PhD Position: Astroparticle Physics

1. Introduction

Would you like to contribute to groundbreaking research? We are looking for a motivated team member to help improve the performance of the observatory mentioned below by integrating radio antennas. This will enable us to study the interactions of cosmic particles with the atmosphere with unprecedented accuracy and expand the observatory’s reach for the most energetic photons.

2. Job description

We are inviting applications for a PhD candidate position in high-energy astroparticle physics at Radboud University (Nijmegen, Netherlands). This position will be embedded within the Southern Wide-view Gamma-ray Observatory (SWGO) collaboration.

The Southern Wide-view Gamma-ray Observatory will be constructed to address major questions about the nature, origin and interactions of extremely energetic subatomic particles,. You will contribute to improving the performance of the observatory by incorporating radio antennas. This will allow us to study the interactions of cosmic particles with the atmosphere with unprecedented accuracy and expand the observatory’s reach for the most energetic photons.

The Southern Wide-view Gamma-ray Observatory will be an observatory dedicated to studying the most energetic photons ever observed. It will be situated in Atacama Astronomical Park (Chile) at an altitude of almost 5 km above sea level. Its construction will commence in 2026. The primary system will comprise water-Cherenkov particle detectors, which will enable the observation of the particle cascade known as air showers, resulting from energetic interactions of cosmic and gamma rays in the atmosphere. While you are working on your PhD, we will augment the particle detectors with radio antennas, which will facilitate the observation of air showers as they traverse the atmosphere. The integration of these two methodologies will enable us to conduct unprecedentedly precise studies on atmospheric interactions and potentially enhance the observatory’s ability to capture the most energetic photons.

You will contribute to the development of a novel analysis technique by employing interferometry on the measured radio signal. This approach will enable the reduction of the energy threshold for the radio detection technique and accurate reconstruction of air shower parameters. You will build on the robust expertise in data analysis and instrument development for radio detectors within our group.

This position comes with a 10% teaching load. 

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 have a Master's degree in physics or astronomy. 
• You have a good command of the English language.  
• You have previous experience in data analysis. 

4. We are

The position will be based in the High Energy Physics Department of the Institute for Mathematics, Astrophysics and Particle Physics (IMAPP). The department consists of 15 staff scientists and about 30 PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers, performing cutting-edge theoretical and experimental research in particle physics and quantum gravity. IMAPP also participates in ATLAS at CERN, DUNE, and the Pierre Auger Observatory. We maintain close collaborations with theoreticians and our colleagues in the Astrophysics and Mathematics departments. Radboud University Nijmegen is one of the founding partners of Nikhef, the national institute for subatomic physics, which coordinates the particle and astroparticle physics activities in the Netherlands.
This position will be funded by an ERC-CoG grant.

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 €3,059 gross per month based on a 38-hour working week, which will increase to €3,881 in the fourth year (salary scale P).
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus.
• 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 Harm Schoorlemmer. In the application form, you will find which documents you need to include with your application. We look forward to receiving your application.

The first interviews (online) will take place on December 3, 2025. Any second interview, if necessary, will take place on January 7, 2026.  You will preferably start your employment before April 2026.

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.