The Faculty of Science, Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy (API),  invites applications for a postdoctoral position in X-ray Pulse Profile Modelling.

Pulse Profile Modelling (PPM) is a technique for the analysis of astronomical X-ray data that combines astrophysical modeling, relativistic ray-tracing, and Bayesian inference using high performance computers to deliver the mass and radius of neutron stars and a map of hot emitting regions on the stellar surface. Neutron star mass and radius are key parameters in determining the nature of the supranuclear density matter in the neutron star core.

What are you going to do?

In this role you will contribute to the development of the Pulse Profile Modelling technique, and the implementation of new functionality into our open source X-ray Pulsation Simulation and Inference (X-PSI) software package. You will also be involved in ongoing PPM analysis of real and synthetic X-ray data.

You will work as part of a team with Bachelor/Masters students, PhD students and other postdoctoral researchers, as well as with international collaborators.

What do we require?

You have:

• a PhD degree in Astrophysics;
• a track record of research relating to neutron stars (with prior experience in pulse profile modelling or dense matter inference an advantage);
• experience of coding in Python, Cython and C, high performance computing, and nested sampling techniques;
• a proven commitment to open source software;
• the ability to work as part of an online team;
• good communication skills in oral and written English.

Our offer

A temporary contract for 38  hours per week, preferably starting on 1 June 2021 for the duration of 11 months.  

The salary, depending on relevant experience before the beginning of the employment contract, will be €2,709 to €4,274 (scale 10) gross per month, based on a full-time contract of 38 hours a week. This is exclusive 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. A favourable 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? 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 - Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy

The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 7,000, 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 Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy (API) furthers research, teaching and public understanding of astronomy. It conducts astronomical research and trains astronomers from bachelor to postdoctoral level, aiming at world-leading levels and activities.