The University of Amsterdam, in partnership with Nikhef—the National Institute for Subatomic Physics in the Netherlands—is offering two fully funded PhD positions embedded in the ATLAS group. Nikhef is a leading center for particle and astroparticle physics, collaborating on major international experiments such as ATLAS, ALICE, and LHCb at CERN. The ATLAS group at Nikhef is deeply involved in detector construction, data acquisition, and advanced data analysis, with a strong focus on Higgs boson physics, top quark physics, and searches for new physics. These PhD positions are part of the NWO-funded program 'The potential of the Higgs boson,' which aims to probe the Higgs potential and its implications for the Standard Model and beyond. Position 1 centers on searching for the rare ttHH production process in LHC Run-3 data, utilizing advanced machine learning techniques, including attention-based transformer models for event classification and Higgs boson mass regression. This role offers synergy with other boosted analyses in two-Higgs channels and is co-supervised by prof. dr. Ivo van Vulpen, dr. Clara Nellist, and dr. Sascha Caron. Position 2 focuses on reconstructing the two-Higgs decay channel into photons and b-quarks (HH→bbγγ), providing the tightest constraints on diHiggs production, and on the combined interpretation of all reconstructed diHiggs channels. This position involves collaboration with other PhD students and a postdoc working on novel ML-based strategies for improved precision and is co-supervised by prof. dr. Wouter Verkerke and prof. dr. Tristan du Pree. Both positions are based at Nikhef in Amsterdam, with employment at the University of Amsterdam. The program includes a specialized training curriculum, networking opportunities, and the possibility for extended research stays at CERN (up to one year). Candidates are expected to assist in teaching undergraduates and master students. The gross monthly salary ranges from €3,059 to €3,881, with additional benefits such as holiday and year-end allowances and an excellent pension plan. Applicants should hold or be close to completing a Master’s degree in high-energy physics or a related field, possess strong data analysis and programming skills (Python, C++, ROOT), and ideally have experience in experimental particle physics and machine learning. Applications require a cover letter, CV, and contact details for two referees, with interviews scheduled for December. The deadline for applications is November 16, 2025.

Nikhef, the National Institute for Subatomic Physics in the Netherlands, is a leading research center in particle and astroparticle physics, collaborating with major Dutch universities and international experiments such as ATLAS at CERN. The Nikhef ATLAS group is deeply involved in detector construction, data acquisition, and advanced physics data analysis, with a strong focus on Higgs boson physics and searches for new physics. This postdoctoral position centers on the global optimization of diHiggs measurements, a key challenge for the LHC following the discovery of the Higgs boson. The successful candidate will develop and apply machine-learned surrogate models to optimize selection criteria for all two-Higgs decay signatures, aiming to surpass traditional local optimization methods. The project also explores future AI models capable of direct data analysis from low-level data. The postdoc will be embedded in the Nikhef diHiggs group, collaborating with PhD students and staff on Run-3 analyses of various Higgs decay channels. The position is part of a NWO-funded program, "The potential of the Higgs boson," which includes multiple PhD and postdoc positions focused on Higgs boson potential studies. The role offers excellent employment conditions, including a three-year contract, competitive salary, and additional benefits. Applicants should have a PhD in high-energy physics, strong data analysis and software skills, and experience with machine learning in particle physics. The application deadline is November 16, 2025, with interviews scheduled for December 8-10. For more details, candidates can refer to the Nikhef employment page or contact the listed supervisors.

The National Institute for Subatomic Physics (Nikhef) in the Netherlands is offering two fully funded PhD positions within its ATLAS group, embedded at the University of Amsterdam. Nikhef is a leading research institute in particle and astroparticle physics, collaborating internationally on major experiments such as ATLAS, ALICE, LHCb at CERN, and others. The ATLAS group at Nikhef is a founding member of the ATLAS collaboration and is deeply involved in detector construction, data acquisition, and physics analysis, with a strong focus on Higgs boson and top quark physics, as well as searches for new physics signatures. The two PhD projects are part of the NWO-M2-project “When Higgs bosons meet Top quarks.” Position 1 will investigate Higgs boson production via the gg→HZ process, leveraging modern deep learning techniques such as Transformer networks to probe top-Higgs interactions. Position 2 will focus on extracting poorly constrained SMEFT coefficients, including those modeling anomalous top-Higgs interactions, using new experimental results and advanced machine learning methods. Both projects aim to advance understanding of physics beyond the Standard Model, with a particular emphasis on the top-Higgs interaction, which remains one of the least constrained aspects of SM-EFT. PhD candidates will be based at Nikhef in Amsterdam and employed by the University of Amsterdam. The group offers a vibrant, international environment with access to state-of-the-art technical departments in mechanics, electronics, and computing. The positions include a temporary contract for 38 hours per week over four years, with a gross monthly salary ranging from €3,059 to €3,881, plus holiday and year-end allowances. Non-Dutch applicants may benefit from the ‘30% ruling’ tax agreement. The doctoral program includes an educational plan with courses and international meetings, and candidates may spend up to one year at CERN. Teaching assistance for undergraduate and master students is expected. Applicants should hold (or be close to completing) a Master’s degree in high-energy physics or a closely related field, possess strong data analysis and software skills (Python, C++, ROOT), and have some research experience in experimental particle physics. Experience with machine learning is desirable but not required. The application deadline is March 8, 2026. Candidates should submit a cover letter, CV, and provide referee contact details. Reference letters will be requested for selected candidates after the deadline. Interviews are planned for April. For further information, contact the supervisors or Prof. Dr. Wouter Verkerke regarding the Nikhef ATLAS group. The University of Amsterdam’s Faculty of Science, located at Amsterdam Science Park, offers excellent labs and technical facilities, and is part of a strong physics center with close ties to Nikhef. These positions provide an outstanding opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in particle physics and machine learning within a world-class scientific environment.