We seek a postdoctoral scholar to work with a world-leading team on the development of a beyond-ideal general-relativistic magnetohydrodynamics code to study binary neutron-star mergers and supernova explosions and explore the connections to nuclear and heavy-ion collision physics. The position is part of an NWO-funded ENW-XL project and the work will be carried out in close collaboration between the Universities of Amsterdam, Utrecht, and Groningen, and the Dutch National Institute for Subatomic Physics NIKHEF.

What are you going to do?

The goal of this project/position is to develop and implement a beyond-ideal GRMHD numerical simulation framework that incorporates viscous and resistive MHD effects for binary neutron-star merger and supernova simulations. This framework will allow us to include different sources of viscosity and resistivity in the simulations and probe their observational signatures in the gravitational waves and kilonova/supernova lightcurves. We will start by implementing a viscous GRMHD extension of our well-established Einstein Toolkit GRMHD solver GRHydro following already established formulations. In a second step we will work closely with nuclear and quantum physicists to include detailed viscous and nuclear effects in these simulations. We will use the outputs from these simulations to predict the ejecta amount and composition and gravitational wave signatures of these events and to assess the detectability of these signatures in current GW+EM observational data.

This project forms part of a larger NWO-funded programme and will involve involve close collaboration with gravitational wave researchers at UvA's Gravitation and Astroparticle Physics Institute GRAPPA, the University of Utrecht, and the National Institute for Subatomic Physics NIKHEF.

• You have completed a PhD in physics and/or astronomy before starting this position.
• You have good programming skills in Python and ideally C++.
• You have experience in collaborative software development and knowledge of standard software development practices such as version control, code review, continuous integration, and clear documentation.
• You can communicate well in English (written & oral).

It is a preference but not required if you have experience in general-relativistic magnetohydrodynamics.

We offer a temporary employment contract for 38 hours per week, with a start date to be agreed with the successful candidate (but which can be as soon as possible). The appointment will be for an initial period of 1 year, with a possible extension of 2 more years upon satisfactory performance.

The gross monthly salary, based on 38 hours per week and dependent on relevant experience, ranges between € 2,960 to € 4,670 (scale 10). There is also an additional 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% year-end allowance. The UFO profile Onderzoeker 4 is applicable. A favourable tax agreement, the '30% ruling', may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Universities of the Netherlands is applicable.

Besides the salary and a vibrant and challenging environment at Science Park we offer you multiple fringe benefits:

• 232 holiday hours per year (based on fulltime) and extra holidays between Christmas and 1 January;
• multiple courses to follow from our Teaching and Learning Centre;
• 7 weeks birth leave (partner leave) with 100% salary;
• partly paid parental leave;
• the possibility to set up a workplace partly (up to 2 days per week) at home;
• a pension at ABP for which UvA pays two third part of the contribution;
• the possibility to follow courses to learn Dutch;
• help with housing for a studio or small apartment when you're moving from abroad.

Are you curious to read more about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits, take a look here.

Faculty of Science

The University of Amsterdam is the Netherlands' largest university, offering the widest range of academic programmes. At the UvA, 30,000 students, 6,000 staff members and 3,000 PhD candidates study and work in a diverse range of fields, connected by a culture of curiosity.

The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 8,000, as well as 1,800 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 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.

Want to know more about our organisation? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.

Any questions?

Do you have any questions or do you require additional information? Please contact Dr. Philipp Mösta at p.moesta@uva.nl.