Saltar para o conteúdo principal

FCCNFCT Digital Services

Access the national information on scientific and technological funding in Portugal

Activity Funded

Center for Theoretical and Computational Physics

Centro de Física Teórica e Computacional da Universidade de Lisboa

Reference
UIDB/00618/2020
Project Start Date
2020-01-01
Project End Date
2024-12-31
Principal Investigator
Funding Program
Concurso de avaliação no âmbito do Programa Plurianual de Financiamento de Unidades de I&D (2017/2018) - Financiamento Base

Abstract

10.2 Summary in English for general dissemination purposes The Center for Theoretical and Computational Physics (CFTC) is a research unit focused on theoretical and computational physics, that leads nationally and is recognized internationally in the areas of Soft Condensed Matter and Non-linear Dynamics, with a complementary expertise on symmetry classification of dynamical and static field theories. Its research is held at a very high level, both in quantity and quality, contributing significantly to the visibility of Portugal in fundamental science and paving the way for new technologies in materials science and non-linear optics. CFTC is based at ULisboa having an excellent logistic support and a first-rate library. CFTC runs its own supercomputer with more than 1000 cores, recently upgraded with an infiniband network to run highly-efficient parallel jobs. For the next five years, CFTC aims at maintaining a very high level of research, consolidating its international recognition and national leadership in Soft Condensed Matter and Non-linear Dynamics, as well as its position in Particle Physics. The attraction of new (iFCT) staff members and the steady increase in the number of students is an important part of our vision how to address new research questions of potential high-impact and extend the present network of national and international collaborators. Scientifically, we will pursue three main research streams: Collective properties, in particular dynamics of non-equilibrium and out-of-equilibrium soft matter systems; Nonlinear waves in non-Hermitian optics, quantum gases, and microcavities; and Extensions of the Standard Model. Overall, we have a research plan with very-high potential impact combined with goals of moderate risk, to balance the scientific output. With a broad in-house expertise in theoretical and computational physics, our more-ambitious goals require synergies between different team members. The unit is organized without formal groups, to promote these synergies. CFTC will also look for complementary expertise, hiring new young researchers and postdocs and through a structured high-level visitors program. For the period of 2018-2022, we have designed an ambitious strategy to achieve four main objectives: to increase the attraction of the best PhD students and postdocs; to consolidate the team of staff members; to reinforce ongoing collaborations, especially those with experimental groups; and to explore more competitive funding opportunities, in particular those beyond FCT. 10.3 Summary in English for evaluation The Center for Theoretical and Computational Physics (CFTC) is a research unit focused on theoretical and computational physics, that leads nationally and is recognized internationally in the areas of Soft Condensed Matter and Non-linear Dynamics, with a complementary expertise on symmetry classification of dynamical and static field theories. Its research is held at a very high level, both in quantity and quality, contributing significantly to the visibility of Portugal in fundamental science and paving the way for new technologies in materials science and non-linear optics. CFTC is based at ULisboa having an excellent logistic support and a first-rate library. CFTC runs its own supercomputer with more than 1000 cores, recently upgraded with an infiniband network to run highly-efficient parallel jobs. For the next five years, CFTC aims at maintaining a very high level of research, consolidating its international recognition and national leadership in Soft Condensed Matter and Non-linear Dynamics, as well as its position in Particle Physics. The attraction of new (iFCT) staff members and the steady increase in the number of students is an important part of our vision how to address new research questions of potential high-impact and extend the present network of national and international collaborators. Scientifically, we will pursue three main research streams: Collective properties, in particular dynamics of non-equilibrium and out-of-equilibrium soft matter systems; Nonlinear waves in non-Hermitian optics, quantum gases, and microcavities; and Extensions of the Standard Model. Overall, we have an ambitious research plan with very-high potential impact combined with goals of moderate risk, to balance the scientific output. With a broad in-house expertise in theoretical and computational physics, our more-ambitious goals require synergies between different team members. The unit is organized without formal groups, to promote these synergies. CFTC will also look for complementary expertise, by hiring new young researchers and postdocs and through a structured high-level visitors program. Our strategy is designed to achieve four main objectives: to increase the attraction of the best PhD students and postdocs; to consolidate the team of staff members; to reinforce ongoing collaborations, especially those with experimental groups; and to explore more competitive funding opportunities, in particular those beyond FCT. To attract high-level PhD students and postdocs, we will start with our (growing) network of collaborators, through bilateral projects, and participation in different mobility programs (e.g., Tordesillas PhD Program in Physics, COST Actions, and Erasmus+). The increase in the number (and quality) of the students that want to pursue higher education in Physics in Portugal is an opportunity to attract more and better students in the future. Most staff members are involved in teaching activities at the bachelor and master levels at ULisboa, giving us the possibility to identify and invite the best students to join CFTC and to develop research projects with us. The new government programs (there are several open or about to be open) for stimulating scientific employment are also an opportunity to invert the actual tendency in the decrease of the number of postdocs, observed across the country. Across all research streams, we will continue to reinforce our collaborations with experimental groups, to validate and parametrize our models and to test their predictions. These collaborations have resulted already in publications in high-impact journals and we plan to continue this course of action. The successful collaboration with experimental groups is also a unique opportunity to leverage the visibility and impact of our research. Several of our experimental collaborators, who are leaders in their fields, have been involved in our recently approved or under-evaluation proposals, ranging from projects to fellowships, and this has been appreciated by the different reviewers. We are making a significant effort to attract competitive funding at the national and European levels. CFTC already secured some funding for 2018-2022, through bilateral projects (US, Germany, and Morocco), one iFCT2015 project, a CERN research grant, two PhD and one postdoctoral FCT fellowships. The staff members of the unit are also the PIs of three proposals submitted to the last FCT call for projects, one COST Action, and a Portugal2020 project with a company. We also participate in other proposals, including an European Training Network. For most of them (except the COST Action), the largest fraction of the requested budget aims at hiring new students and postdocs. CFTC is coordinated by a scientist (scientific coordinator) that represents the unit and chairs the executive committee. This committee runs the unit and consists of up to two additional researchers chosen by the scientific coordinator. They will ensure that the general objectives are met and promote the external and internal collaborations. The last evaluation panel voiced concerns regarding the long-term future of the unit in terms of leadership and recommended that younger/mid-career members engage in managerial roles. Nuno Araujo, the youngest of staff members, joined the executive committee in 2015 and was elected to be the next scientific coordinator. He will start in February but has participated actively in the coordination of this proposal. The present coordinator will continue in the executive committee to facilitate this transition.

Institutions

Main Institutions

  • Universidade de Lisboa Centro de Física Teórica e Computacional (ULisboa CFTC)
  • FCiênciasID Associação para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento de Ciências (Fciências.ID)

Other Institutions

  • Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa (IPL ISEL)

Funding 234.375,00 €

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - Portugal

234.375,00 €