The group of Prof. Daniel Baumann at the Institute of Physics (University of Amsterdam) invites applications for several postdoctoral positions starting in the fall of 2024. The positions are financed by the ERC Synergy Grant project “UNIVERSE+: Positive Geometry in Particle Physics and Cosmology”. The principal investigators are Nima Arkani-Hamed (Princeton), Daniel Baumann (Amsterdam), Johannes Henn (Munich) and Bernd Sturmfels (Leipzig). The team aims to create a new mathematical language to describe physical phenomena at all scales, from the interactions of elementary particles to the large-scale structure of the Universe. For more information, see https://www.positive-geometry.com

What are you going to do?
While the advertised positions are at the University of Amsterdam, the hired researchers will be part of the larger UNIVERSE+ team. We encourage and facilitate regular exchanges between the participating host institutions. Given the cross-disciplinary nature of the research, we are particularly interested in candidates that can facilitate the exchange of information across the boundaries of the different research areas (particle physics, cosmology and mathematics).

You should have a strong background in theoretical particle physics and/or cosmology.

You are required to:

• have a PhD in physics or related field;
• have a strong background in cosmology, quantum field theory and/or mathematics;
• are able to work independently and to collaborate in a collegial multidisciplinary research environment

We offer a temporary employment contract for 38 hours per week for a period of 36 months (or more for senior postdocs). The preferred starting date is the fall of 2024 (the precise date will be discussed with the successful applicant). The gross monthly salary, based on 38 hours per week and dependent on relevant experience, ranges between € 3,226 to € 5.090 (scale 10) gross per month, based on 38 hours per week 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;
• 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.

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. The mission of 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.

You would be embedded in a vibrant research environment at the Institute of Physics (IoP), which includes very active groups in theoretical physics (ITFA) and astroparticle physics (GRAPPA).

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