AMVA4NewPhysics

CALL FOR APPLICATION

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Ph.D. position

in Statistical Sciences at the University of Padua

University of Padua is a beneficiary partner of a Marie Skłodowska Curie European Action Innovative Training Network (MSCA ITN) on "Advanced Multivariate Analysis for New Physics Searches at the Large Hadron Collider" (AMVA4NewPhysics). The network includes 13 other institutions:

beneficiary partners: Italian National Institute for Nuclear Physics research- INFN, PI; University of Oxford; Laboratório de Instrumentação e Física Experimental de Partículas at Lisbon; Blaise Pascal University; Université Catholique de Louvain; Institute of Accelerating Systems and Applications, University of Athens; Centre Europeenne pour la Recherche Nucleaire – CERN;
other parthers: University of California Irvine, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, B12-consulting, SDG group, Yandex, and Mathworks.

Description

The network aims at developing statistical learning tools for new physics searches at the Large Hadron Collider, and it will be hiring ten early-stage researchers (ESR) for a PhD position.

University of Padua offers one PhD position in Statistical Sciences. The selected candidate will be enrolled in the three-year PhD programme offered by the Department of Statistical Sciences.

The first year of the programme is devoted to courses, both core courses on Functional Analysis, Probability Theory, Statistical Theory and Statistical Modelling as well as short, more specialised, courses on topics as: Time Series, Survival Analysis, Nonparametric Statistics, Survey Methodology, etc.

At the end of the first year, the PhD candidate will start focusing on the research program 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. The research plan includes the participation to international doctoral schools, workshops, and conferences, as well as visiting periods to CERN and to other European institutions belonging to the Network, plus a three-mont secondment at a non-academic institution, attending to a stage centred on industry applications of Machine Learning tools.

The application of females is encouraged as AMVA4NewPhysics applies affirmative-action measures to ensure gender equality in the recruitment process.

Conditions

The gross scholarship amounts to 3110 euros/month (country correction factor to be applied); in addition, a mobility allowance of euro 600/month (before taxes) is provided for, as well as a family allowance of euro 500/month (before taxes) if applicable.

The cost of the doctoral courses, as well as all expenses related to travel to schools, workshops, and network-organized events, will be planned and sustained by the network.

Eligibility criteria

There are strict eligibility requirements for the ESR PhD positions in MSCA-ITN. Please ensure to be qualified before applying, as ineligible candidates cannot be considered.

Applicants should not have resided or performed their main activity (work, studies, etc) in Italy for more than 12 months in the period October 1, 2012 to September 30, 2015 (short stays such as holidays are not taken into account).
Applicants should be in the first 4 years (full-time equivalent) of their research careers and not yet have been awarded a doctorate. This 4 year period is measured from the date of obtaining the degree which would formally entitle to embark on a doctorate.
Applicants must have an at least four years full time university education degree formally enabling them to embark in a doctorate program in the country where the degree was obtained.

In addition, it is required:

Degree field: Statistics, Mathematics, Physics or related fields
Background: a strong background in Statistics and Machine Learning is also required. Additional favourable traits include good computing skills and an interest in the application of statistical methods to fundamental research.

How to apply

Applications must be sent on or before September 27, 2015 to the following email address: amva4newphysics@stat.unipd.it as follows:

1) an email with a zip folder attached including:

– The application form filled according to the attached format

– A copy of education certificates and transcripts of records.

– A copy of the degree thesis and publications (if any)

Subject of the email should be: FIRST NAME FAMILY NAME APPLICATION (e.g. "JOHN DOE APPLICATION")

2) at least two letters of recommendation must be sent to the above address by the same deadline, in a separate email directly by the referees of choice of the candidate

Subject of the email should be FIRST NAME FAMILY NAME LETTER OF REFERENCE (e.g. "JOHN DOE LETTER OF REFERENCE")

Criteria for selection

The ESR will be selected on the basis of the following criteria:

degree field (preferred field is statistics, mathematics, physics and related fields) and grade
number and level of attended course in theoretical and applied statistics, machine learning and related, and grade achieved
recommendation letters
topic of the degree thesis (with preference to topics related to theoretical and applied statistics and to statistics applied to physics) and grade
other publications (if any)
colloquium

Deadline and timeline

Complete applications must be sent by 27th of September, 2015
A selection board will evaluate the applications and possibly make a pre–selection of the most promising candidates, based on the requirements above
The preselected applicants will be contacted to set the date/time for a colloquium which will be held by videoconference (presumed dates of the colloquium are October, 1-2).
The PhD courses will start in October, thus the selected ESR will be required to be available for moving to Padova by the end of October. This is a mandatory requirement.

