PhD scholarship in differential geometry and geometric mechanics

Department: Department of Mathematics
Regime Full-time

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The Department of Mathematics in the Faculty of Science is advertising a

full-time (100%) PhD scholarship in differential geometry and geometric mechanics.

Position / Job description:

• You will work actively on the preparation and defence of a PhD thesis at the intersection of differential geometry and geometric mechanics jointly supervised by the professors Sonja Hohloch and Tom Mestdag. This PhD position is funded by the research project “Symmetry reduction and unreduction in mechanics and geometry” which aims at the study of Lagrangian systems that are invariant under the action of a symmetry Lie group. Such systems appear naturally in classical mechanics, calculus of variations, and Finsler geometry.
• You will present the findings of your PhD research at academic conferences and publish scientific articles related to the research project.
• You will carry out a limited amount of teaching (for example, problem sessions) and research support tasks for the Department of Mathematics.
• You will submit an application for an FWO PhD scholarship within 2 years after appointment, as required by the statutes of the funding project.

Your profile:

• You hold a Master degree in Mathematics or Physics or you will have obtained it by the time you start work.
• You do not yet hold a PhD in Mathematics.
• You have excellent study results, in particular concerning differential equations and differential geometry. A certain knowledge of classical physics is recommended but not mandatory.
• You speak and write fluently English. Moreover, you are willing to learn Dutch (there is funding for language classes).
• Your teaching competences are in line with the University of Antwerp’s educational vision .
• Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies .
• You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation.

What we offer:

• We offer a doctoral scholarship for a period of two years. Following a positive evaluation, the scholarship can be renewed for another two years.
• The preferred start date is October 1, 2022.
• Your monthly scholarship is calculated according to the scholarships  for doctoral scholarship holders on the pay scales for Contract Research Staff (Dutch: Bijzonder Academisch Personeel, BAP).
• You will receive ecocheques, Internet-connectivity allowance, and a bicycle allowance or a full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting.
• You will do most of your work at Campus Middelheim in a dynamic and stimulating working environment where you will join our research team on analysis, dynamical systems, and differential geometry which currently consists of 2-3 professors, 5-6 postdocs, and 4 PhD students.
• Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here .

How to apply?

• You must apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform up to and including August 8, 2022 (by midnight Brussels time). Click on the 'Apply' button, complete the online application form and be sure to include the following attachments:
  • your motivation letter,
  • names and contact details of the advisor(s) of your bachelor and master theses,
  • your academic CV with an overview of your study results,
  • a pdf copy of your bachelor thesis and your master thesis (in case the latter is already completed).
• The selection committee will review all of the applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. As soon as a decision has been made, we will inform you about the next steps in the selection procedure.
• If you have any questions about the online application form, please check the frequently asked questions  or send an email to [email protected] . If you have any questions about the research project or the job itself, please contact Prof. Tom Mestdag ([email protected] ).

The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award  for its HR policy. We are a sustainable, family-friendly organisation which invests in its employees’ growth. We encourage diversity  and attach great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse characteristics to apply.