Research
Collider physics
Our groups analyse proton collision data to measure the properties of the Higgs boson and to search for particles beyond the Standard Model.
Neutrinos and dark matter
Underground and deep-water detectors let us study neutrino oscillations and look for rare interactions of dark matter candidates.
Detectors and computing
We build silicon trackers, readout electronics and the distributed software that turns raw signals into physics results.
- 112staff scientists and engineers
- 46PhD candidates
- 9international collaborations
- 1987year of foundation
Selected collaborations
| Experiment | Type | Our contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Large collider detector, Run 3 | Collider | Silicon tracking, trigger, Higgs analyses |
| Flavour spectrometer upgrade | Collider | Vertex detector, data acquisition |
| Deep-water neutrino telescope | Astroparticle | Optical modules, reconstruction software |
| Liquid xenon dark matter experiment | Underground | Calibration and background modelling |
| Gravitational-wave observatory | Astroparticle | Data analysis and detector characterisation |
News
- 14 October 2026
- New precision measurement of the W boson massResearchers from our collider group present an updated analysis using the full Run 3 dataset. The result is consistent with the Standard Model prediction and reduces the combined uncertainty.
- 29 September 2026
- Open positions for PhD candidatesFour fully funded positions are available in detector development and data analysis. Applications are open until the end of November.
- 3 September 2026
- Summer school welcomed 80 studentsParticipants from 21 countries followed two weeks of lectures and hands-on analysis sessions.
- 18 June 2026
- Upgraded readout electronics installedThe new front-end boards for the vertex detector passed their commissioning tests ahead of schedule.
- 2 May 2026
- Open day for the publicOver 900 visitors toured the detector laboratory, the clean room and the computing centre.
About the institute
The institute was founded in 1987 by a group of universities and research councils to coordinate work on particle physics. Today it hosts experimental and theoretical groups, a technology department and a graduate programme.
Techniques developed in our laboratories, such as fast silicon sensors and large-scale data processing, also find use in medical imaging and industry. Analysis software and teaching material are published under open licences whenever the collaborations allow it.
| Scientific director | Prof. Elena Marchetti |
|---|---|
| Managing director | Jonas Eriksen |
| Research groups | Collider, flavour, neutrino, dark matter, theory |
| Support | Mechanical workshop, electronics, computing |
| Graduate school | PhD programme with partner universities |
Contact
General enquiries: info@nikhel.xdrttg05.top
Press and communication: press@nikhel.xdrttg05.top
Recruitment: jobs@nikhel.xdrttg05.top
The laboratory is open on weekdays between 8:30 and 17:30. Visitors should register at the reception desk. Guided tours for school groups can be requested by email at least two weeks ahead.