The Gravitational Waves and Fundamental Physics (GWFP) at Maastricht University, member of the Nikhef partnership, has two positions open for Assistant Professor researcher(s).

Job Description
We are looking for two talented and enthusiastic assistant professors to complement or strengthen our physics activities in the Gravitational Wave and Fundamental Physics (GWFP) group at Maastricht University. Our research activities are embedded in the Dutch Nikhef collaboration and include Gravitational Wave and Particle Physics research.

Activities in Gravitational Waves research include research on technologies for current and future gravitational-wave detectors such as Virgo and the Einstein Telescope, with a particular focus on optical instrumentation, advanced interferometry beyond the quantum-noise limit, and material research for optics and optical coatings.

Activities in Particle Physics include flavour physics phenomenology in close collaboration with the LHCb experiment, LHCb physics data analysis on CP violation and rare decays, and algorithm development for data reconstruction in a heterogeneous computing model.

Qualified candidates are invited to apply and to develop their research plans in the context of either gravitational wave research or LHCb research or a combination of these activities’

The positions are 1.0 FTE positions located in the GWFP Department of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, Duboisdomein 30, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

Requirements

• You have a PhD degree in physics or a related field
• You have excellent communication skills in the English language
• You are collegial and actively searching to collaborate with others
• You have extensive experience in research relevant for gravitational wave instrumentation / data analysis or particle physics data analysis / phenomenology, proven by your track record as an early career researcher
• You are eager to develop your own research program that is integrated and aligned with the aspirations of the department and the Nikhef partnership
• You have evidence or high potential for grant acquisition and are keen to seek and join grant opportunities and collaborations for our group
• You are an enthusiastic teacher in an academic context, and are willing to participate in and shape the teaching activities of our department
• You have demonstrated experience in supervising Master and/or PhD theses

What we offer
As Assistant Professor at Faculty of Science & Engineering, you will be employed by the most international university in the Netherlands, located in the beautiful city of Maastricht. In addition, we offer you:

• Good employment conditions. The position is graded in scale 11 - 12 according to UFO profile Assistant Professor, with corresponding salary based on experience ranging from €4492,00 and €6986,00 gross per month (based on a full-time employment of 38 hours per week). In addition to the monthly salary, an 8.0% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus apply.
• An employment contract for a period of 12 months with a scope of 1,0 FTE. Upon proven suitability, the employment contract will be converted to an indefinite contract.
• At Maastricht University, the well-being of our employees is of utmost importance, we offer flexible working hours and the possibility to work partly from home if the nature of your position allows it. You will receive a monthly commuting and internet allowance for this. If you work full-time, you will be entitled to 29 vacation days and 4 additional public holidays per year, namely carnival Monday, carnival Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day. If you choose to accumulate compensation hours, an additional 12 days will be added. Furthermore, you can personalize your employment conditions through a collective labor agreement (CAO) choice model.
• As Maastricht University, we offer various other excellent secondary employment conditions. These include a good pension scheme with the ABP and the opportunity for UM employees to participate in company fitness and make use of the extensive sports facilities that we also offer to our students.
• Last but certainly not least, we provide the space and facilities for your personal and professional development. We facilitate this by offering a wide range of training programs and supporting various well-established initiatives such as 'acknowledge and appreciate'.

The terms of employment at Maastricht University are largely set out in the collective labor agreement of Dutch Universities. In addition, local provisions specific to UM apply. For more information, click here.

Maastricht University
Why work at Maastricht University?

At Maastricht University (UM), everything revolves around the future. The future of our students, as we work to equip them with a solid, broad-based foundation for the rest of their lives. And the future of society, as we seek solutions through our research to issues from all around the world. Our six faculties combined provide a comprehensive package of study programmes and research.

In our teaching, we use the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method. Students work in small groups, looking for solutions to problems themselves. By discussing issues and working together to draw conclusions, formulate answers and present them to their peers, students develop essential skills for their future careers.

With over 22,300 students and more than 5,000 employees from all over the world, UM is home to a vibrant and inspiring international community.

Are you drawn to an international setting focused on education, science and scholarship? Are you keen to contribute however your skills and qualities allow? Our door is open to you! As a young European university, we value your talent and look forward to creating the future together.

Click here for more information about UM.

Faculty of Science and Engineering
At the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE), we focus on themes such as circularity and sustainability, future farming, digitisation and (scientific) instrument development. FSE's leading projects, like the Einstein Telescope Pathfinder, are sure to grab anyone's attention. The faculty is a vibrant hub of education and research in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS). At FSE, over 450 staff members and 3700 students gather to explore e exciting interdisciplinary research and educational programmes. Feel welcome, be part of our team and put your brilliant mind to work!

FSE at the Brightlands Campuses
Maastricht, Sittard-Geleen, Heerlen, and Venlo, the home of four creative Brightlands campuses, are bustling with 30,000 entrepreneurs, researchers, and students working diligently to solve global challenges. The Faculty of Science and Engineering is active on all four Brightlands campuses, and this is where our impact reaches its peak. To give you an idea of what is happening at each campus: Sittard-Geleen is home to the largest chemical site in the Euregion, while Venlo is a large hub for agri-food innovation. Maastricht is the site of the Health Campus, and Heerlen is the place to be for Smart Services.

Department of Gravitational Waves and Fundamental Physics
GWFP was founded in 2019 and is involved in gravitational wave research in context of the upcoming Einstein Telescope, and with particle physics research at the LHCb experiment at CERN. Both experiments are world-leading in their research, discovering a wealth of new facts about the fundamental forces of nature and the evolution of the universe after the big bang. GWFP is also a member of Nikhef (www.nikhef.nl), the Dutch national research partnership for sub-atomic physics.

The GWFP academic team consists of Profs S.Hild (Head of Department), M.Merk and A. Bertollini, associate professors S.Danilishin, G. Koekoek, J.Steinlechner and K. Vos, as well as assistant professors J. de Vries and S.Steinlechner. In addition, the GWFP consists of 7 postdoctoral researchers, 13 PhD students and 5 technical and administrative staff.

Curious?
Are you interested in this exciting position but still have questions? Feel free to contact Stefan Hild at stefan.hild@maastrichtuniversity.nl for more information.

Applying?
Or are you already convinced and ready to become our new part of the GWFP team? Apply now, no later than 27 October for this position. The application should include a motivation letter, a CV, a
research statement (2 page max) and teaching statement (1 page max) and any relevant certificates. Selection will take place through interviews. The first interviews preferably take place in December

The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.