High Energy Physics Group at UCM (GAE)

The High Energy Physics Group at UCM (GAE) focuses on experimental Astroparticle Physics. In particular, Very High Energy (VHE) Astrophysics is carried out with the MAGIC telescopes and within the CTA project, which operate Cherenkov telescopes in the Island of La Palma, where we actively collaborate including on-site work by team members. We are also interested in the analysis of data provided by space telescopes such as Fermi, often combined with VHE data.

The Group is presently composed by 8 staff members, 3 postdocs, 5 pre-doctoral researchers, and one electronics engineer, and is part of the Department of Structure of Matter, Thermal Physics and Electronics (EMFTEL) of Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM). It was born in the late eighties and pioneered the Spanish research in the field of Astroparticle Physics. Our background stems from Particle, Cosmic Ray and Atomic Physics, having participated in experiments at CERN, HEGRA and the Pierre Auger Observatory. Officially recognized as a research group by both the University and the Madrid Regional Government, GAE has recently teamed up with other research groups in the UCM to form IPARCOS (Institute of Particle and Cosmos Physics).

The group offers an excellent track record in the early career development and subsequent placement of its postdoctoral researchers and PhD students (recent examples include researchers now at DESY, NASA Goddard, ESAC and Columbia University).

The Group interests span Astroparticle Physics as a whole. Our main lines are AGN physics (including cosmological studies through EBL), radiation mechanisms in pulsars and Dark Matter searches. While our research is mainly observational, we have frequent contacts with groups providing expertise in modeling.
On the technological side we work on detector and software technology mainly for Astroparticle Physics (CTA, e-Astrogam), but also thinking of medical applications. Our research lines are: Silicon Photo Multipliers (SiPMs), fast electronics and data analysis, in particular machine learning.

Projects related to these areas or combining more than one are welcome. All proposals will be taken into consideration. It would also be possible to participate in teaching duties, depending on the interest of the candidate.
The group is funded through national and European projects. Presently we have projects related to MAGIC, CTA, e-Astrogam, Machine Learning and the European Open Science Cloud.

The nationwide grant High Energy Astrophysics with MAGIC has been funded for more than 15 years our contribution to the design, construction, maintenance and scientific exploitation of the MAGIC gamma-ray telescopes.
The CTA consortium is an international research network leading the design and construction of the gamma-ray telescopes at the CTA Observatory. Our participation in the consortium has been funded over the past ten years by both national and European grants.

Applicants should submit to the Contact Person the following documents before the deadline:
- Cover letter (that should also list names of two contact persons)
- Curriculum Vitae
- Research statement