The Department of Mathematics of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam welcomes applications for a fully-funded, 4-year PhD position in Dynamical Systems. In this project you will work on computer-assisted proofs of periodic solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations for fluid flows under the supervision of Jan Bouwe van den Berg. The field of dynamical systems is developing rapidly, and more and more we see that analysis needs to go hand in hand with computer-assistance to obtain proofs for interesting solutions, such as periodic and connecting orbits. In this project you will thus combine dynamical systems theory and partial differential equations with innovative computer-assisted proof techniques.

The research will be carried out in the Dynamical Systems group of the Mathematics Department. The group has many national and international connections, and is internationally leading in the field of nonlinear dynamics and differential equations. We form a very active and collaborative group and are fascinated both by concrete applications and by fundamental mathematics.

The preferred starting date is preferably 1 April and no later than 1 September 2021.
The department has a strong desire to hire more female colleagues. Therefore, women are especially encouraged to apply.

Your duties

• doing research towards writing a PhD thesis
• teaching tasks (roughly 15% of your time), which typically consist of supervising exercise classes and correcting homework

• a (prospective) MSc. degree in Mathematics (or an equivalent thereof) with excellent results
• an interest in dynamical systems
• some affinity with programming
• good communication skills in English

Fixed-term contract: 1 year.

A challenging position in a socially involved organization. On full-time basis the remuneration amounts to a minimum gross monthly salary of €2,334 (at the start) and a maximum €3,111 (in the fourth year). The job profile is based on the university job ranking system and is vacant for 0.8-1.0 FTE.

The appointment will initially be for 1 year. After a satisfactory evaluation of the initial appointment, the contract will be extended for further 3 years. Additionally, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers excellent fringe benefits and various schemes and regulations to promote a good work/life balance, such as:

• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• contribution to commuting expenses
• optional model for designing a personalized benefits package
• a maximum of 41 days of annual leave based on full-time employment
• good paid parental leave scheme

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

The ambition of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is clear: to contribute to a better world through outstanding education and ground-breaking research. We strive to be a university where personal development and commitment to society play a leading role. A university where people from different disciplines and backgrounds collaborate to achieve innovations and to generate new knowledge. Our teaching and research encompass the entire spectrum of academic endeavor - from the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences through to the life sciences and the medical sciences.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is home to more than 26,000 students. We employ over 4,600 individuals. The VU campus is easily accessible and located in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas district, a truly inspiring environment for teaching and research.

Diversity
We are an inclusive university community. Diversity is one of our most important values. We believe that engaging in international activities and welcoming students and staff from a wide variety of backgrounds enhances the quality of our education and research. We are always looking for people who can enrich our world with their own unique perspectives and experiences.

The Faculty of Science
The Faculty of Science inspires researchers and students to find sustainable solutions for complex societal issues. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to medicines and from molecules to the moon: our teaching and research programmes cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. We share knowledge and experience with leading research institutes and industries, both here in the Netherlands and abroad.

Working at the Faculty of Science means working with students, PhD candidates and researchers, all with a clear focus on their field and a broad view of the world. We employ more than 1,250 staff members, and we are home to around 6,000 students.

The Department of Mathematics
The Department of Mathematics strives for excellence in research. The department balances pure mathematical research with mathematical research motivated by applications. Researchers in the department are on one hand active at a fundamental and theoretical level, and, on the other hand, work on applications with links to business, the sciences, and societal issues. The department has a strong international research staff with expertise in dynamical systems, geometry and algebra, as well as in stochastics (statistics, data analytics, probability).