Are you a self- motivated outstanding experimental physicists, physical chemist or engineer with an interest in statistical mechanics and non-linear physics? Do you like to work in a lively group comprising over 30 researchers? We are looking for a PhD candidate who is interested in statistical mechanics and non-linear physics with a proven affinity or experience in using rheology, light and confocal microscopy, or soft condensed systems in combination with excellent communicative and organizational skills.

What are you going to do?

You will be part of a team that will exploit novel molecules whose fluorescence properties depend strongly on the environment, notably on their spatial confinement, to study local stresses in complex materials down to the nanometer length scale and with unprecedented temporal resolution. Based on successful preliminary tests, we will develop this innovative methodology to tackle the fundamental scientific challenge of quantifying the long-range and very non-linear elasto-plastic stresses that govern the dynamics of friction, the glass transition and rheology.

Friction is an immense global source of energy loss; the glass transition is perhaps the most important unsolved problem in condensed matter physics; and rheology in complex fluids is at the same time ubiquitous and poorly understood. The common denominator of these three open challenges is that in each, the material’s macroscopic mechanical behavior results from a complex interplay between microscopic stresses that remain ill characterized. This presents a scientific bottleneck as well as a major obstacle in the engineering of many important materials and tools such as ball bearings, plastics and foodstuffs.

The fluorescent environmentally sensitive probes will enable breakthrough results in three areas at once:

1. locally measuring stresses in a frictional contact;
2. probing the glass transition by local stress and viscosity measurements;
3. visualizing and quantifying stress transmission in flowing complex fluids to explain non-Newtonian and non-local viscosity effects microscopically.

By probing local stresses in unprecedented detail, your project will break open some of the toughest research areas in non-linear physics and (statistical) mechanics with far-reaching engineering consequence

• MSc degree;
• interest in statistical mechanics and non-linear physics;
• affinity or experience in using rheology, light and confocal microscopy, or soft condensed systems;
• excellent communicative and organizational skills.

Fixed-term contract: Four years.

A temporary contract for 38  hours per week 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 like our excellent opportunities for study and development? Take a look here.

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 Soft Matter group of The Institute of Physics (IoP) of the University of Amsterdam is a lively group comprising over 30 researchers that has excellent facilities and is active in areas located at the overlap between soft matter physics and engineering. The research is powered both by fundamental, knowledge-based drive and an ambition to maximize the transfer and exploitation of our results in industry and society in general. The main research areas include hydrodynamics and rheology, complex fluids (surfactants, colloids, and polymers), the glass transition and nucleation. There are many publications in top journals and several major national and International events in our field are organised by the group.