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.