PhD in Theoretical Physics

The Higgs Centre for Theoretical Physics and the School of Physics and Astronomy are delighted to announce a new PhD opportunity that aims to encourage greater diversity within our School environment. This opportunity is aimed at excellent candidates from groups and backgrounds that are under-represented in the theoretical physics academic community (e.g., gender, minority ethnicity, LGBTQI+, disability, disadvantaged circumstances, etc).

The Higgs Centre has a clear focus on increasing diversity of its student community and strongly encourages suitably qualified applicants to submit a pre-application, to us, for the Bell Burnell Graduate Scholarship (BBGS) Fund by 20th December.

Selected applicants for the BBGS studentship will very likely be underwritten by School studentships. In addition to those supported for BBGS, applicants deemed suitable may also be funded for a PhD position through a Higgs Centre Studentship.

Application process: Candidates should contact potential supervisors in the Higgs Centre before applying. Please submit a 1 page CV, 1-2 page personal statement, name of proposed supervisor and project abstract (which you should discuss with said supervisor). The personal statement should demonstrate your need for a BBGSF grant. Please describe (a) your reasons for wanting to study for a Doctorate, (b) how you meet the BBGSF eligibility criteria, clearly stating which underrepresented group you identify as, (c) how you propose to gain benefit from a grant, if awarded (d) how you would be an ambassador for the scheme. Please submit these materials to Dr Anton Ilderton by the 20th December 2024 at the absolute latest.

Note: an application must also eventually be made to the appropriate PhD program (Astrophysics & Cosmology, Condensed Matter and Complex Systems, Theoretical Particle Physics) at the University of Edinburgh, at the earliest opportunity, and before the 19th January 2025.