Contact

for more information about the programme: Giovanna Menardi menardi@stat.unipd.it
for assistance on application: Patrizia Piacentini piacent@stat.unipd.it

CALL FOR APPLICATION

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Ph.D. position

in Statistical Sciences at the University of Padua

University of Padua is a beneficiary partner of a Marie Skłodowska Curie European Action Innovative Training Network (MSCA ITN) on "Advanced Multivariate Analysis for New Physics Searches at the Large Hadron Collider" (AMVA4NewPhysics). The network includes 13 other institutions:

other parthers: University of California Irvine, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, B12-consulting, SDG group, Yandex, and Mathworks.

Description

The network aims at developing statistical learning tools for new physics searches at the Large Hadron Collider, and it will be hiring ten early-stage researchers (ESR) for a PhD position.

University of Padua offers one PhD position in Statistical Sciences. The selected candidate will be enrolled in the three-year PhD programme offered by the Department of Statistical Sciences.

The application of females is encouraged as AMVA4NewPhysics applies affirmative-action measures to ensure gender equality in the recruitment process.

Conditions

The gross scholarship amounts to 3110 euros/month (country correction factor to be applied); in addition, a mobility allowance of euro 600/month (before taxes) is provided for, as well as a family allowance of euro 500/month (before taxes) if applicable.

The cost of the doctoral courses, as well as all expenses related to travel to schools, workshops, and network-organized events, will be planned and sustained by the network.

Eligibility criteria

There are strict eligibility requirements for the ESR PhD positions in MSCA-ITN. Please ensure to be qualified before applying, as ineligible candidates cannot be considered.

Applicants should not have resided or performed their main activity (work, studies, etc) in Italy for more than 12 months in the period October 1, 2012 to September 30, 2015 (short stays such as holidays are not taken into account).

Applicants should be in the first 4 years (full-time equivalent) of their research careers and not yet have been awarded a doctorate. This 4 year period is measured from the date of obtaining the degree which would formally entitle to embark on a doctorate.

Applicants must have an at least four years full time university education degree formally enabling them to embark in a doctorate program in the country where the degree was obtained.

In addition, it is required:

How to apply

Applications must be sent on or before September 27, 2015 to the following email address: amva4newphysics@stat.unipd.it as follows:

1) an email with a zip folder attached including:

– The application form filled according to the attached format

– A copy of education certificates and transcripts of records.

– A copy of the degree thesis and publications (if any)

Subject of the email should be: FIRST NAME FAMILY NAME APPLICATION (e.g. "JOHN DOE APPLICATION")

2) at least two letters of recommendation must be sent to the above address by the same deadline, in a separate email directly by the referees of choice of the candidate

Subject of the email should be FIRST NAME FAMILY NAME LETTER OF REFERENCE (e.g. "JOHN DOE LETTER OF REFERENCE")

Criteria for selection

The ESR will be selected on the basis of the following criteria:

degree field (preferred field is statistics, mathematics, physics and related fields) and grade

number and level of attended course in theoretical and applied statistics, machine learning and related, and grade achieved

recommendation letters

topic of the degree thesis (with preference to topics related to theoretical and applied statistics and to statistics applied to physics) and grade

other publications (if any)

colloquium

Deadline and timeline

Complete applications must be sent by 27th of September, 2015

A selection board will evaluate the applications and possibly make a pre–selection of the most promising candidates, based on the requirements above

The preselected applicants will be contacted to set the date/time for a colloquium which will be held by videoconference (presumed dates of the colloquium are October, 1-2).

The PhD courses will start in October, thus the selected ESR will be required to be available for moving to Padova by the end of October. This is a mandatory requirement.

Contact

for more information about the programme: Giovanna Menardi menardi@stat.unipd.it

for assistance on application: Patrizia Piacentini piacent@stat.unipd.it