Statistical methods for the analysis of data from the LHC

INSIGHTS ITN – CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
INSIGHTS is funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions of the
Horizon 2020 programme of the European Commission with Grant number 765710

As a partner of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie European Innovative Training Network (ITN) named “International Training Network of Statistics for High Energy Physics and Society” (INSIGHTS), the INFN (Italian National Institute for Nuclear Physics) offers a Ph. D. scholarship in Statistical Sciences at the University of Padova.
The early-stage researcher (ESR) recipient of the scholarship will be hired by INFN and enrolled in the three-year Ph.D. program offered by the Department of Statistical Sciences of the University of Padova. The ESR will conduct his or her research at the Padova section of INFN; the research will focus on statistical methods targeting the analysis of data from proton-proton collisions collected by the CMS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider operating at the CERN laboratory in Geneva, Switzerland, aiming at the detection of new physics phenomena. The research and training plan includes the participation to international doctoral schools, workshops, and conferences in Physics and Statistics, as well as month-long visiting periods to CERN and to other European institutions belonging to the Network, plus a three-month internship at a non-academic institution, for a stage centered on industry applications of Machine Learning tools. The trainee will work in close connection with a dozen ESR colleagues hired by the partners of the INSIGHTS network. The network vows to provide outstanding, interdisciplinary training and to provide the trainees with excellent employability, both within and outside the academic world. At the end of the three-year program the ESR will
obtain a Ph. D. title from the University of Padova.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Candidates should have an at least four year full time university education degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Physics or related fields, formally enabling them to embark in a doctorate program in the country where the degree was obtained; in any case they should possess a strong background in Mathematics, Statistics and Statistical Learning. Additional favorable traits include good computing skills and an interest in the application of statistical methods to fundamental research. The application of females is encouraged as INSIGHTS applies affirmative-action measures to ensure gender neutrality in the recruitment process. In addition to the above, at the time of recruitment by INFN eligible candidates must NOT have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Italy for more than 12 months in the three years immediately preceding the recruitment date (short stays such as holidays are not taken into account). Eligible candidates must NOT have been awarded a doctoral degree and also be, at the time of recruitment, in the first four years (full-time equivalent) of their research careers. This is measured from the date when they obtained the degree which would
formally entitle them to embark on a doctorate, either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in Italy.

CONDITIONS
The gross scholarship amounts to euro 3,318.37/month; in addition to it, a gross mobility allowance of euro 600.00/month is provided for, as well as a gross family allowance of euro 500.00/month if applicable. The cost of enrolment in the Ph. D. school and of the doctoral courses, as well as all expenses related to travel to schools, workshops, and network-organized events and internships will be sustained by the network.