We invite applications for a postdoctoral research position at the GRAPPA (Gravitation Astroparticle Physics Amsterdam) center of excellence, at the University of Amsterdam (UvA). The position will start in fall 2023 and will be for the duration of two years (with a possible extension of another year depending on funding). The research interests of GRAPPA include multi-messenger astrophysics, dark matter and dark energy, the early Universe, gravitational waves and strong gravity.

You will work on central research questions in dark matter phenomenology, new physics searches and cosmology, in collaboration with Christoph Weniger and postdocs and PhD students of his group. The group plays a leading role in the development and application of deep learning-based data-analysis methods, in particular simulation-based inference. This approach allows to significantly improve and simplify the analysis of complex astrophysical and cosmological data and detailed physical models (see https://www.christophweniger.com and recent publication list for examples for possible projects). The group has ties to the Dutch eScience center, AI4Science, and AMLab.

You are also encouraged to collaborate with other GRAPPA faculty (Ben Freivogel, Daniel Baumann, Gianfranco Bertone, Jacco Vink, Patrick Decowski, Philipp Moesta, Samaya Nissanke, Sera Markoff, Shin'ichiro Ando). GRAPPA is connected to the Institute of Physics and the Anton Pannekoek Institute at the University of Amsterdam as well as Nikhef. GRAPPA also includes experimental physicists active in the Antares/KM3NeT, ATLAS, CTA, LOFAR, and XENON-nT collaborations.

Deadline: Submission deadline is 8th December 2022.

What are you going to do?

You will work in the group of Christoph Weniger, and be embedded in the GRAPPA Center of excellence in Gravitation and Astroparticle Physics, a multidisciplinary team of researchers active in a variety of research topics including dark matter, compact objects, high-energy astrophysics and physics beyond the standard model.

Tasks and responsibilities:

• conducting independent research in theoretical astroparticle physics, cosmology and/or deep learning, resulting in academic publications in peer-reviewed international journals and/or books;
• actively contributing to the research activities of GRAPPA;
• (optionally) co-supervising Bachelor and Master theses and tutoring students; co-supervising PhD theses.

Your experience and profile

• You have a PhD in physics;
• You are able to work independently and to collaborate in an collegial multidisciplinary research environment;
• You are a committed researcher, demonstrated by publications in international refereed academic journals and academic publishers;
• You have demonstrated abilities in theoretical physics, software and algorithm development, and/or astrophysical modeling.

Experience in deep learning are a plus but not required, and can be acquired as part of the position.

We offer a temporary employment contract for 38 hours per week for a period of 2 years (with possible extension of a third year depending on the availability of funding. The preferred starting date is fall 2023.

The gross monthly salary, based on 38 hours per week and dependent on relevant experience, ranges between € 2,846 to € 4,490 (scale 10). This does not include 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% year-end allowance. The UFO profile name profile and level 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 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 Van der Waals-Zeeman Institute (WZI), the Institute of Theoretical Physics (ITFA) and the Institute for High Energy Physics (IHEF) and is one of the large research institutes of the Faculty of Science at the University of Amsterdam. This postdoc position is available at the Institute for Theoretical Physics of the University of Amsterdam and de GRAPPA Center of excellence in Gravitation and Astroparticle Physics.

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:

• Christoph Weniger, c.weniger@uva.nl