We invite applications for a Ph.D position in experimental Particle Physics research, to work on the ATLAS experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The research activity of the recruited person will take place at the Laboratoire de Physique of Clermont-Ferrand, France, in the ATLAS team (http://cern.ch/atlas-clermont/). The thesis will be carried out in collaboration with the stochastic algorithm development and analysis team at the Laboratory of Mathematics, Clermont-Ferrand. The position is funded by the Graduate Track for Mathematics and Physics of the University Clermont Auvergne.

The selected candidate will be expected to contribute to the development of advanced statistical analysis methods for the search for new physics. Previous studies have shown the potential of neural networks to identify new particles in a given parameter space. The student will develop and apply these methods to analyze data from the ATLAS experiment. The proposed thesis aims to perform a global exploration of a large number of possible signatures of new physics and to analyze collision types that are usually very difficult to model and therefore not or hardly studied.

The appointment is for three years, starting October 1st 2023, and is located at Clermont-Ferrand, France, with the possibility for regular trips to CERN.

Interested applicants should submit a CV, copies of relevant certificates and diplomas, a description of their research experience and interests, and arrange for two letters of recommendation. Review of applications will start immediately upon receipt, and the position will be attributed as soon as a highly qualified candidate is identified. For full consideration, please send your application by May 30.

For this thesis, knowledge in experimental particle physics is recommended. The candidate should also have skills in computer science and some practice of modern Machine Learning techniques.

Inquiries about the position and completed applications should be sent by email to: julien.donini@cern.ch.

The Atlas@Clermont is a founding member of the ATLAS collaboration and has always made a significant contribution to the scintillating tile hadronic calorimeter (TileCal), as well as to physics analyses, notably related to the quark top. The Atlas@Clermont team is also active in the HL-LHC Phase 2 upgrade, for many years on TileCal and since 2018 on the High Granularity Timing Detector. For several years, the team has specialized in the search for new physics with final state containing one or more top quarks (ttbar resonances, tbbar resonances) and notably initiated in ATLAS in 2011 the search for events containing four top quarks, observed for the first time in 2020. Since 2013, the team has also contributed significantly to the search for the associated production of a Higgs boson and a pair of top quarks (ttH), finally observed in 2018 before investing in the search for di-Higgs. The team also has strong experience in developing artificial intelligence algorithms applied to physics data analysis. It is not mandatory to speak French and free French classes will be available. A good knowledge of English is required.