PhD in the Emergence of Time and Laws in Quantum Cosmology
- Faculty of Science
- 13899
- Master's
- €2.901 - €3.707
- 38 hours
- Closes on15-04-2025
PhD in the Emergence of Time and Laws in Quantum Cosmology
- Faculty of Science
- 13899
- Master's
- €2.901 - €3.707
- 38 hours
- Closes on15-04-2025
Working at the UvA
Join Us!
Do you enjoy working in an interdisciplinary research setting on foundational questions in physics? The Institute of Physics and the Institute for Logic, Language and Computation of the University of Amsterdam are looking for an ambitious PhD candidate.
Working at the UvA
Join Us!
Do you enjoy working in an interdisciplinary research setting on foundational questions in physics? The Institute of Physics and the Institute for Logic, Language and Computation of the University of Amsterdam are looking for an ambitious PhD candidate.
All about this vacancy
This is what you will do
The successful applicant will work under the supervision of Sebastian De Haro and Erik Verlinde and will have the opportunity to collaborate with Niels Martens (Utrecht University) and Jeroen van Dongen (University of Amsterdam). The position is integrated in the national consortium Emergence at All Scales (EAAS; see below) and within this context we invite interested candidates to apply for a 4-year PhD position in the foundations of physics.
You will investigate the philosophical and theoretical aspects of the emergence of time and laws of gravitation in the context of quantum cosmology, black holes, dark matter and dark energy. Your research will be on the recent uses of algebraic methods in quantum field theory, especially von Neumann algebras, for the notions of time and laws. You will investigate the interpretation and physical salience of the derivation of time in algebraic approaches to quantum gravity, and the possible observer-dependence and emergence of the laws of gravitation in cosmological scenarios like de Sitter spacetime. You will use tools from both philosophy and theoretical physics to address these questions, and their consequences for physics-based accounts of emergence. PhD candidates furthermore, are expected to contribute to the institute’s educational mission, e.g., by working as teaching assistants for courses in their area of expertise and by assisting with the supervision of student research projects. In addition, PhD candidates hired from the EAAS* project have responsibilities within the EAAS consortium.
What we ask of you
You are a highly motivated MSc student with a keen interest in the foundational aspects of quantum gravity and quantum cosmology. You are capable of working within a research environment combining physics and philosophy.
Your experience and profile:
MSc in a relevant discipline, such as Theoretical Physics, Mathematics, and-or Philosophy;
demonstrable experience in philosophy of physics;
demonstrable experience with either algebraic quantum field theory, quantum gravity or string theory;
an excellent academic record;
professional command of English.
This is what we offer you
A temporary contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of 4 years (the 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). The preferred starting date is 1 September 2025. 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.
The gross monthly salary, based on 38 hours per week and dependent on relevant experience, ranges between € 2,901 to € 3,707 (scale P).This does not include 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% year-end allowance. The UFO profile PhD is applicable. The Collective Labour Agreement of Universities of the Netherlands is applicable.
All about this vacancy
This is what you will do
The successful applicant will work under the supervision of Sebastian De Haro and Erik Verlinde and will have the opportunity to collaborate with Niels Martens (Utrecht University) and Jeroen van Dongen (University of Amsterdam). The position is integrated in the national consortium Emergence at All Scales (EAAS; see below) and within this context we invite interested candidates to apply for a 4-year PhD position in the foundations of physics.
You will investigate the philosophical and theoretical aspects of the emergence of time and laws of gravitation in the context of quantum cosmology, black holes, dark matter and dark energy. Your research will be on the recent uses of algebraic methods in quantum field theory, especially von Neumann algebras, for the notions of time and laws. You will investigate the interpretation and physical salience of the derivation of time in algebraic approaches to quantum gravity, and the possible observer-dependence and emergence of the laws of gravitation in cosmological scenarios like de Sitter spacetime. You will use tools from both philosophy and theoretical physics to address these questions, and their consequences for physics-based accounts of emergence. PhD candidates furthermore, are expected to contribute to the institute’s educational mission, e.g., by working as teaching assistants for courses in their area of expertise and by assisting with the supervision of student research projects. In addition, PhD candidates hired from the EAAS* project have responsibilities within the EAAS consortium.
