Funding type:
Tuition fee.
Stipend.
Research Training & Support Grant.
This is an exciting opportunity to join the experimental particle and astro-particle physics (EPAP) group at Kings College London and actively contribute to the SNO+ experiment in Canada.
Award details
This is an exciting opportunity to join the experimental particle and astro-particle physics (EPAP) group at Kings College London and actively contribute to the SNO+ experiment in Canada.
We encourage enthusiastic applicants from all backgrounds to join our diverse team. The successful candidate will be able to travel to the experiment site to gain first-hand experience and will also benefit from participation in an organised lecture programme during the first year.
The SNO+ experiment is a low background multi-purpose liquid scintillator experiment, operating in Canada. The experiment is currently taking data with pure scintillator allowing oscillation measurements with solar and reactor neutrinos and various other low energy analyses. Tellurium isotope addition is planned to start towards the end of 2025 to enable a search for neutrino-less double beta decay. This student will take a leading role in the SNO+ double beta analysis. They will analyse the first isotope data, with a goal of characterising the detector response using known internal sources including 2-neutrino double beta decay of 130Te, and evaluating and rejecting background contributions based on side-band samples. This work will lead to the first publication of limits on the neutrino-less double beta half-life of 130Te from SNO+.
During an extended stay at SNOLAB this student will gain hands-on experience and training in Tellurium purification and detector operations. They will be a full member of the international SNO+ collaboration, benefitting from regular meetings both online and in person.
STFC studentship allocated. 1/3 chance to offer to an international student (to be negotiated with TPPC group).
Award value
We are awaiting funding confirmation, but invite applications assuming we will secure funding for 3.5 years to covers tuition fees and a tax-free stipend of approximately £20,622p.a. with possible inflationary increases after the first year.
A limited number of UKRI fully-funded studentships are available to students who are classified as International Students. Please apply through our normal application route.
Note: A UKRI fully-funded studentship will only cover what is listed under the ‘Funding’ section. Applications should be aware there may be other costs which will not be covered by the studentship, for example, visa fees, healthcare surcharge, relocation costs and COVID-19 related quarantine costs.
Eligibility criteria
Applicants should have, or expect to have, an integrated Master’s (e.g., MSci) with first-class honours or upper division second-class honours (2:1), or a BSc plus Master’s (MSc) degree with Merit or Distinction in Physics, Biophysics, Applied Mathematics, or related subject.
Equivalent international degrees are equally accepted. The funding is not restricted to specific nationalities.
The successful applicant will demonstrate strong interest and motivation in the subject, and ability to think critically and creatively.
Application process
To be considered for the position candidates must apply via King’s Apply online application system. Details are available on the Department of Physics webpage.
Please indicate your desired supervisor and quote research group EPAP in your application and all correspondence.
The selection process will involve a pre-selection on documents, if selected this will be followed by an invitation to an interview. If successful at the interview, an offer will be provided in due time.
For further guidance on how to apply, please visit the link here.
Please ensure to add the following code [STFC Phy2503] in the Funding section of the application form. Please select option 5 ‘I am applying for a funding award or scholarship administered by King’s College London’ and type the code into the ‘Award Scheme Code or Name’ box. Please copy and paste the code exactly.
The selection process will involve a pre-selection on documents and, if selected, will be followed by an invitation to an interview. If successful at the interview, an offer will be provided in due course.
Contact Details
If you require support with the application process please contact Jeanne.wilson@kcl.ac.uk