The University of Amsterdam, partner of Nikhef, the national institute for subatomic physics in The Netherlands, is looking for a 

Nikhef is the national institute for subatomic physics in The Netherlands. The University of Amsterdam is one of the six major Dutch universities that constitute the institute together with the Dutch Foundation for Scientific Research (NWO).

At Nikhef, approximately 190 physicists and 75 technical staff members work together in an open and international scientific environment. Together, they perform theoretical and experimental research in the fields of particle and astroparticle physics.

The Nikhef ATLAS group consists of groups in Amsterdam and Nijmegen, for a total of 15 staff, and typically 5 postdocs and 20 PhD students. As a founding member of the ATLAS collaboration, the group has a long-term involvement in both detector construction (the semiconductor tracker, barrel muon chambers, readout, alignment, and data acquisition) as well as operations (trigger and muon tracking reconstruction). For the phase-2 upgrade (2025-2027), we will assemble and commission one of the end-caps of a new all-silicon inner tracking system (ITk) in Amsterdam and develop a new universal readout system (FELIX) for all ATLAS detector systems. The group also has a strong record in physics data analysis, with strong focus on Higgs boson physics, top quark physics and machine-learning assisted searches for new physics signatures. Nikhef also hosts an ATLAS Tier-1 data processing center and offers substantial additional computing resources for end-user data analysis and simulation.

You will search for new physics beyond the Standard Model, by investigating the electroweak symmetry breaking mechanism through a precise characterization of properties of diboson interactions. The focus will be on the high-energy tails of the distributions, which are more sensitive to effects from new physics. You will study the reconstruction and identification of angular properties of hadronic decays from very energetic weak bosons using machine learning techniques. You are also going to contribute to detector construction and/or operations.

We are looking for a candidate with a (almost) completed master’s degree in high-energy physics, or a closely related field. The ideal candidate has a strong interest in data analysis, has good software skills (C++, python, ROOT) and has (some) research experience in experimental particle physics.

We offer a PhD position based in Amsterdam. You will receive a temporary contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of 4 years (initial contract will be for a period of 18 months and after satisfactory evaluation it will be extended for a total duration of 4 years). During this time there is the possibility to stay at CERN for a period of 1 year. This should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. We also expect you to assist in teaching undergraduates and master students. 

Based on a full-time appointment (38 hours per week) the gross monthly salary will range from €2.434 in the first year to €3.111 in the last year exclusive 8 % holiday allowance and 8.3 % end-of-year bonus. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

Are you curious about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits like our excellent opportunities for study and development? Take a look here.

Interested candidates can send in their applications by visiting https://www.nikhef.nl/en/vacancies, selecting the vacancy entitled 'PhD student in experimental particle physics (ATLAS)' and clicking on the 'Apply' button on the bottom of that page.

Please be prepared to upload a cover letter, publication list, and curriculum vitae including a brief description of your research interest. Also, please separately arrange for least two references who are willing to send a letter of recommendation on your behalf. The deadline for full consideration is 1 October 2021, but applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Further information can be obtained from dr. Flavia de Almeida Dias (f.dias@nikhef.nl)

The UvA’s Faculty of Science has a student body of around 6,500, as well as 1,600 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) is located in the center of the Amsterdam Science Park. The IoP – as part of the Faculty of Science – is housed in a modern building with excellent labs and technical facilities. Surrounded by several national research institutes and with our partners at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the institute is part of a strong physics center of international standing. One of the institutes that the IoP has very close ties to is Nikhef, the national institute for subatomic physics in The Netherlands. The present vacancy is fully embedded in the ATLAS group of Nikhef.