What we ask of you
You are a highly motivated MSc student with a keen interest in the foundational aspects of quantum gravity and quantum cosmology. You are capable of working within a research environment combining physics and philosophy.
Your experience and profile:
MSc in a relevant discipline, such as Theoretical Physics, Mathematics, and-or Philosophy;
demonstrable experience in philosophy of physics;
demonstrable experience with either algebraic quantum field theory, quantum gravity or string theory;
an excellent academic record;
professional command of English.
This is what we offer you
A temporary contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of 4 years (the 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). The preferred starting date is 1 September 2025. 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.
The gross monthly salary, based on 38 hours per week and dependent on relevant experience, ranges between € 2,901 to € 3,707 (scale P).This does not include 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% year-end allowance. The UFO profile PhD is applicable. The Collective Labour Agreement of Universities of the Netherlands is applicable.
Your place at the UvA
You will work in this team
The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 8,000, as well as 1,800 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.
About the Institute of Physics
The Institute of Physics (IoP) of the Faculty of Science combines the Van der Waals-Zeeman Institute (WZI), the Institute of Theoretical Physics (ITFA) and the Institute for High Energy Physics (IHEF) and is one of the large research institutes of the Faculty of Science at the University of Amsterdam. The mission of IoP is to carry out excellent research in the field of experimental and theoretical physics, to provide inspiring teaching within the physics and other curricula and to transfer our knowledge of and enthusiasm for physics to society. The IoP has over 70 faculty and 230 researchers in total.
Within the Institute of Physics, the position is embedded in the String Theory group and the History and Philosophy of Physics group.
About the String Theory group
The Amsterdam String Theory Group at the University of Amsterdam is one of the largest and most prominent string theory groups in the world. The group’s research interests are diverse and extend across all of string theory, including topological strings, supersymmetry gauge theory, holography, quantum gravity, quantum field theory, supergravity, cosmology and hydrodynamics. There is a stimulating atmosphere in the group, a diverse range of nationalities, and an active visitor program which attracts the best string theorists from all over the world. The string theory group has close ties with the Dutch Institute for Emergent Phenomena where various interdisciplinary research projects are pursued across various scientific fields.
About the History and Philosophy of Physics group at the Institute of Physics
The focus of the History and Philosophy of Physics group is on the history and philosophy of modern physics, as well as broader themes in History and Philosophy of Science. Our group at the University of Amsterdam is committed to the historical-philosophical study of scientific practice and concepts, with a focus on modern physics, such as black hole research and string theory.
About the Institute for Logic, Language and Computation
The Institute for Logic, Language and Computation (ILLC) is a research institute at the UvA in which researchers from the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Humanities collaborate. Its central research area is the study of fundamental principles of encoding, transmission and comprehension of information. Research at ILLC is interdisciplinary, and aims at bringing together insights from various disciplines concerned with information and information processing, such as logic, mathematics, computer science, linguistics, natural language processing, cognitive science, artificial intelligence, music cognition, and philosophy.
About the EAAS consortium
The consortium Emergence at all Scales (EAAS) is the national flag-carrier of the NWA route 2 game changer Dutch Institute for Emergent Phenomena. EAAS combines 8 Dutch and 1 Ukrainian university as well as Statistics Netherlands (CBS) in an interdisciplinary and collaborative endeavour aimed at understanding emergent phenomena across scales, combining multiple fields including physics, mathematics, astronomy, history & philosophy of science, and social science. Its approach to societal engagement throughout the project’s 5-year lifetime is 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 scientists to join the team, and our project/group leaders share the ambition of gender parity in hires across EAAS.
Organisational unit
Your place at the UvA
This is where you will be working
You will work in this team
The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 8,000, as well as 1,800 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.
