GRAPPA, the center of excellence in Astroparticle Physics of the University of Amsterdam (UvA), has an opening for a PhD position in a collaborative effort between the XENON experimental group, based at Nikhef, and Dr Bertone’s theory group at the UvA. The XENON collaboration operates XENON1T, currently the world’s most sensitive dark matter detector. The experiment will soon be upgraded to the XENONnT phase, with another order of magnitude increase in sensitivity to dark matter particles. Dr Bertone is a leading expert on many topics of dark matter theory. The collaborative aspects between the experimental and theoretical groups will place the XENON1T/XENONnT experimental data into a broader context.

You will work on the following aspects:

• work on XENONnT dark matter data analysis;
• The Bayesian framework for XENON1T/XENONnT. This will be embedded in already available XENON analysis software tools;
• Study and implement Machine Learning strategies in the reconstruction and fitting methods in order to efficiently scan large dimensional parameter spaces;
• Include astrophysical uncertainties and priors (e.g., of local DM density and velocity distributions) in the analysis pipeline in order to obtain limits that are resilient with respect to such unknowns.

You will be embedded in the XENON dark matter group, but are expected to work closely, and proactively, with the theory group.

• An MSc degree in Physics or an equivalent degree;
• excellent English communication skills.

Strong software skills will be an advantage.

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). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. The position will require travel to the experimental site in Italy. You are also expected to assist in university teaching as a teaching assistant.

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 for 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 (IoP)

GRAPPA, the center of excellence in Astroparticle Physics of the University of Amsterdam (UvA), is a joint effort between the Institute of Physics (IoP) and the Anton Pannekoek Institute (API). It consists of faculty members with a strong interest in experimental and theoretical research into black holes, cosmic rays, neutrinos, dark matter, dark energy, early universe cosmology, and string theory. Several of GRAPPA’s faculty members are also affiliated with Nikhef, the Dutch National Institute for Subatomic Physics, which is in close proximity to the UvA building.

http://iop.uva.nl/