Printable versionDetails about funded positions - 39th Cycle - Curriculum 1
(1A) Study of matter-antimatter gravitational interaction at the ALPHA experiment at CERN - E66E23000110001
Funding institution: University of Brescia
Doctoral site: University of Brescia – Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering
Contact: Prof. Germano Bonomi [germano.bonomi [at] unibs.it]
Funds: NRRP, M4C1 inv. 4.1, NRRP research
Mobility abroad: compulsory, minimum 6 months
Periods in companies/research centres/public administrations: optional
The study of matter-antimatter gravitational interaction has been a topic of interest in physics and astronomy for many years. This phenomenon is particularly important in understanding the evolution of the universe and the behaviour of celestial objects. Due to the relative strength of electromagnetic and gravitational forces between elementary charged particle, we have not been yet able to directly measure the gravitational interaction between matter and antimatter. Even if the great majority of the theories rely on a gravitational attraction between them, as stated by the General Relativity Weak Equivalence Principle (WEP), the nature of the interaction is experimentally unknown. The ALPHA experiment at CERN, thanks to the antiprotons delivered by the Antiproton Decelerator (AD) and its new ELENA deceleration stage, is capable of producing and storing a relevant amount of (neutral) antihydrogen atoms with the possibility to measure the gravitational interaction between antihydrogen and the Earth. The PhD candidate will be involved in the measurement of the gravitational acceleration of antihydrogen in the Earth gravitational field and will study the implications of the results for the standard model of cosmology.
(1B) Data Analysis & Exploitation for Operating Satellite Missions in Astrophysics, Astroparticle & Cosmology - E66E23000110001
Funding institution: SISSA - Scuola Internazionale Superiore di studi Avanzati
Doctoral site: Scuola Internazionale Superiore di studi Avanzati - Area Fisica, Gruppo di Astrofisica e Cosmologia - Trieste
Contact: Prof. Carlo Baccigalupi [bacci [at] sissa.it]
Funds: NRRP, M4C1 inv. 4.1, NRRP research
Mobility abroad: compulsory, minimum 6 months
Periods in companies/research centres/public administrations: optional
Operating Satellites set outstanding challenges in Astrophysics, Astroparticle & Cosmology, with particular emphasis on the Euclid and James Webb Space Telescopes, and their impact on Chemical Abundance of Elements, Galaxy Formation and Evolution, Dark Cosmological Components, Early Universe, Cross-Correlation with Cosmological and Astrophysical Gravitational Waves, Large Scale Structure, Cosmic Microwave Background. SISSA has roles of responsibilities in these international collaborations and projects, as well as in the preparatory work for companion ground probes, and is looking for outstanding and motivate students to undertake ambitious PhD projects, taking a direct role in the simulation, analysis and interpretation of data from these and future missions. The PhD Program is innovative and international, encouraging extended scientific visits abroad, participation to school and conferences, after attending robust training through courses at the start of the Course.
(1C) Multi-wavelength observations of Galactic and extragalactic compact objects and transients - E66E23000110001
Funding institution: Scuola Universitaria Superiore – IUSS Pavia
Doctoral site: Scuola Universitaria Superiore – IUSS Pavia
Contact: Prof. Paolo Esposito [paolo.esposito [at] iusspavia.it]
Funds: NRRP, M4C1 inv. 4.1, NRRP research
Mobility abroad: compulsory, minimum 6 months
Periods in companies/research centres/public administrations: Optional
This position involves working on Galactic and extragalactic compact objects (white dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes) and astrophysical transients. Specifically, the scholarship is intended to study cutting-edge fields such as magnetars, ultra-luminous X-ray sources, bursts from compact objects, electromagnetic counterparts of gravitational-wave sources, fast radio bursts, gamma-ray bursts, and tidal disruption events. The successful candidate will work on the analysis of data at all wavelengths from space and ground-based instruments, on their interpretation, and on the optimization of observation and data mining strategies. It will also be possible to participate in the development of new observatories and instruments.
(1D) Space-based observations, experiments and modelling for the characterization of the physical properties of cosmic structures, gravitational wave sources, astro-particles and cosmic backgrounds - E66E23000110001
Funding institution: Università degli Studi Milano “Bicocca”
Doctoral site: Università degli Studi Milano “Bicocca”, Department of Physics “G. Occhialini”
Contact: Prof. Monica Colpi [monica.colpi [at] unimib.it]
Funds: NRRP, M4C1 inv. 4.1, NRRP research
Mobility abroad: compulsory, minimum 6 months
Periods in companies/research centres/public administrations: Optional
The candidate is requested to develop a research project in connection with present and forthcoming space-based missions for the exploration of the Universe. In particular we foresee the study and development of scientific and technological aspects related to the missions: 1) Euclid for the study of the cosmic structure; 2) LISA for the study of low- frequency gravitational wave sources and in particular black hole binaries; 3) LiteBIRD for the study of the polarization of the cosmic microwave radiation; 4) AMS-02 on the Space Station for the study of cosmic rays.
