Multiple graduate student positions in

Experimental Astroparticle Physics

University of Alberta
Edmonton, Canada

The astroparticle physics group at the University of Alberta1 would like to announce multiple
graduate student positions available at the Masters and/or PhD level in experimental
astroparticle physics to work in world-class experiments in Canada and abroad. The UofA is
home to a large particle physics group, and has a leading role in major large-scale international
experiments in neutrino physics and dark matter, namely SNO+, DEAP-3600 and PICO at
SNOLAB, IceCube at the South Pole and other proposed projects being developed (more
information below). Applicants are invited to express their interest in individual projects.

Physics graduate studies at the University of Alberta

The Master's program in Physics has a typical duration of two years. Students in this program
are required to take four graduate-level courses, typically during their first year. The second year
is dedicated entirely to research. The PhD is a research-oriented program that typically goes on
for three years. Students in the PhD program must take a minimum of two additional
graduate-level courses. Both Master's and PhD students are offered a teaching assistant
position throughout the duration of the program to cover their tuition and living expenses.
Positions and funding are open to all nationalities.

Exceptional candidates are considered for support that relieves them from teaching duties.
Additional funds are currently available thanks to the McDonald Institute2. The McDonald
Institute is the Canadian hub for astroparticle physics research that seeks to bring together
Canadian and international researchers at all levels to deliver world-leading science. Accepted
students will have the opportunity to take advantage of the McDonald Institute network,
including spending one semester at one of the member institutions.

For further information on graduate studies and to submit applications, visit:

https://www.ualberta.ca/physics/graduate-studies

For more information on (Astro) Particle Physics at the UofA:

https://www.ualberta.ca/physics/research/centre-for-particle-physics
Research at the University of Alberta:
https://www.ualberta.ca/research
The city of Edmonton:
https://exploreedmonton.com/

1
https://www.ualberta.ca/physics/research/centre-for-particle-physics
2
https://mcdonaldinstitute.ca/
Experiments available for graduate studies research

SNO+ aims to establish the Majorana nature of the neutrino by searching for neutrinoless
double beta decay using tellurium in liquid scintillator. SNO+ started taking data in 2017 with
ultra-pure water, and now the inner volume is being filled with liquid scintillator. Data taken in the
current period will be used to study solar, reactor and geo-neutrinos, and will be crucial in
understanding the intrinsic background levels of the scintillator. The next phase will begin in
2020 as tellurium is loaded into the detector. The UofA is largely involved in the preparation
towards this phase via calibration and development of analysis techniques.
Contact: Prof. Aksel Hallin (aksel.hallin@ualberta.ca)

IceCube is a cubic kilometer neutrino telescope, located at the South Pole, capable of
observing neutrino interactions across a very large energy range. At the highest energies,
IceCube has established the existence of an astrophysical neutrino flux and has observed first
indications of its origin. Towards the low-energy side, the DeepCore subarray has now collected
the largest sample of atmospheric neutrinos ever recorded, using them to study neutrino
oscillations in appearance and disappearance modes, sterile neutrinos and non-standard
interactions. A major detector upgrade is being planned that will greatly improve the
performance and potential of the experiment across all energies. The UofA is actively involved
in DeepCore and upgrade activities.
Contact: Prof. Juan-Pablo Yanez (j.p.yanez@ualberta.ca)

P-ONE is the Pacific Ocean Neutrino Explorer, a proposed new neutrino detector off the coast
of Canada, which seeks to demonstrate the feasibility of the site for an eventual very large
neutrino telescope. The P-ONE group at the UofA is leading the Canadian efforts towards the
study of the physics potential of a Pacific neutrino telescope. Current work includes the
exploration of sensor design, detector configuration and different physics studies that could be
carried out with such an experiment. The P-ONE endeavour leverages the unique expertise of
Ocean Networks Canada in deep sea operations and aims to detects neutrinos from GeV to the
PeV scale.
Contact: Prof. Juan-Pablo Yanez (j.p.yanez@ualberta.ca)

DEAP-3600 is a direct dark matter search experiment consisting of ~3200 kg of liquid argon,
contained in an ultrapure acrylic cryostat and viewed by 255 photomultiplier tubes. The detector
has been in operation since late 2017; has released its first physics result and is now in a long
multiyear run to set the world’s best limits in liquid argon. Liquid argon shows promise to set the
ultimate dark matter limits in liquid noble gases and we have joined the international argon dark
matter consortium, which is planning a 20 megagram detector in Gran Sasso in Italy and a
subsequent detector of approximately 300 megagrams, probably in Sudbury. UofA is central to
the data analysis of the current experiment, and will undertake significant hardware
responsibility for the future generations.
Contact: Prof. Aksel Hallin (aksel.hallin@ualberta.ca)
PICO is a direct dark matter search experiment currently operating at SNOLAB in Sudbury,
Ontario. The experiment uses a fluorine rich liquid to operate a bubble chamber with world
leading sensitivity towards spin carrying dark matter particles. The Alberta group has been
constructing the optical data acquisition, the thermal insulation system and took leadership of
the quality control of the purity of the active liquid. We are looking for strong students who are
interested in the construction and operation of a complex particle physics detector and who
want to take an active role in the analysis of the dark matter search data.
Contact: Prof. Carsten Krauss (carsten.krauss@ualberta.ca)

The Scintillating Bubble Chamber (SBC) is a new technology that combines the bubble
chamber technique (as PICO) with scintillation light. The SBC is planned to be built at UofA, and
it will use liquid argon as target material for dark matter searches and coherent neutrinos. The
goal is to perform the commissioning next year and to work on R&D for acoustic/light reading
and circulation of the liquid for purification purpose. The integration of an electric field for particle
directionality is also under investigation.
Contact: Prof. Marie-Cecile Piro (marie.cecile.piro@ualberta.ca)