The group of Andrea Puhm which is part of the Institute for Theoretical Physics (ITFA) at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) invites applications for an ambitious postdoctoral fellow with excellent research track record to join the team and contribute to developing a holographic principle for quantum gravity asymptotically flat spacetimes.

The position is funded by the Simons Collaboration on Celestial Holography, made up of 13 PIs at 10 institutions around the world. The post carries the title "Simons Fellow in Celestial Holography," and carries with it the benefit of substantial opportunities for travel and scientific interaction. This includes funded travel to Collaboration meetings, workshops and schools as well as the potential for intra-collaboration research visits.

What are you going to do?
You will work in a team that studies fundamental aspects of gravity and spacetime. You are expected to contribute to the development of a holographic correspondence for quantum gravity in asymptotically flat spacetimes.

Tasks and responsibilities:

• You will conduct research in quantum gravity including celestial holography, resulting in academic publications in peer-reviewed international journals.
• You are expected to participate in local activities such as the weekly string theory seminar and journal club and attend joint meetings of the Simons Collaboration on Celestial Holography.
• You are encouraged to help organize local seminars and journal clubs.
• You will have the opportunity to co-supervise Bachelor and Master theses and tutoring students.

You will work in a team consisting of postdocs, PhD students and Master students based at UvA.

Your experience and profile

• PhD in theoretical physics;
• Solid background in quantum field theory, general relativity and mathematical physics;
• Track record of research excellence, particularly in the study of (celestial) holography, asymptotic symmetries, scattering amplitudes, conformal field theory, black holes or related areas;
• Professional command of English.

We offer a temporary employment contract for 38 hours per week for a period of 24 months (two years) with a possible extension of a third year upon successful performance, subject to funding and mutual agreement . The preferred starting date is September or October 2024.

The gross monthly salary, based on 38 hours per week and dependent on relevant experience, ranges between € 3,226 to € 5.090 (scale 10) . This does not include 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% year-end allowance. 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;
• a complete educational program for PhD students;
• multiple courses on topics such as leadership for academic staff;
• multiple courses on topics such as time management, handling stress and an online learning platform with 100+ different courses;
• 7 weeks birth leave (partner leave) with 100% salary;
• partly paid parental leave;
• the possibility to set up a workplace 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 Institute of Physics (IoP) of the Faculty of Science combines the Institute for Theoretical Physics (ITFA), the Institute for High Energy Physics (IHEF) and the Van der Waals-Zeeman Institute (WZI), and is one of the large research institutes of the Faculty of Science at the University of Amsterdam. The mission of IoP is to carry out excellent research in the field of theoretical physics and experimental, to provide inspiring teaching within the physics and other curricula and to transfer our knowledge of and enthusiasm for physics to society. The IoP has over 50 faculty and 180 researchers in total. The combination with the NWO Institutes at Amsterdam Science Park constitutes the largest physics hub in the Netherlands and is an international centre of excellence. This postdoc position is embedded in the group of Andrea Puhm and is part of the Institute for Theoretical Physics (ITFA).

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