PhD Position: Cosmological Correlators from Quantum Gravity

1. Introduction

Are you eager to conduct research on cosmology and what this could teach us about quantum gravity? This is the opportunity for you!

2. Job description

As a PhD candidate you will conduct fundamental research on the overlap of cosmology and quantum gravity, using techniques from quantum field theory and quantum gravity. The project will be supervised by Dr Frank Saueressig (Radboud University) and Prof. Marieke Postma (Nikhef).

This PhD position is part of the Emergence at all Scales (EAAS) consortium, which is the flag-bearer of the Dutch Institute for Emergent Phenomena. EAAS is an interdisciplinary and collaborative endeavour by nine universities (eight Dutch, one Ukrainian) and Statistics Netherlands (CBS), aimed at understanding emergent phenomena across scales, combining multiple fields including physics, mathematics, astronomy, history and philosophy of science, and social science. Its approach to societal engagement throughout the project’s 5-year lifetime will be equally interdisciplinary, with a wide variety of activities ranging from art/science programmes, large-scale science festivals, citizen science and educational initiatives at various levels.

EAAS is hiring a total of 20 PhD/postdoc researchers to join the team, and our project/group leaders share the ambition of gender parity in hires across EAAS. Within this context we invite interested candidates to apply for the PhD position and work on the sub-project ’Cosmic correlators from quantum gravity’.

The position includes funding for travelling to international conferences and visiting collaborators worldwide. Your duties as a teaching assistant are about 0.1 FTE during the appointment.

Would you like to learn more about what it’s like to pursue a PhD at Radboud University? Visit the page about working as a PhD candidate. 

3. Profile

• You are communicative, curious, critical, enthusiastic, proactive, and excited to learn about new developments in theoretical physics.
• You are able to work in a team as well as independently.
• You hold a Master's degree in physics, with a strong emphasis on theoretical physics (demonstrated, for example, by having completed courses on general relativity and quantum field theory very successfully), or you are on track to obtain a Master’s degree around the starting date of the project (September 2025).
• You possess excellent written and oral English communication skills.

4. We are

The PhD position is embedded in the Department of High-Energy Physics of the Institute for Mathematics, Astrophysics and Particle Physics (IMAPP) at Radboud University (Nijmegen, Netherlands). The department covers a broad range of topics, including theoretical and experimental particle physics, gravitational waves, and quantum gravity. Currently, it is home to 15 PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers. Its regular research seminars and informal events foster a vibrant and friendly research atmosphere. The position will also offer collaboration opportunities with other theoretical cosmologists of the EAAS consortium throughout the Netherlands.

5. We offer

• We will give you a temporary employment contract (1.0 FTE) of 1.5 years, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, your contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4-year contract).     
• You will receive a starting salary of €2,901 gross per month based on a 38-hour working week, which will increase to €3,707 in the fourth year (salary scale P).
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus.
• We offer Dual Career Coaching. The Dual Career Coaching assists your partner via support, tools, and resources to improve their chances of independently finding employment in the Netherlands.
• You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20. 

6. Practical information and applying

You can apply only via the button below. Address your letter of application to Frank Saueressig. In the application form, you will find which documents you need to include with your application.

The first interviews will take place on Tuesday 20 May. You will preferably start your employment on 1 September 2025.

We can imagine you're curious about our application procedure. It describes what you can expect during the application procedure and how we handle your personal data and internal and external candidates.