About the Institute of Physics
The Institute of Physics (IoP) of the Faculty of Science combines the Van der Waals-Zeeman Institute (WZI), the Institute of Theoretical Physics (ITFA) and the Institute for High Energy Physics (IHEF) and is one of the large research institutes of the Faculty of Science at the University of Amsterdam. The mission of IoP is to carry out excellent research in the field of experimental and theoretical physics, to provide inspiring teaching within the physics and other curricula and to transfer our knowledge of and enthusiasm for physics to society. The IoP has over 70 faculty and 230 researchers in total.
Within the Institute of Physics, the position is embedded in the String Theory group and the History and Philosophy of Physics group.
About the String Theory group
The Amsterdam String Theory Group at the University of Amsterdam is one of the largest and most prominent string theory groups in the world. The group’s research interests are diverse and extend across all of string theory, including topological strings, supersymmetry gauge theory, holography, quantum gravity, quantum field theory, supergravity, cosmology and hydrodynamics. There is a stimulating atmosphere in the group, a diverse range of nationalities, and an active visitor program which attracts the best string theorists from all over the world. The string theory group has close ties with the Dutch Institute for Emergent Phenomena where various interdisciplinary research projects are pursued across various scientific fields.
About the History and Philosophy of Physics group at the Institute of Physics
The focus of the History and Philosophy of Physics group is on the history and philosophy of modern physics, as well as broader themes in History and Philosophy of Science. Our group at the University of Amsterdam is committed to the historical-philosophical study of scientific practice and concepts, with a focus on modern physics, such as black hole research and string theory.
About the Institute for Logic, Language and Computation
The Institute for Logic, Language and Computation (ILLC) is a research institute at the UvA in which researchers from the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Humanities collaborate. Its central research area is the study of fundamental principles of encoding, transmission and comprehension of information. Research at ILLC is interdisciplinary, and aims at bringing together insights from various disciplines concerned with information and information processing, such as logic, mathematics, computer science, linguistics, natural language processing, cognitive science, artificial intelligence, music cognition, and philosophy.
About the EAAS consortium
The consortium Emergence at all Scales (EAAS) is the national flag-carrier of the NWA route 2 game changer Dutch Institute for Emergent Phenomena. EAAS combines 8 Dutch and 1 Ukrainian university as well as Statistics Netherlands (CBS) in an interdisciplinary and collaborative endeavour aimed at understanding emergent phenomena across scales, combining multiple fields including physics, mathematics, astronomy, history & philosophy of science, and social science. Its approach to societal engagement throughout the project’s 5-year lifetime is 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 scientists to join the team, and our project/group leaders share the ambition of gender parity in hires across EAAS.
Organisational unit
Important to know
Your application & contact
If you feel the profile fits you, and you are interested in the job, we look forward to receiving your application. You can apply online via the button below. We accept applications until and including 15 April 2025.
If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Dr Sebastian De Haro, [email protected]
Applications should include the following information (all files besides your cv should be submitted in one single pdf file):
- a detailed CV including the months (not just years) when referring to your education and work experience;
- a letter of motivation;
- a list of all Master-level courses you have taken, with an official transcript of grades;
- a link to a writing sample available online, such as a Master’s thesis, a term paper, or a publication (in case of joint authorship, please clearly indicate your own contribution);
- the names and email addresses of two references who can provide letters of recommendation.
We particularly encourage women and candidates from other under-represented groups to apply. A knowledge security check can be part of the selection procedure.
(for details: national knowledge security guidelines)
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Important to know
Your application & contact
If you feel the profile fits you, and you are interested in the job, we look forward to receiving your application. You can apply online via the button below. We accept applications until and including 15 April 2025.
If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Dr Sebastian De Haro, [email protected]
Applications should include the following information (all files besides your cv should be submitted in one single pdf file):
- a detailed CV including the months (not just years) when referring to your education and work experience;
- a letter of motivation;
- a list of all Master-level courses you have taken, with an official transcript of grades;
- a link to a writing sample available online, such as a Master’s thesis, a term paper, or a publication (in case of joint authorship, please clearly indicate your own contribution);
- the names and email addresses of two references who can provide letters of recommendation.
We particularly encourage women and candidates from other under-represented groups to apply. A knowledge security check can be part of the selection procedure.
(for details: national knowledge security guidelines)
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Don't miss out on your dream job!
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