Faculty position in GRAPPA Center of Excellence

Do you enjoy working in an interdisciplinary research setting and do you want to be active in the area of gravitational-wave and multi-messenger astrophysics? The Gravitation and Astroparticle Physics Amsterdam (GRAPPA) Centre of Excellence at The University of Amsterdam is seeking to hire one assistant/associate professor. We are especially interested in candidates that can strengthen our connection to current and future gravitational-wave, neutrino, and electromagnetic observatories. We have a strong preference for a staff member who enhances the diversity of our staff and will prioritize applicants from members of underrepresented groups.

Join us!
The Gravitation and Astroparticle Physics Amsterdam (GRAPPA) Centre of Excellence at The University of Amsterdam is seeking to hire one assistant/associate professor in the area of gravitational-wave and multi-messenger astrophysics. We are especially interested in excellent candidates that can strengthen our connection to current and future gravitational-wave, neutrino, and electromagnetic observatories. The search is primarily focused on hiring at the junior level, but candidates at a more senior level (tenured/associate professors) will also be considered. We have a strong preference for a staff member who enhances the diversity of our staff and will prioritize applicants from members of underrepresented groups.

What you'll be doing
You are going to drive an excellent research program, teach in the BSc and MSc programs, and become an active member of GRAPPA. Tasks and responsibilities include:

• conducting independent research in multimessenger astrophysics, resulting in academic publications in peer-reviewed international journals
• actively pursuing external funding for research
• actively contributing to and developing national and international research networks and other forms of cooperation
• actively contributing to the research activities of GRAPPA
• developing, coordinating and teaching courses in the BSc and MSc programmes
• supervising Bachelor and Master students and co-supervising PhD students
• actively contributing to the development and improvement of the broader teaching programmes in the department
• taking part in committees and working groups

What we're looking for
Your experience and profile:

• a relevant PhD degree and preferably postdoctoral experience;
• excellent research skills, evidenced by a track record of publications in renowned international journals, and talks at international conferences/workshops;
• excellent didactic abilities; an affinity for teaching at Bachelor and Master level;
• preferably experience with the (co-)supervision of BSc, MSc and/or PhD students;
• (the ability to develop) the management skills required for general academic administration, organisation and coordination tasks;
• potential to attract external funding;
• excellent communication skills;
• good command of English and willingness to learn the Dutch language via a supported learning trajectory (B2 requirement after 5 years).

What we're offering you
Start dates are negotiable. The position will be filled at the level of Assistant or Associate Professor, depending on qualifications. For exceptionally experienced and qualified candidates, appointment starting as Full Professor could be considered.

The starting salary will be in accordance with university regulations for academic personnel and depending on experience and qualifications. It will range from a minimum of € 4,728 gross per month up to a maximum of € 7,297 gross per month (Assistant Professor, salary scale 11-12), based on full-time employment. This is excluding 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 Universities of the Netherlands is applicable.

Where you'll be working
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 University of Amsterdam is located in the center of the Amsterdam Science Park. The IoP – as part of the Faculty of Science –is housed in a modern building with excellent labs and technical facilities. Surrounded by several national research institutes and with our partners at the Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam, the institute is part of a strong physics center of international standing. The mission of the Institute of Physics (IoP) is to carry out excellent research in the field of experimental and theoretical physics, 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.

The Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy (API) at the University of Amsterdam invites applicants for PhD positions in astronomy and astrophysics. The positions are open to candidates from any country. The institute provides a stimulating, international environment in a city where English is a common language. Of our current PhD candidates, over 70% are foreign and over 40% are female. You execute a vigorous research program, under the supervision of one or more faculty members. Positions will be available in fields of research where the institute is active, including planet formation and exoplanets, stellar astrophysics, astrophysics of neutron stars and black holes, and the detection and characterization of radio counterparts of gravitational wave sources.

GRAPPA was established as a research priority area of the university in 2010 and is part of the Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy and the Institute of Physics and connects to Nikhef and Institute for Informatics. Over the last 15 years, GRAPPA has established an excellent track record in groundbreaking research and has produced many junior scientists who went on to successful careers. GRAPPA members have been very successful obtaining external funding (ERC StG, CoG, Adv, Syn, NWO Vidi, Vici) and won high-profile awards including the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, the Shakti Duggal Prize and the Humboldt Research Award. The research at GRAPPA lies at the intersection of astrophysics, theoretical physics, particle/high-energy physics, and cosmology. GRAPPA members also play key roles in the Einstein Telescope, CTAO, the Event Horizon Telescope, KM3NeT, XENON, H.E.S.S., LIGO/VIRGO and LISA, and developed a strong research program in machine learning for fundamental physics.

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

If you feel the profile fits you, and you are interested in the job, we look forward to receiving your application. You can apply online via the apply button. We accept applications until and including 31 January 2026. However, the vacancy will remain open for applications until the selection process is complete. Interviews will be scheduled in the period February-March 2026.

If you have any questions or do you require additional information? Please contact:

• Dr Ben Freivogel (b.w.freivogel@uva.nl) for science questions.
• Direct any other questions to Dr Joost van Mameren (j.vanmameren@uva.nl), institute manager at the Institute of Physics.

Applications should include the following information (all files besides your cv should be submitted in one single pdf file):

• A detailed CV, including the months (not just years) when referring to your education and work experience;
• A letter of motivation;
• A list of publications;
• Teaching statement: a maximum of 2 pages. Please summarize your teaching experience and, if applicable, highlight any concrete examples of actions you have taken relating to inclusive teaching/research student supervision;
• Research statement: a maximum of 3 pages. Please comment on future research directions as well as your previous accomplishments;
• The names and email addresses of at least three references who can provide letters of recommendation.

A knowledge security check can be part of the selection procedure (for details: national knowledge security guidelines). Only complete applications received within the response period via the link below will be considered.