Particle Cosmology Group
University of Nottingham
We study early and late universe cosmology including: the CMB, inflation, QFT, dark energy, dark matter and modified gravity. We are closely linked to both the Astronomy Group and the Quantum Gravity Group.
Research
Dark Matter
We are making predictions for the signals expected in dark matter detection experiments and developing techniques for measuring the WIMP properties from upcoming data.
Research
Modified Gravity
Einstein's General Relativity works. But there are a few mysteries, such as dark matter and dark energy, which are still not well understood. One possible way to deal with these phenomena is to modify the gravitational theory.
Research
CMB
We use the CMB to constrain fundamental cosmology and interpret early and late universe physics.
Research
Dark Energy
We are trying to understand the nature of the Dark Energy which is driving the acceleration of the Universe, using physics from atom interferometry, to particle colliders through to clusters of galaxies.
Research
Inflation
Inflation is a short period of accelerated expansion in the very Early Universe. We are studying fundamental models of inflation and calculate their observational implications.
Research
Field Theory
We study the dynamics of non-linear classical and quantum field theories and find out how their fundamental properties affect our understanding of theory and observation.
PhD Applications


We welcome applications to join the Particle Cosmology Group as a postgraduate student and carry out research for a PhD degree.

Details of the Groups' interests can be found in our research and people pages.

The graduate school webpage can be found at nottingham.ac.uk/graduateschool and the postgraduate student network page at su.nottingham.ac.uk/organisation/postgraduate.

A list of proposed projects starting September 2020 can be found below.

Dark matter: from the early Universe to the Milky Way
Understanding the nature of dark matter (DM) is one of the main outstanding problems of both astronomy and particle physics. Particle Physics provides us with various well motivated DM candidates, such as WIMPs, axions and Primordial Black Holes (PBHs). To detect dark matter we need to understand how it's distributed, which depends on the formation and evolution of the first dark matter structures. There are various potential PhD projects available in this area, involving varying mixtures of theory/data-comparison, analytic/numerical calculations and astro/particle physics.

- What does data from the GAIA satellite tell us about the local DM distribution?
- How to axion mini-clusters evolve and what are the resulting experimental signatures in lab experiments and gravitational lensing observations?
- What is the mass function of PBHs and how do they cluster?

Proposed by Prof. Anne Green

The cosmological constant problem, modified gravity and quantum field theory
Naturalness has been a major driving force in Theoretical Physics in the last hundred years and it’s greatest failure is known as the cosmological constant problem. As a result the resolution of the cosmological constant problem is expected to yield an important breakthrough in our current understanding of fundamental physics. This PhD will look to build and develop new ideas motivated by the naturalness criteria. Much of the focus will be on proposals that represent a (large scale) modification of Einstein General Relativity, with an emphasis on understanding them from a quantum field theoretic perspective. Particular emphasis will be placed on developing the idea of vacuum energy sequestering, originally proposed by Kaloper and Padilla. Vacuum energy sequestering is an award winning idea that looks to address the cosmological constant problem in a completely new way, exploiting a global modification of General Relativity.

Proposed by Prof. Tony Padilla

Dark Energy and the Cosmological Constant
One of the unknowns about dark energy, the illusive substance driving the observed acceleration of the universe, is what it is composed of? Is it a genuine cosmological constant of the observed energy density, or is it something else like an evolving scalar field (Quintessence) or something that is arising from a modification of Einstein's General theory of relativity on large scales. This has come into stark question recently with the apparent tension arising in local and global measurements of the Hubble parameter today. One possible explanation is that we could be seeing evidence of early dynamical dark energy at a redshift linked to the region between matter radiation equality and recombination. Using a combination of analytical approaches to dark energy evolution through dynamical systems, and a complementary approach using genetic machine learning techniques to reconstruct the best fitting dark energy equation of state, we aim to say something more definitive than is currently possible about the nature of dark energy in the universe.

Proposed by Prof. Ed Copeland and Dr. Moss

Cosmological Implications of the Clockwork Mechanism
The “clockwork mechanism” has recently been proposed as a way to generate light particles with suppressed interactions in fundamental theories with no small parameters. This provides a powerful toolbox for model building, offering, for example, a potential solution to the hierarchy problem. More recently, significant attention has been drawn to generalising the clockwork mechanism in gravitational theories, leading to the development of “clockwork gravity” models and the uncovering of their 5-dimensional origin. This project will explore the potential usefulness of clockwork gravity for building cosmological models of the early and late universe.

Proposed by Dr. Saffin and Dr. Avgoustidis

Further information on the admissions procedure can be found here. All applications should be made online at pgapps.nottingham.ac.uk where the prospectus can also be found. Once you have submitted your application, please also send a brief email containing your application ID to the astronomy admissions coordinator, Prof. Tony Padilla

The deadline for funded applications is January 31. There is no deadline for self-funded applications.

