Catalonia’s high-energy physics institute, IFAE, was formally created on 16 July 1991 by Act 159/1991 of the Generalitat of Catalonia. It is a public consortium of the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, and it operates as an independent legal entity governed by its own statutes and a governing board.
The institute is located on the Bellaterra campus of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, near Barcelona. Its work covers experimental and theoretical high-energy physics, high-energy astrophysics and related technologies.
IFAE takes part in the ATLAS experiment at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider, where it contributes to detector construction and analysis, in the MAGIC gamma-ray telescope, in the design of the Cherenkov Telescope Array, and in the T2K neutrino experiment in Japan. Details on positions, doctoral supervision and current projects are on the institute’s website.
Domains taught:
Astroscience, Data Analytics, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Signal Processing
Diplomas*:
Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Consortium between Generalitat de Catalunya and UAB. Strong international collaborations, notably with CERN, and participation in major global experiments (e.g., ATLAS, DES, CTA).
Research:
Experimental and theoretical research in high-energy particle physics, astroparticle physics, observational cosmology, and development of advanced instrumentation.
Famous Alumnis:
N/A
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
150
Current students***:
50
Foreign students***:
40%
Cumulative former students***:
100
Pros
World-leading research in its specialized fields, access to major international scientific projects, excellent environment for doctoral and postdoctoral training.
Cons
Primarily a research institute; degrees are awarded by collaborating universities like UAB.
Best For
PhD students and researchers specializing in particle physics, astrophysics, or cosmology, seeking to work on major international experiments.
Instituto de Física Corpuscular is a public Valencia research institute in particle physics, astroparticle physics and nuclear physics, closest to IFAE's remit.
Donostia International Physics Center, public, centres on condensed matter physics, materials science and nanoscience in the Basque Country.
Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía covers astrophysics, planetary sciences and space instrumentation as a public centre in Granada.
Paul Scherrer Institut in Switzerland is a public research institute for materials, energy and life sciences research using particle technologies.
The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, public in Japan, includes particle and nuclear physics and fusion science.
Observatoire de Paris - PSL (France) is public, working in astronomy, astrophysics and space science.
Weizmann Institute of Science, a public Israeli institute, covers mathematics, computer science, physics and chemistry.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
What is IFAE?
It is the Institut de Física d'Altes Energies, a public consortium of the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. It researches particle physics and astrophysics.
When was it created?
It was founded in 1991 under Act 159/1991 of the Generalitat. The institute's history page and Wikipedia agree on the year.
Where can the institute be found?
It is housed at the UAB campus in Bellaterra, close to Barcelona. Its postal address is listed on the official site.
Which experiments does it join?
It participates in ATLAS at CERN, MAGIC, the Cherenkov Telescope Array and the T2K neutrino experiment. It also works on medical-imaging detector techniques.
How does it relate to universities?
IFAE is run jointly by the Generalitat and the UAB but is independent of both. Both bodies are members of its governing consortium.
Is it a place to study?
It is chiefly a research centre rather than a degree-granting school. Students and postdocs usually join through doctoral programmes and research groups.
How do I find vacancies?
Calls for positions are posted on the institute's official website. Requirements vary by group.
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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