Searching for New Physics with the Mu2e Experiment at Fermilab

Searching for New Physics with the Mu2e Experiment at Fermilab

The High Energy Physics group at University College London is recruiting a PhD student, to start as soon as possible.

Project Description:

The Mu2e experiment at Fermilab (Chicago, USA) is poised to become one of the most sensitive particle physics experiments in the world, searching for the ultra-rare neutrinoless conversion of a muon into an electron in the field of an atomic nucleus – an unambiguous signal of new physics beyond the Standard Model of particle physics. This process violates charged lepton flavour conservation, a symmetry respected in the Standard Model but predicted to break down in many compelling new physics scenarios (e.g. supersymmetry, leptoquark models, and frameworks involving heavy neutrinos or dark matter interactions) which could help explain several of the universe\’s unresolved phenomena. Mu2e is uniquely positioned in this global search: its innovative pulsed current limits, pushing deep into unexplored territory with energy-scale discovery potential far surpassing that of current high-energy collider experiments.

This PhD project at UCL, supervised by Dr Alex Keshavarzi, offers an exceptional opportunity to play a leading role in the commissioning, calibration, and data analysis of Mu2e as the experiment transitions from construction to full scientific operation in 2026. The successful candidate will work at the frontier of experimental particle physics, contributing to the operation and performance optimisation of the stopping target monitor – a critical X-ray detection system provided by the UK – and collaborating closely with international teams on the flagship physics analyses which will search for new physics beyond the Standard Model. This is a rare chance to join a world-leading U.S. experiment at a pivotal moment, with additional funding available to support extended work based at Fermilab and in the Chicago area, and to contribute to a high-impact scientific mission with real potential to uncover new fundamental laws of nature.

University College London (UCL)

The Physics and Astronomy Department at UCL is located in the heart of the historical area of Bloomsbury. Scientific research and study has been a strong feature of UCL since its inception in 1826 and the Department is one of the top rated Physics departments in the country and the world. The High Energy Physics Group consists of 50 academic, research and technical staff and over 50 PhD students. It is one of the largest groups in the country with research areas spanning: theory/phenomenology, detector, software and accelerator R&D and analysis of data from the LHC, dark matter and neutrino experiments.

UCL\’s PhD studentships are fully funded, and generally offer opportunities for study across out in a broad range of research activities. You would be joining a highly research-active group, holding many leadership positions across different experimental areas.

A PhD at UCL is usually between 3 and 4 years, with 3.5 years being the most common. The PhD programme includes University of London postgraduate courses (in conjunction with RHUL, Brunel and QMUL) and attendance of the National Particle Physics Summer School alongside thesis research. For experimental students, whose experiment is abroad: you usually have the option to spend up to a year at the experiment.

Further information, including the application process, is available by following these links:

http://www.hep.ucl.ac.uk/postgrad/

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/research-degrees/physics-and-astronomy-mphil-phd

Deadline for applications is the 8th August 2025.

Enquiries can be directed to Dr Alex Keshavarzi, alex.i.keshavarzi@gmail.com.

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