The Institute of Physics of the Faculty of Science invites applications for a PhD position in Theoretical Physics.
String theory is the most promising theory that unifies all particles and forces in nature, including gravity, in a way consistent with the laws of quantum mechanics and relativity. String theory answers fundamental questions about the symmetries of nature, the quantum behaviour of black holes, the existence and breaking of supersymmetry, and the quantum treatment of singularities. In string theory all the forces and particles emerge in an elegant geometrical way, realizing Einstein's ultimate dream of building everything from the geometry of space-time.

The PhD candidate will do original research in this field under the direction of one of the faculty members in the group. The candidate will be comfortable using mathematical tools on a daily basis to attack fundamental problems in theoretical physics. The daily activities of the PhD candidate consist mainly in research, but it is also expected that the candidate participates in the many seminars by internal and external speakers as well as journal clubs and group activities. Collaboration with other PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers and other faculty member will be encouraged. At the end of the PhD program the candidate will be an expert in at least one of the subfields of High Energy Theoretical Physics.

While these topics are fundamentally of a theoretical nature, the candidate has the possibility to develop collaborations with other members of IoP and pursue applications of string theory techniques in other fields.

An MSc. in Physics or an equivalent degree is required to be considered for this position. The candidate needs to possess excellent written and oral English communication skills.

The appointment will be on a temporary basis for a period 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). An educational plan will be drafted that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. The PhD candidate is also expected to assist in teaching of undergraduates.

Based on a full-time appointment (38 hours per week) the gross monthly salary will range from €2,266 in the first year to €2,897 in the last year. The Collective Labour Agreement (Cao) of Dutch Universities is applicable. Favourable tax agreements may apply to non-Dutch applicants.

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.

http://www.uva.nl/en/home

Institute of Physics

The Amsterdam String Theory Group is part of the Institute of Physics of the Faculty of Science and is one of the largest and most prominent groups in the world. The group's research interests are diverse and extend across all of string theory, including topological strings, supersymmetric gauge theory, gravity/gauge theory dualities, supergravity and cosmology. There is a stimulating atmosphere in the group, a diverse range of nationalities, and an active visitor program which attracts the best string theorists from all over the world.

Our group's faculty members include: Daniel Baumann, Jan de Boer, Alejandra Castro, Miranda Cheng, Ben Freivogel, Diego Hofman, Jan Pieter van der Schaar, Erik Verlinde and Marcel Vonk.

http://iop.uva.nl/