PhD position for gravitational-wave data anlysis with machine learning, Louvain, Belgium

2025-11-30

justin.janquart[AT]uclouvain.be

Louvain, Belgium

The gravitational-wave (GW) group of the University of Louvain (UCLouvain, Belgium), hosted at the Centre for Cosmology, Particle Physics and Phenomenology (CP3) of the Research Institute in Mathematics and Physics (IRMP) and the Institute of Information and Communication Technologies, Electronics and Applied Mathematics (ICTEAM), welcome applications for a four-year PhD candidate position on GW data analysis using machine learning (ML) with expected starting date February 2026. The position focuses on using neural posterior estimation for tackling issues related to the analysis of CBC signals in current and future detectors.

The CP3 center hosts research in physics of the Universe and fundamental interactions on the experimental and theoretical fronts. The UCLouvain GW group is part of the Virgo Collaboration at the European Gravitational Observatory (EGO) and has been active so far in searches for ultra-light dark matter, anisotropic stochastic GW background, gravitational wave lensing, and on multi-messenger projects. All the data analysis studies are performed in collaboration with theory specialists and use the IRMP computing center that also serves CERN experiments (CMS and NA62), IceCube, KM3NeT, muography, and projects in theoretical particle physics and cosmology.

The UCLouvain GW group is also involved in instrumentation projects for both Virgo and the future Einstein Telescope, notably at the two research and development facilities, E-TEST and ETPF. The selected candidates will work in the GRAVIT-AI consortium led by Giacomo Bruno (GW), Laurent Jacques (ML), Justin Janquart (GW), and Estelle Massart (ML). The candidate will have two main promoters coming from the two different fields.

Constant and careful supervision of the candidate is also guaranteed thanks to the presence in the groups of several postdoctoral researchers. Computing resources and support for traveling are excellent. CP3 and ICTEAM are highly international, diverse, and stimulating environments. The PhD research work will also be conducted in close contact and cooperation with the rest of the Belgian GW community and international partners.

The UCLouvain campus is located some 25 km south of Brussels, to which it is conveniently connected by public transport, thus allowing life either in the EU capital or in the pleasant green countryside surrounding the campus. UCLouvain offers several advantages to its personnel, including reimbursement of public transport season tickets between home and workplace and free language courses. More information about life in Belgium and at UCLouvain is available here.

For more information, please contact Justin Janquart (justin.janquart[AT]uclouvain.be)

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