The Hubble constant, H0, that measures the current expansion rate of the Universe is one of the key parameters of the cosmological model. It can be measured from the Cosmic Microwave Background or directly in the local Universe. While the two measurements should give the same value, as they measure the same universe, they do not agree in practice. This can be a sign that the cosmological model does not describe well-enough our universe, or that the measurements of H0 somehow suffer from systematics. One fully independent way of measuring H0 locally is to use the so-called time delays in strongly lensed quasars, in combination with detailed models of the potential well for the galaxy(ies) responsible for the lensing effect. The PhD is fully devoted to the measurement of H0 with strong lenses and will involve lens modeling, dynamical modeling of lenses as well as processing of HST and JWST observations of such objects. This work, and therefore the student, is/will be part of the TDCOSMO collaboration.
The student will join the new research group of Prof. Frédéric Courbin, at ICCUB but will of course benefit from and contribute to the other groups in observational cosmology at ICCUB.
Description of the group:
F. Courbin works in close collaboration with the ICCUB Physical Cosmology group (Profs. Verde, Jimenez, Gil-Marin), studying connections between theory and observations in large sky surveys. F. Courbin is more oriented towards observations and modeling but also has a strong signal processing component in his research, as a full member of the ESA Euclid mission and as one of the leads of strong lensing in Euclid. He also collaborate with the cosmostat group in CEA-Saclay.
https://www.icrea.cat/community/icreas/30123/frederic-courbin/
Requirements:
Who can apply?
Applicants may be all those who are enrolled or admitted to a doctoral program at the University of Barcelona for the 2025/2026 academic year, at the time of the application submission. Applicants may also be all those people who, even though at the time of the application submission are not enrolled or admitted to a doctoral program, they will be on the date the contract is formalized.
Applications must be submitted online through this link. You can find here a step by step that will guide you through the application process.
Documents to be attached to the application:
a) For studies not completed at the UB, including qualifications obtained outside Spain: copy of the candidate's personal academic transcript for the completed university studies (bachelor's degree, pre-EHEA degree, master's degree) stating the grades obtained in the relevant exam sittings expressed as failed (S), passed (A), merit (N), excellent (E) or excellent with honor’s (MH), the corresponding numerical grades, the credits earned and the date the qualifications were awarded, as well as the corresponding certified translation, where applicable.
b) For studies completed outside Spain: statement of equivalence of the grade point average for bachelor's degree and master's degree studies, submitted using the template provided by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sport.
c) Curriculum vitae, using the AEI template, in Spanish or English, which must list the merits the candidate wishes to be considered. The curriculum vitae template.
d) Accreditation of degree of disability, if applicable.
Employment conditions:
· Which is the salary?
The minimum salary compensation that researchers in training must receive will be around 17.700 euros gross per year for each of the first two years, 19.000 for the third year and 23.700 for the fourth year.
You will also get an additional funding of 7.000€ that you will be able to spend on tuition or research stays, for example.
· What is the duration of the contract?
A maximum of four years.
More information here
Contract funded by PID2024-155455NB-I00, funded by MICIU/AEI /10.13039/501100011033
About the Institute of Cosmos Sciences:
The Institute of Cosmos Sciences (ICCUB) created in 2006 at the University of Barcelona is an interdisciplinary center dedicated to fundamental research in cosmology, astrophysics, particle physics, quantum physics, and nuclear physics. The ICCUB is involved in international collaborations in all these areas and aims to exploit the connections and synergies between them from theoretical, observational, and experimental perspectives. Additionally, the institute has a strong technology transfer and knowledge dissemination program linked to these research areas.
Embedded within the University of Barcelona, the ICCUB enhances and complements UB's mission in excellent and high-impact interdisciplinary research, talent attraction, training, technology transfer, and social impact, all with a global and international perspective. The institute has been awarded the Maria de Maeztu Excellence award three times.
The ICCUB provides a stimulating and inclusive intellectual environment, encouraging strategic participation in international collaborations and fostering synergies and partnerships among researchers and the local scientific and technological community. The research lines cover diverse topics such as cosmology and large-scale structure, high-energy experimental physics, galaxy structure and evolution, gravitational wave sources, theory, nuclear physics, and high-energy astrophysics, among others. The institute also houses an Advanced Technology Unit supporting experimental research requiring cutting-edge technology.
In addition to cutting-edge research, ICCUB's activities include graduate student training, technology and knowledge transfer to society, and a scientific outreach program. Detailed information about their activities can be found on their website, https://icc.ub.edu/. They also offer a wealth of material for learning about their science on Serviastro, their astrophysics outreach website at https://serviastro.ub.edu/es, and Serviparticulas, their particle and nuclear physics outreach website at https://serviparticules.ub.