Postdoc Applications


We invite applications for four postdoctoral positions. These are:

1. Research Associate/Fellow in Early Universe Cosmology
2 year STFC funded position
closing date: 20th Feb 2020

2. Research Associate/Fellow in Dark Energy and Modified Gravity
2 year STFC funded position
closing date: 24th Feb 2020

3. & 4. Research Associate/Fellow in Dark Energy, Modified Gravity and Screening Mechanisms
2 year Leverhulme Trust funded positions
closing date: 26th Feb 2020

Informal enquiries for positions 1 and 2 may be addressed to Ed Copeland, email: ed.copeland@nottingham.ac.uk and for positions 3 and 4 to Clare Burrage email: clare.burrage@nottingham.ac.uk. Please note that applications sent directly to these email addresses will not be accepted.

Applicants who wish to be considered for more than one of these positions must submit separate applications for each position.

Fellowships at the University of Nottingham


The Particle Cosmology group in Nottingham would be very interested in hosting research fellowships for candidates who would complement the group’s activities. The group currently includes 7 faculty working on a variety of topics related to both early and late universe cosmology (e.g. CMB, cosmic strings, inflation, QFT, primordial black holes, dark energy, dark matter, modified gravity). We have close links with both the Astronomy Group and the Quantum Gravity group in Maths.

We welcome applications that relate to all of the above research areas. We are also extremely open to extending the group’s areas of expertise and would be very happy to host someone who would allow us to do that, especially for longer term fellowships.

A variety of potential fellowships are available, including Royal Society University Research Fellowships, Ernest Rutherford Fellowships (STFC), Marie Curie (EU) fellowships, and possibly national fellowships from the candidate’s country of origin. Nottingham University also has its own internally funded fellowship programmes.

Expressions of interest for fellowships should be sent to particlecos-admin@nottingham.ac.uk and should include a CV and a brief description of your general research direction. For the case of Ernest Rutherford Fellowships and Royal Society URFs, we ask that you do this by August 1, 2018 since we need some time to decide which candidates we plan to support.

Ernest Rutherford Fellowships
Ernest Rutherford Fellowships are five year fellowships funded by the STFC (formerly STFC Advanced Fellowships). The STFC deadline is 20 September 2018. They are open to candidates of any nationality, but each institution is limited in the total number of applications it can support. STFC encourages applications from those returning after a career break. They may submit applications in excess of the quota allocated to each department. For further information see here

Royal Society University Research Fellowships, Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowships, and Newton International Fellowships
Royal Society University Research Fellowships are five year fellowships (renewable for up to ten years in total) open to citizens of all nationalities. The deadline for 2018 has not yet been announced, but is likely to be in early September. The Royal Society also offers the Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship (maximum four years) for candidates with a need for flexible support, and Newton International Fellowships (two years) for early stage international (non-UK) researchers. For further information see here

Nottingham University Fellowships (internally funded)
Anne McLaren Fellowships are aimed at outstanding female scholars in science, technology, engineering and medicine at the early stage of their academic careers. The Nottingham Research Fellowships Scheme targets outstanding early career researchers in most academic disciplines at the University.
Each fellowship offers three years of independent funding. The deadline for expressions of interest is 5pm, Friday the 12th of October 2018. For more details see here

Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
The Marie Skłodowska-Curie scheme includes Individual Fellowships (IFs) intended to add significantly to the development of the best and most-promising researchers active in Europe. These are for trans-national researchers, including researchers coming to Europe and those moving within Europe. The deadline is 12th September 2018.
For further information see here

Royal Astronomical Society and Daphne Jackson Fellowships
RAS postdoctoral Fellowships provide support for up to 3 years for early career research astronomers and geophysicists. Applications are restricted to candidates who have a recognized PhD (or equivalent) obtained no more than 5 years before the start of their position or who have taken their viva before the application deadline and expect to be awarded the PhD by the time of appointment. The deadline for 2018 has not yet been announced, but is likely to be in October.
The Daphne Jackson Trust offers flexible, part-time, paid Fellowships, normally for two years, to assist talented scientists into a career following a break of at least two years. Applications are accepted year round.
For further information see here

Bell Burnell Scholarships
We particularly welcome applications for PhDs funded by the Bell Burnell Scholarship (beta.iop.org/bellburnellfund) from applicants that belong to a currently under-represented group in Physics. For example students who are female, from a black, asian, or minority ethnic background, or who have experienced other hurdles to their success as a physicist. The deadline for applications for this Scholarship scheme is the 15th December 2019. Please contact nina.hatch@nottingham.ac.uk for more details or to express your interest.