Help: a phd in physics in EU, what to study and where

[Sleuth]

Hi everybody,
first of all my best wishes for the new year coming to everybody :)
I'm from Italy and attending the last year of a MsC in physics, right now working on
my Master thesis about effective field theories and bound state in qed/qcd.
My actual supervisor is a quite big name for what concerns feynman graphs calculations, perturbative expansions etc, he spent his whole life calculating, calculating and calculating, and I'm learning a lot with him. But now that the moment of choosing a phd is approaching I'm quite confused. A part of me is really pleased with what I'm studying now, which seems to be more "grounded" than most of the "modern physics" (string theory, holographic principle, loop gravity, etc), but another part of me would be really disappointed with this sort of "giving up" to the hottest problems in modern physics.
This long introduction because I'm looking forward to speaking with someone who knows more than me about these issues just to have some different opinions. This is strictly connected with the choise of where to have my phd.
In this moment i have two main possibilities which are "TUM" in munich, Germany, about EFT, and University of Zurich, always about EFT or high order feynman loops calculations...

so my question is:
1) first of all what do you think about these 2 universities? what's better in your opinion?
2) do you know any other universities where these topics are treated?
3) a more general question: what do you think about string theory/loop gravity and all these new (or not that new) theories which in 10/20 years have not given yet any measurable result?

 

[wilsont23274]

thanks a lot for your answers!Both TUM and University of Zurich are excellent universities, and they both have strong research programs in EFT and high-order Feynman diagrams. Depending on your particular interests, one may be a better fit than the other. It would be worth looking into their respective research groups to see which one might best suit your particular interests. As for other universities, there are many good ones that specialize in EFT and high-order Feynman diagrams, including Harvard, Stanford, MIT, UC Berkeley, Princeton, and many more. In terms of string theory/loop gravity and other new theories, it is important to remember that these are very complex and difficult topics, and even though they have not yet yielded any measurable results, this does not mean that they will not in the future. It is also worth noting that there have been some successes in these areas, such as the discovery of the Higgs boson by the Large Hadron Collider, which was predicted by string theory. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide which path to pursue for your PhD studies.

 

[Mene]

As a fellow physicist, I can understand your dilemma and the importance of choosing the right PhD program. First of all, congratulations on completing your Master's degree and working with a renowned supervisor in the field. It's great that you are considering different options and seeking advice from those with more experience.

Regarding your first question, both TUM in Munich and the University of Zurich have excellent reputations in the field of physics. It ultimately comes down to your personal preferences and research interests. I would suggest looking into the faculty and their research areas at both universities to see which aligns more closely with your interests. Additionally, you can reach out to current PhD students at both universities to get a better understanding of their experiences and the program's strengths and weaknesses.

In terms of other universities, there are many institutions around the world that offer research opportunities in EFT and high order feynman loop calculations. Some well-known ones include the University of Cambridge, ETH Zurich, and the University of California, Berkeley. I would recommend looking into these universities as well and seeing if any of their faculty members align with your research interests.

As for your general question about string theory, loop gravity, and other modern theories, it's a topic of ongoing debate in the scientific community. While these theories have not yet produced measurable results, they still hold promise and are actively being researched. It's important to keep an open mind and consider all possibilities in physics, as it is a constantly evolving field. Ultimately, it's up to you to decide which research area you find most intriguing and fulfilling.

Best of luck with your PhD journey, and I hope you make the right decision for yourself. Happy new year!