Fully Funded STFC and Swansea University PhD Scholarship: Gauge-gravity Duality and its Applications

Funding providers: Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) DTP and Swansea University's Faculty of Science and Engineering

Subject areas: Theoretical Physics

Project description: 

The discovery of gauge-gravity dualities (aka, holography) revolutionised theoretical physics, providing a new computational tool alongside a way to understand hard conceptual and formal problems in string theory. 

The Swansea Particle Physics and Cosmology Theory (PPCT) group has established credentials in the study of holography and its applications to a wide variety of systems, which provides a new interdisciplinary connection between particle physics and extensions of the Standard Model (Piai), lower-dimensional quantum Chromodynamics (Armoni), and quantum aspects of gravity and black hole physics (Kumar). The project will further develop the formal tools of holography for calculating physical observables, by taking advantage of, and combining together, most recent advances in the understanding of non-perturbative dualities. The student will apply the new tools to a specific area, chosen between composite Higgs models, dark matter, lower-dimensional field theory, and the information retrieval problem for quantum black holes. 

The project supervisors have long standing records of supervising postgraduate students to completion, have established International reputation in the diverse fields of string theory, supergravity, formal field theory, effective field theory and phenomenological model building, and have extensive networks of International collaborators. The candidate will join a diverse, International, and interdisciplinary, world-leading research environment, benefiting from daily interaction within a group of staff and students counting approximately forty researchers, and from the extensive programme of research seminars, journal clubs and training opportunities of the Particle Physics and Cosmology Theory group at Swansea. 

Eligibility

Candidates must normally hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level or a master’s degree with a minimum overall grade at ‘Merit’ (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University).

English Language requirements: If applicable – IELTS 6.5 overall (with at least 6.0 in each individual component) or Swansea recognised equivalent. 

This scholarship is open to candidates of any nationality. 

Please visit our website for more information on eligibility.

Funding Details

This scholarship covers the full cost of UK tuition fees and an annual stipend at UKRI rate (currently £17,668 for 2022/23). 

Additional research expenses will also be available.