The Standard Model (SM) of elementary particle physics—one of the great triumphs of twentieth-century science—provides a unified description of all known phenomena in the microcosm of fundamental physics. It describes the properties of the basic constituents of matter, the quarks and leptons, as well as the fundamental interactions between these particles: electromagnetism and the subnuclear weak and strong forces. These interactions are mediated by the exchange of elementary bosons—the photon, gluons, the heavy W and Z bosons, and the Higgs boson. To date, there are no compelling experimental indications of deviations from SM predictions in particle-physics experiments probing energies up to the few-TeV (one trillion electron-volt) scale.

Despite its remarkable success, the SM leaves several fundamental questions unanswered. These include the dynamical origin of electroweak symmetry breaking (that is, the structure of the Higgs sector), the existence of three generations of elementary fermions, the observed matter–antimatter asymmetry of the universe, and the nature of the elusive dark matter. The prevailing view is that the SM constitutes an effective field theory, valid only within the energy and length scales accessible to current experiments. At higher energies or shorter distances, it is expected to be superseded by a more fundamental description of nature.

The search for physics beyond the SM—commonly referred to as New Physics—is nearly as old as the SM itself. Such searches can be broadly categorized into two complementary approaches: direct searches, which aim to produce new particles at the highest attainable energies in particle colliders, and indirect searches, which seek virtual effects of new particles or interactions through high-precision, high-luminosity measurements at lower energies. My group pursues a broad research program in particle-physics phenomenology addressing these questions. Our primary theoretical framework is the powerful methodology of effective quantum field theories.

Soft-collinear effective theory (SCET) provides a systematic framework for deriving factorization theorems and performing the resummation of large logarithmic corrections for observables at high-energy particle colliders. My group has a long-standing expertise in pushing the frontier of further developing the SCET framework and applying it to challenging open problems in collider physics. This research is supported by an ERC Advanced Grant of the European Research Council.

Some recent examples are:

Factorization and resummation for LHC jet observables (E-prints: 2107.01212, 2307.06359, 2307.11089, 2311.18811, 2405.05305, 2407.01691, 2411.12742, 2510.24848)

Proof of PDF factorization for jet cross sections at 3-loop order (E-prints: 2408.10308, 2509.07082)

Factorization at next-to-leading power (E-prints: 1912.08818, 2003.03393, 2005.03013, 2006.05428, 2009.04456, 2009.06779, 2112.00018, 2203.08202, 2212.10447, 2212.14430)

Coherence violation for global LHC observables (publication in progress)

Weak decays of B mesons, bound state of a heavy quark with light quarks and gluons, are among the most sensitive probes of physics beyond the current Standard Model of particle physics. My group has performed research of these processes for over three decades. 

Some recent examples are:

Flavor effects from beyond the Standard Model (E-prints: 1905.09833, 2102.13112, 2103.16558, 2110.10698, 2308.16903, 2407.13506)

Light-cone structure of heavy mesons (E-prints: 2003.03393, 2006.05428, 2203.08202)

QED effects in leptonic decays of B mesons (E-prints: 2212.14430, 2601.14361)

Theoretical description of weak annihilation (publication in progress)

Models featuring axions and axion-like particles (ALPs) are well motivated extensions of the Standard Model of particle physics, which can potentially explain the absence of CP violation in the strong interactions and the dark matter in the universe. My group has done extensive research of the model-independent characterization of ALPs using effective Lagrangians and explored their phenomenological implications in Higgs physics and the flavor sector.

Some recent examples are: 

Effective field theory of a light ALP coupled to the Standard Model (E-prints: 1808.10323, 2012.12272)

ALP effects in rare decays of B mesons, kaons and charged leptons (E-prints: 1908.00008, 2102.13112, 2110.10698, 2308.16903, 2403.00913)

ALP effects in global SMEFT fits (E-prints: 2105.01078, 2307.10372, 2308.01338, 2506.06426)

Novel theoretical predictions aim to advance the search for new physics at the LHC / €2.5 million in funding

Matthias Neubert has been awarded a grant of nearly €2.5 million by the European Research Council to support his research in theoretical elementary particle physics. In his proposed project EFT4jets, he will focus on the theoretical description of so-called jet processes based on effective field theories. This approach is expected, for the first time, to enable a quantitative description of subtle quantum effects that have so far eluded precise theoretical treatment. A deeper understanding of these processes will be essential for identifying potential signals of new physics beyond the Standard Model of particle physics in accelerator experiments at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC).

Recent publications – INSPIRE:

A full list Matthias Neubert’s publications can be found on INSPIRE:

Matthias Neubert – INSPIRE

A list of highly cited papers can be found here:

Matthias Neubert – INSPIRE

Bachelor and Master Theses

If you are interested in writing your Bachelor or Master thesis in the research group of Matthias Neubert, please contact him by email. Include your tentative start date and relevant background (completed or ongoing theoretical lecture courses). This information helps to suggest suitable thesis topics.

PhD positions

Open PhD positions are usually advertised via INSPIRE and depend on available funding. However, prospective candidates interested in pursuing a PhD under the supervision of Matthias Neubert are also encouraged to contact him to discuss the possibility of jointly applying for independent funding, e.g. via

• German scholarship foundations (Begabtenförderungswerke)
• DAAD German Academic Exchange Service)

In that case, please, indicate the program you consider to apply for. Include a brief motivation letter and your latest CV. Arrange for at least one reference letter to be sent directly by your Master`s thesis supervisor.

Postdoc Positions

Open Postdoc positions are usually advertised via INSPIRE and depend on available funding. However, prospective candidates interested in joining the research group of Matthias Neubert are also encouraged to contact him to discuss the possibility of jointly applying for independent funding, e.g. via

• Humboldt Research Fellowship
• Walter Benjamin-Programm (German Research Foundation)
• DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service)

In that case, please, indicate the program you consider to apply for. Include a brief motivation letter, your latest CV, a list of publications and a research statement. Arrange for at least one reference letter to be sent directly.