PhD-student Phase Transitions, Computational Complexity and Chaotic Dynamical System

The Korteweg – de Vries Institute of the Faculty of Science is inviting applications for a fully funded PhD position (4 years) for the research project:

Phase transitions, computational complexity and chaotic dynamical system

The project combines elements from graph theory, complex analysis and dynamical systems, and is motivated by problems in computational complexity and statistical physics regarding the location of zeros for graph polynomials. Examples of such graph polynomials include the partition function of the Potts model, the Ising model, the independence polynomial and the chromatic polynomial. Renormalization on recursively defined graphs induces iteration problems for rational maps in one or several complex variables.

The goal of the project is to develop similar techniques for families of graphs that are not necessarily recursively defined. In recent years it has become apparent that the link between complex analysis, and dynamical systems on the one side and graph theory on the other persists in this more general setting.

The project is funded through the M1 NWO grant “Phase transitions, computational complexity and chaotic dynamical system " of Han Peters and Guus Regts.

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). 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.

Based on a full-time appointment (38 hours per week) the gross monthly salary will range from €2.770 in the first year to €3.539 (scale P) in the last year. This is exclusive 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

Are you curious about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits like our excellent opportunities for study and development? Take a look here.

The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 7,000, as well as 1,600 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.

The Korteweg-de Vries Instituut voor Wiskunde (KdV Institute) is the mathematical research institute of the Faculty of Science of the Universiteit van Amsterdam. The KdV Institute offers a stimulating scientific environment in which research focuses mainly within the research programmes (1) Algebra, Geometry and Mathematical Physics, (2) Pure, Applied and Numerical Analysis, and (3) Stochastics. It also provides the lecturers and instructors for the mathematics teaching within the Science faculty. The KdV Institute participates in the NWO research clusters GQT, STAR, NDNS+ and DIAMANT and in the Gravity programme NETWORKS. There is formal (and informal) cooperation with the Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI), the VU University, and with Eurandom in Eindhoven. KdVI counts about 30 staff members and 40 postdocs and PhD students.

KdVI: http://kdvi.uva.nl