(1A) Multi-wavelength observations of Galactic and extragalactic compact objects and transients (CUP -)
Funding institution: Scuola Universitaria Superiore IUSS Pavia
Doctoral site: Scuola Universitaria Superiore IUSS Pavia
Contact: Paolo Esposito [paolo.esposito@iusspavia.it]
Funds: Institutional Funds
Mobility abroad: compulsory, minimum 6 months
Periods in companies/research centres/public administrations: optional
This position involves working on Galactic and extragalactic compact objects (white dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes) and astrophysical transients. Specifically, the scholarship is intended to study cutting-edge fields such as magnetars, ultra-luminous X-ray sources, bursts from compact objects, fast radio bursts, gamma-ray bursts, and tidal disruption events. The successful candidate will work on the analysis of data at all wavelengths from space and ground-based instruments, on their interpretation, and on the optimization of observation and data mining strategies. It will also be possible to participate in the development of new observatories and instruments.
(1B) Support for Data Reduction and Analysis of the Euclid Mission (CUP -)
Funding institution: Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica - INAF
Doctoral site: Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica - INAF, Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste
Contact: Andrea Zacchei [andrea.zacchei@inaf.it]
Funds: Institutional Funds
Mobility abroad: compulsory, minimum 6 months
Periods in companies/research centres/public administrations: optional
This PhD project focuses on the development / update of algorithms used in the analysis of data from the Euclid mission, with particular emphasis on pipelines developed under Italian responsibility within the ground segment. The candidate will contribute to photometric and/or spectroscopic data processing, including analysis of systematics, validation, and quality control. Activities will involve the development of new algorithms, its integration into the pre-defined Euclid data processing system. The project will be carried out in collaboration with national and international teams, offering exposure to advanced computational tools and large-scale data infrastructures. The candidate will also have the opportunity to participate in the scientific exploitation of Euclid data.
(1C) Study of charged particle fluxes with the HEPD02 detector of the Limadou/CSES-02 experiment (CUP -)
Funding institution: University of Turin - UNITO
Doctoral site: University of Turin - UNITO
Contact: Stefania Maria Beolé [stefania.beole@unito.it]
Funds: Institutional Funds
Mobility abroad: compulsory, minimum 6 months
Periods in companies/research centres/public administrations: optional
The PhD project is devoted to the analysis of data from the Limadou/CSES-02 experiment, with particular emphasis on the measurement of charged particle fluxes using HEPD-02. The research activity will focus on measuring the fluxes of electrons, protons, and light nuclei in the low- and medium-energy range.
A central objective will be the spectral and temporal reconstruction of these fluxes as a function of orbital position, geomagnetic conditions, and solar activity.
Particular emphasis will be placed on the study of the HEPD-02 direction detector, an innovative MAPS pixel tracker designed to reconstruct the arrival direction of particles. The analysis will combine tracking information, clustering in the silicon detector, and calorimetric variables to improve the identification of charged particle species. Selection and classification algorithms will be developed and optimized, also through multivariate techniques and deep learning approaches.
The results will be compared with previous data from the Limadou collaboration and with models of cosmic-ray propagation and magnetospheric physics.
(1D) Study of the fundamental properties of antimatter in the ALPHA experiment at CERN (CUP -)
Funding institution: University of Brescia - UNIBS
Doctoral site: University of Brescia - UNIBS
Contact: Germano Bonomi [germano.bonomi@unibs.it]
Funds: Institutional Funds
Mobility abroad: compulsory, minimum 6 months
Periods in companies/research centres/public administrations: optional
Experimental study of the fundamental properties of antimatter, with particular emphasis on antihydrogen, within the ALPHA collaboration. The research aims to test the fundamental principles of physics through precision spectroscopic measurements of antihydrogen, comparing its energy levels with those of hydrogen in order to verify CPT symmetry, ultimately connected with the origin of the Universe. A further central objective concerns the study of the gravitational interaction between matter and antimatter, a topic of major importance for fundamental physics, cosmology, and theories beyond the Standard Model. The project combines the development and use of advanced instrumentation, state of the art observational techniques, and high complexity data analysis within a strongly interdisciplinary framework that integrates particle physics and atomic physics.
(1E) Gamma-ray astronomy with the next-generation observatories ASTRI and CTAO (CUP -)
Funding institution: Scuola Universitaria Superiore IUSS Pavia & National Institute for Astrophysics - INAF
Doctoral site: Scuola Universitaria Superiore IUSS Pavia
Contact: Paolo Esposito [paolo.esposito@iusspavia.it]
Funds: Institutional Funds
Mobility abroad: compulsory, minimum 6 months
Periods in companies/research centres/public administrations: optional
The ASTRI (Astrofisica con Specchi a Tecnologia Replicante Italiana) mini-array is a system of Cherenkov telescopes designed to observe the sky in the ultra-high-energy gamma-ray band (1–200 TeV). Its objectives are to study cosmic ray accelerators at extreme energies, known as PeVatrons. Although the array is scheduled for completion in mid-2027, data collection is already underway using a fraction of the infrastructure.
ASTRI plays a fundamental role as a precursor to the CTAO (Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory), the major international project destined to become the largest gamma-ray observatory of the coming decades.
The selected PhD candidate will join the team dedicated to the development of both instruments, ASTRI and CTAO, and will have the opportunity to participate actively in the analysis and publication of data collected by ASTRI. The ideal candidate will develop a solid theoretical understanding of the astrophysical systems under study and, at the same time, gain experience in Cherenkov data collection and analysis techniques.