The University of Bath has signed a new collaboration agreement with CERN, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics, to deepen the two organisations’ research and educational ties.
The agreement builds on Bath’s existing research partnership with the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment, one of CERN’s major particle physics detectors, which forms part of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) complex.
The deal will see Bath students and researchers continue to expand ongoing research into engineering aspects of CERN’s facilities, including optimisation of key accelerator physics devices, work with advanced carbon nanotubes, and on improving cooling systems and transporting equipment.
New opportunities for PhD and undergraduate placement students are also included in the agreement. One new PhD position, funded by CERN, will allow a candidate to split their time between Bath and CERN and will involve research into how to grow carbon nanotube wires with optimal mechanical properties. These wires are used in wire scanners which rapidly pass the wires across the beam (a stream of particles travelling at close to the speed of light) to characterise its properties. New opportunities for placements will also be made available to Bath students.
Dr Alexander Lunt, from Bath’s Faculty of Engineering & Design, manages the University’s relationship with CMS and CERN. He said: “We are absolutely delighted to sign this new agreement and to see our partnership with CMS and CERN grow.
“We recently had an incredibly productive visit to Geneva, which has allowed us to expand our relationship and build connections to open up future opportunities for Bath students and academics.”
Dean of the Faculty of Engineering & Design, Professor Tim Ibell, added: “It is fabulous to see our partnership with CERN continuing to grow and flourish. Opportunities associated with this collaboration are extraordinary, perfectly aligning with our Faculty research priorities.”
