent with a remarkable academic record and they should demonstrate a strong interest and motivation in fundamental physics research. The position will remain open after the first deadline indicated above until a suitable candidate is found.
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