PhD Position in Physics

The Institute for Gravitational and Subatomic Physics (GRASP) at Utrecht University is looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate in gravitational-wave astrophysics. As the successful candidate, you will work with real and simulated gravitational wave data from existing detectors as well as envisaged next-generation observatories such as Einstein Telescope, use statistical tools such as Bayesian analysis to assess what the challenges will be, and develop novel methodology to analyse the data accurately. With the developed methods, you will likely be placing much more stringent bounds on fundamental constraints from third-generation detectors. You will join the international Einstein Telescope Collaboration as well as the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Collaboration, and are expected to participate in analysing data as part of the latter.

You will work in the group of Dr Anuradha Samajdar, and you will be an active member of the broader Dutch consortium in gravitational waves. Other staff members working on gravitational waves within GRASP and the Department of Physics are Professor Chris Van Den Broeck and Dr Tanja Hinderer.

We are looking for a candidate who is enthusiastic and motivated to work in a multidisciplinary, international research team. In addition, we would like you to bring:

• an MSc degree in Physics, Astronomy, Computer Science, Statistics, or a closely related field. If you are in the final stages of obtaining your master we also welcome you to apply;
• demonstrable programming and scientific writing skills along with excellent communication skills in English;
• knowledge of use of large computing clusters and a solid background in (astro)physics and/or artificial intelligence is highly desirable;
• strong preference will be given to candidates with existing knowledge of Python, as well as knowledge of parallel programming in Python.

• a position for 4 years (1.0 FTE);
• a full-time gross salary ranging from €2,541 per month in the first year to €3,247 per month in the fourth year of employment (scale P according to the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities).
• 8% holiday bonus and 8.3% end-of-year bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave, and flexible employment conditions based on the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities.

In addition, Utrecht University offers excellent secondary conditions, including an attractive retirement scheme, professional development, (partly paid) parental leave, sports and flexible employment conditions (multiple choice model). This is how we like to encourage you to continue to grow.

For more information, please visit working at Utrecht University.

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

At the Faculty of Science, there are 6 departments to make a fundamental connection with: Biology, Chemistry, Information and Computing Sciences, Mathematics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Physics. Each of these is made up of distinct institutes that work together to focus on answering some of humanity’s most pressing problems. More fundamental still are the individual research groups – the building blocks of our ambitious scientific projects. Find out more about us by watching Working at the Faculty of Science.

The Institute for Gravitational and Subatomic Physics (GRASP) aims at understanding the basic constituents of matter and their interactions, and the fundamental properties of space and time. Its members perform experimental research on heavy-ion collisions at the Large Hadron Collider, and gravitational wave data analysis related to neutron stars and black holes. We have ties with Utrecht University’s Institute for Theoretical Physics, and at the national level also with Nikhef, the National Institute for Subatomic Physics in Amsterdam, of which we are a consortium partner. We are actively involved in large international collaborations such as ALICE, Virgo, Einstein Telescope, and LISA.

Everyone deserves to feel at home at our university. We welcome employees with a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives.

If you have the expertise and the experience to excel in this role, than simply respond via the “Apply” button!
Please enclose:

• your letter of motivation;
• curriculum vitae;
• contact details of three references from whom we may request a letter of recommendation.

If this specific opportunity isn’t for you, but you know someone else who may be interested, please forward this vacancy to them.

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