Leiden Observatory invites applications for PhD positions (Leiden, The Netherlands)

Leiden Observatory invites applications for PhD positions

We are pleased to announce a general call for more than 10 PhD positions with an application deadline of December 15, 2012. Application forms and instructions are available at http://www.strw.leidenuniv.nl/phd/. Applicants are requested to upload a curriculum vitae, a list of all university courses taken and transcripts of grades obtained (in English), brief statements of research interests and experience, and the contact information for at least two referees.

Leiden Observatory, founded in 1633, is the oldest university astronomy department in the world. With about 25 faculty, over 50 postdoctoral associates and over 60 PhD students it is the largest astronomy department in the Netherlands. Leiden is a charming university town with international flair. Most Leiden researchers have an international background. English is the common language.

The four-year PhD program consists mostly of research under the supervision of one or more faculty members. Positions are available in all the research areas in which the Observatory is active. These include cosmology, galaxy formation and evolution, interstellar matter and star formation, stars and planetary systems, computational astrophysics, high energy astrophysics, laboratory astrophysics, astrochemistry, and instrumentation. Examples of possible PhD projects can be found at http://www.strw.leidenuniv.nl/phd/example_phds.php.

During their thesis, Leiden PhD students are paid as civil servants, which means that they earn competitive salaries (the current gross salary, including allowances, increases from about EUR 28,000 in year 1 to about EUR 36,000 in year 4) and are eligible for both social security and retirement benefits. PhD positions are funded for four years.

The successful candidates must have a MSc degree (or equivalent) by the starting date. The starting dates are negotiable.

Complete applications received by December 15, 2012 will receive full consideration.

As part of our general PhD call, we also anticipate selecting outstanding candidates to participate in the Leiden-de Sitter Cosmology Program. This is a joint effort with the Leiden Lorentz Institute for theoretical physics and focuses on the interplay between observational cosmology and the physics of the early universe. PhD students in the de Sitter program will be jointly supervised by members of the physics and astronomy departments, and are invited to propose their own research program. We hope to appoint at least two students to this program. For details, go to http://www.leidendesitter.nl/de_Sitter/Welcome.html.

Outstanding candidates should also consider applying for a Leiden/Huygens Fellowship. Note the earlier deadline of December 1st and the fact that the procedure for applying is separate from our general call.

The positions are open to candidates from all countries. The research will be carried out in the framework of the Netherlands Research School for Astronomy (NOVA). More information about the PhD program at Leiden Observatory can be found at http://www.strw.leidenuniv.nl/phd/.

Email Inquiries: phdapplications@strw.leidenuniv.nl.