PhD Position: Mathematical Relativity

1. Introduction

Excited by the geometry of spacetime? Join Radboud University’s Department of Mathematics for a four-year PhD in mathematical relativity. Explore perturbations in relativity, contribute to groundbreaking research, and gain valuable experience in an active academic community.

2. Job description

The Department of Mathematics at Radboud University (Nijmegen, Netherlands) is seeking an outstanding and highly motivated PhD candidate to work on a PhD project on mathematical relativity. The position, supervised by Sharmila Gunasekaran, will be funded for four years and includes a light teaching load (10%). Specific areas of interest include but are not limited to understanding how perturbations influence geometric structures in relativity. Potential problems include understanding spacetime stability through PDE-based analytical techniques and rigidity of quasi-Einstein metrics. You will participate in relevant conferences, workshops and seminars and communicate your findings through publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Upon successful completion, you will be awarded a PhD degree from Radboud University.

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 hold or are working towards a degree in Mathematics or a related field (minimum equivalent to a four-year Bachelor's). A Master's is preferred but not strictly required. The degree must be completed before the start date.
• You have a strong background in differential geometry and/or partial differential equations. A background in general relativity or Riemannian geometry is welcome but not mandatory.
• You have excellent technical writing and communication skills.

4. We are

The position is part of the Mathematical Physics research group within the Department of Mathematics at Radboud University. Research in relativity within the group is represented by Annegret Burtscher, Sharmila Gunasekaran, Klaas Landsman, and Manus Visser.

The department fosters a friendly and collaborative environment, with researchers working in related fields such as Lorentzian geometry and black hole thermodynamics. The Department of Mathematics is embedded in the Institute of Mathematics, Astrophysics, and Particle Physics (IMAPP) at Radboud University, where relativity is widely represented. We maintain strong ties with researchers focussing on quantum gravity, gravitational waves, and black holes.

The Mathematics Department has over 20 PhD candidates, many of whom specialise in geometric areas. We are also a diverse group of staff members from around the world.

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 Sharmila Gunasekara. In the application form, you will find which documents you need to include with your application.

The first interviews will take place on Wednesday 21 May. Any second interview will take place on Wednesday 28 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. If you wish to apply for a non-scientific position with a non-EU nationality, please take notice of the following information.