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School of Physical and Chemical Sciences

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  1. School of Physical and Chemical Sciences
  2. Experimental Particle Physics
  3. PHD
  4. PhD Projects in EPP
  5. Search for Higgs Boson decays to charm quarks using AI applications at the ATLAS experiment at the LHC

Search for Higgs Boson decays to charm quarks using AI applications at the ATLAS experiment at the LHC

Research Group: Particle Physics Research Centre
Number of Students: 1
Length of Study in Years: 3.5 years
Full-time Project: yes

Funding

Funding is provided via the Scientific Technology Facilities Council (STFC)

    • Available to Home and exceptional overseas applicants only.
    • Applicant required to start in September 2026.
    • The studentship arrangement will cover home tuition fees for the duration of the studentship.

Project Description

After the discovery of the Higgs boson at the LHC, the Higgs boson Yukawa coupling to matter particles has been experimentally confirmed only for the heavy fermions. Higgs decays into the lighter fermions have not yet been observed. This project will perform a search for Higgs Boson decays into charm quarks based on the world’s largest dataset collected between 2016 and 2026 by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC.

The Standard-Model Higgs boson branching fraction into charm quarks is 3% but new physics beyond the Standard Model could significantly enhance or reduce this. The sensitivity of the most promising production modes was so far limited by the size of the data set and the uncertainty on the modelling of the background from Z or W  bosons produced in association with quarks. To reduce the uncertainty on the latter, we will perform a separate cross section measurement of Z + charm quarks and publish the result. The purity of the Higgs to charm selection  will be further  enhanced via Neural Networks.  We will target Higgs production modes  in association with weak bosons or top quarks, using the large ATLAS 2016-2026 data set to obtain a world-leading result.

The QMUL ATLAS group has accumulated extensive experience and leadership in the search and measurements of both Higgs decays to heavy quarks, Z boson decays, Z boson production in association with charm quarks and charm tagging. This will provide an optimal environment for this PhD project.

Supervisor Contact Details:

For more information on this project please contact Ulla Blumenschein (u.blumenschein@qmul.ac.uk). 

Deadline - 28th of January 2026

Application Method:

To apply for this studentship please select September entry in the following page:

https://www.qmul.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/subjects/physics.html

Requirements

The minimum requirement for this studentship opportunity is a good Honours degree (minimum 2(i) honours or equivalent) or MSc/MRes in a relevant discipline.

If English is not your first language you will require a valid English certificate equivalent to IELTS 6.5+ overall with a minimum score of 6.0 in all other categories.

SPCS Academics: Dr. Ulla Blumenschein

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