You will focus on the physics of sterile neutrinos in the framework of effective field theory targeting both experimental searches as well as cosmological aspects. The project is part of a VIDI grant and will be team-based. While you have a fair amount of independence in choosing your research topics, collaboration with other group members is expected. In particular, you will have the opportunity to (co-)supervise PhD and/or master students.

We are looking for someone with a PhD degree (or close to obtaining one) in theoretical particle physics or cosmology and an interest in the phenomenology of neutrinos. It is a preference if you have experience in quantum field theory and early-universe calculations. You are a collaborative researcher who is interested in helping the supervision of PhD and Master students. You have a professional command of spoken and written English.

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 September 1, 2023 but earlier or later starting date is possible.

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. 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.

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 faculty members working on theoretical particle physics at the Institute of Physics of the University of Amsterdam are Eric Laenen (Phenomenology of the Standard Model, especially Quantum Chromodynamics), Jordy de Vries (Beyond-the-Standard Model, effective field theories, fundamental symmetries, neutrinos) and Wouter Waalewijn (Higgs and jet physics, effective field theories, factorization and resummation). The Institute for Theoretical Physics covers many other areas and there is a large research group working on gravitation and astroparticle physics, the GRAPPA institute.

Naturally there are strong links with Nikhef, which is the national laboratory for particle and astroparticle physics research), and is across the street from the University of Amsterdam. Nikhef has both theory and experimental groups (including ATLAS, LHCb and ALICE), and there are opportunities to interact with them.. The research of the Nikhef theory group include higher-order calculations and jet physics in perturbative Quantum Chromodynamics, parton distribution functions, flavour and neutrino physics, effective field theories, precision tests of the Standard Model, cosmology and gravitational waves.

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