Are you interested in doing original research at the interface between Statistical Physics, Soft Matter and Biology? We are seeking an excellent, highly motivated PhD candidate to carry out interdisciplinary research at the frontier of active matter and mechanics. Active matter is an exciting class of non-equilibrium materials which consist of objects transforming energy from their surroundings at a single particle level into motion. Examples range from biological matter such as bacterial colonies, schools of fish, flocks of birds to collectives of artificial self-propelled particles. The interactions of individual active agents with each other and with external stimuli lead to spectacular patterns of collective motion. Activity (self-propulsion), also endows these materials with intriguing mechanical properties that have no equilibrium counterparts. Understanding the non-equilibrium statistical Physics and mechanical properties of such active systems is a major challenge. We will employ particle-based simulations to gain deepened insights into the role of activity on the collective dynamics and mechanical properties of active magnetic suspensions and self-propelled polymeric systems. The results of this research could be exploited to design a new class of man-made active materials with controllable mechanical response.

What are you going to do?

In this PhD project, you are expected to do original research in the field of active matter and develop particle-based simulations for active magnetic colloids or active polymers and investigate.
You will:

• boost our understanding of collective dynamics and mechanics of active materials;
• participate in the many seminars by internal and external speakers as well as journal clubs and group activities;
• present your results in internal seminars and national and international workshop/conferences;
• write research publications;
• collaborate with other PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers and other faculty members.

• A master’s degree in Theoretical/Computational Physics or a closely related discipline;
• a strong background in statistical physics and hydrodynamics;
• a demonstrated computational experience including use of high-level programming languages such as C/C++, and Python or other scripting methods;
• enthusiasm about and the willingness to interdisciplinary research;
• excellent written and oral communication skills in English.

Fixed-term contract: four years.

A temporary contract for 38 hours per week, preferably starting asap for the duration of 4 years (initial appointment will be for a period of 18 months and after satisfactory evaluation it can be extended for a total duration of 4 years) and should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. We also expect you to assist in teaching undergraduates and master students.

The salary, depending on relevant experience before the beginning of the employment contract, will be €2,325 to €2,972 (scale P) gross per month, based on fulltime (38 hours a week), exclusive 8 % holiday allowance and 8.3 end-of-year bonus. A favorable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

Are you curious about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits? Then find out more about working at the Faculty of Science.

University of Amsterdam

With over 5,000 employees, 30,000 students and a budget of more than 600 million euros, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) is an intellectual hub within the Netherlands. Teaching and research at the UvA are conducted within seven faculties: Humanities, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Economics and Business, Law, Science, Medicine and Dentistry. Housed on four city campuses in or near the heart of Amsterdam, where disciplines come together and interact, the faculties have close links with thousands of researchers and hundreds of institutions at home and abroad.  

The UvA’s students and employees are independent thinkers, competent rebels who dare to question dogmas and aren’t satisfied with easy answers and standard solutions. To work at the UvA is to work in an independent, creative, innovative and international climate characterised by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with the city of Amsterdam and society.

Faculty of Science – Institute of Physics

The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 6,500, as well as 1,600 members of staff working in education, research or support services. Researchers and students at the Faculty of Science are fascinated by every aspect of how the world works, be it elementary particles, the birth of the universe or the functioning of the brain.

The Institute of Physics (IoP) of the Faculty of Science combines the Van der Waals-Zeeman Institute (WZI), the Institute of Theoretical Physics (ITFA) and the Institute for High Energy Physics (IHEF) and is one of the large research institutes of the Faculty of Science at the University of Amsterdam. This four-year PhD position is available at the Institute for Theoretical Physics of the University of Amsterdam, in the group of Dr Sara Jabbari Farouji.