(1E) Theoretical and phenomenological research in UHECRs - E66E23000110001
Funding institution: Gran Sasso Science Institute - GSSI
Doctoral site: Gran Sasso Science Institute – GSSI, L’Aquila
Contact: Prof. Roberto Aloisio [roberto.aloisio [at] gssi.it]
Funds: NRRP, M4C1 inv. 4.1, NRRP research
Mobility abroad: compulsory, minimum 6 months
Periods in companies/research centres/public administrations: Optional
UHE nuclei propagation in different environments (intergalactic medium and sources), including the effects of magnetic fields; UHECR anisotropy; spectral and composition signatures of various populations of potential astrophysical sources; beyond the standard model physics effects on UHECRs.
(1F) Astrophysics of cosmic sources in the era of great observatories
Funding institution: National Institute for Astrophysics - INAF
Doctoral site: National Institute for Astrophysics - INAF - various locations of the candidate's choice as proposed on the website https://sites.google.com/view/phd-inaf
Contact: Dr Fabrizio Fiore [fabrizio.fiore [at] inaf.it]
Funds: Own Funds
Mobility abroad: compulsory, minimum 6 months
Periods in companies/research centres/public administrations: optional.
The range of possible areas of scientific research related to this theme is very broad and can range from observations of the universe and its components, stars, galaxies, galaxy clusters, large-scale structures, from radio to gamma rays, with telescopes both on the ground and in space, to the development of useful models to interpret these observations.
The winner will be able to choose the scientific theme most closely related to his or her interests and training pathway from those proposed on the website: https://sites.google.com/view/phd-inaf. He or she will then be able to carry out his or her research activities at the INAF site where the supervisor and research group that proposed the chosen profile is located.
(1G) Modelling and experimental study of astrophysical processes across the electromagnetic spectrum - E66E23000110001
Funding institution: University of Pisa
Doctoral site: University of Pisa – Department of Physics
Contact: Prof. Luca Baldini [luca.baldini [at] unipi.it]
Funds: NRRP, M4C1 inv. 4.1, NRRP research
Mobility abroad: compulsory, minimum 6 months
Periods in companies/research centres/public administrations: Optional
This research project lies at the intersection of several diverse topics such as the development of detectors and associated electronics, integration and qualification for space of payloads and components, data reduction and analysis, modelling and simulation of astrophysical processes.
The Physics Department of the University of Pisa is actively involved in a number of space mission in their operative phase (e.g., Fermi, IXPE, Solar Probe, Solar Orbiter) as well as new-generation observatories in the design and/or development stage (e.g., e-XTP). The successful candidate will have the possibility of providing key contributions in one or more of these projects, focusing on both hardware and software-related activities. In addition, possible research topics include: plasma physics (magnetosphere, turbulence, particle acceleration, magnetic reconnection), study of matter at extreme density (compact stars, neutron star mergers) and stellar physics (helioseismology, exoplanets). The application of advanced machine-learning techniques and high-performance computing is a transversal theme central to all the possible topics.
(1H) Space based observations and experiments for the detection of cosmic sources and the characterization of their physical properties - E66E23000110001
Funding institution: University of Florence
Doctoral site: University of Florence – Department of Physics and Astronomy
Contact: Prof. Alessandro Marconi [alessandro.marconi [at] unifi.it]
Funds: NRRP, M4C1 inv. 4.1, NRRP research
Mobility abroad: compulsory, minimum 6 months
Periods in companies/research centres/public administrations: Optional
The PhD candidate will work on the analysis and physical interpretation of data from satellite or space station based observations of astrophysical sources, cosmic rays or experiments of fundamental physics.
The Department of Physics and Astronomy of the University of Florence is involved in many research projects based on data from satellites and possible research activities are related, but not limited to: the analysis of James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) observations of Galaxies and Active Galactic Nuclei from low to high redshift, the analysis of the heliospheric plasma from space based observatories, the analysis of cosmic rays detected by the CALET experiment, design of new on-orbit experiments for cosmic rays detection, precision tests of gravitational physics and general relativity with quantum sensors.
(1I) Instrument development and calibration for high precision polarimetry of the Cosmic Microwave Background - E66E23000110001
Funding institution: University of Milan
Doctoral site: University of Milan
Contact: Prof. Bersanelli Marco Rinaldo [marco.bersanelli [at] unimi.it]
Funds: NRRP, M4C1 inv. 4.1, NRRP research
Mobility abroad: compulsory, minimum 6 months
Periods in companies/research centres/public administrations: Optional
The scholarship will focus on experimental topics related to observations of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) in the framework of experiments supported by the Italian Space Agency (LSPE, LiteBIRD).
The scientific objective is the measurement of the B modes in the polarization of the CMB, signature of primordial gravitational waves in the initial phase of cosmic inflation. The activity for the PhD student will involve the development of instrumentation and calibration techniques for high-sensitivity instruments optimized for observations of the CMB polarization, as well as of the galactic and extragalactic foreground emissions that need to be characterized and removed to extract the cosmological information.
(1J) Multi-disciplinary applications of new space technologies: from the detection of cosmic radiation to geomorphology - E66E23000110001
Funding institution: University of Siena
Doctoral site: University of Siena
Contact: Prof. Pier Simone Marrocchesi [piersimone.marrocchesi [at] unisi.it]
Funds: NRRP, M4C1 inv. 4.1, NRRP research
Mobility abroad: compulsory, minimum 6 months
Periods in companies/research centres/public administrations: Optional
Novel technologies from space research in multi-disciplinary studies including the detection of cosmic radiation impinging on the planet and its moon, as well as in applications in the fields of physical geography and geomorphology.