PhD Position in Physics
University of Amsterdam
Netherlands

Faculty: Faculty of Science
Level: Master’s
Hours per week: 38
Salary: €3,059 - €3,881 gross per month
Job reference: 14463
Application deadline: 01-12-2025

Project Overview

Help us pioneer gravitational wave probes of dark matter. Work at the interface of general relativity, cosmology, and data analysis, and help build the tools that will make dark matter discoverable with future gravitational wave interferometers. Join GRAPPA as a PhD candidate within the ERC Advanced Grant “De Tenebris” (PI: G. Bertone) and develop precision models of binary black holes in astrophysical and dark matter environments.

Working at the UvA

You will join the GRAPPA centre of excellence for Gravitation and Astroparticle Physics at the University of Amsterdam, embedded in the Institute of Physics at Amsterdam Science Park. You will be part of an international team working on dark matter in strong-gravity environments, in close contact with collaborators in the LISA community and beyond. Your mission is to advance the theory and computation needed to identify dark matter signatures in gravitational wave data.

What You Will Do

• Carry out research on gravitational wave sources in dark matter or related astrophysical environments

• Present your work in group meetings and conferences; write and co-author publications

• Contribute to education (exercise classes and BSc/MSc supervision) as customary at the Faculty of Science

Requirements

• MSc in Physics, Astronomy, or a closely related field by the start date

• Solid grounding in General Relativity and/or gravitational wave astrophysics

• Experience in scientific programming (Python, C++, or similar)

• Clear communication in English

• Ability to work in a collaborative research environment

Desirable but not required:

• Familiarity with cosmological or N-body simulations

• Basic knowledge of gravitational wave data analysis

• Understanding of dark matter phenomenology

What We Offer

• Temporary contract for 38 hours per week, duration 4 years (initial 18 months, extended to 4 years upon satisfactory evaluation)

• Gross monthly salary €3,059 - €3,881 (Scale P) plus 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% year-end allowance

• The UFO profile PhD candidate applies

• The ‘30% ruling’ may apply for non-Dutch applicants

• Dissertation (PhD thesis) with an educational plan including courses and international meetings

• Teaching assistance for undergraduates and master students

• Access to GRAPPA’s research environment, travel support, and training (graduate courses, schools, and conferences)

Your Place at the UvA

• Faculty of Science: ~8,000 students, ~1,800 staff

• Institute of Physics (IoP) at Amsterdam Science Park: modern facilities, strong physics centre of international standing

• GRAPPA: internationally recognized hub in gravitation, astroparticle physics, and cosmology; collaborates with LIGO/Virgo/KAGRA, LISA, and Einstein Telescope communities

About the University of Amsterdam

• Largest university in the Netherlands, ~42,000 students, ~6,000 staff, ~3,000 PhD students

• Committed to curiosity, creativity, and international excellence

Application & Contact

Applications accepted exclusively via AcademicJobsOnline (AJO): https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30677

To submit on AJO:

• Cover letter

• Detailed CV (months and years for education/work experience)

• Research statement

• Two reference letters (uploaded directly by referees on AJO)

Deadline: 1 December 2025
Review begins: 1 December 2025
Interviews: as scheduled; only complete applications via AJO considered

Note: Knowledge security check may be part of the selection procedure

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The UvA maintains an equal opportunities policy and values diversity. Women and members of underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply, even if they do not meet all qualifications.

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