"PhD: Patterns in systems with noisy coefficients (1.0 FTE)"

The Mathematical Institute is looking for a PhD candidate to join the project Patterns in Random Media under the supervision of Hermen Jan Hupkes.

Applications are invited for a 4-year PhD position with Hermen Jan Hupkes at the Mathematical Institute of the University of Leiden, as part of the project 'Patterns in Random Media'. The PhD position focuses on the dynamical behaviour of stochastic partial differential equations (SPDEs). In particular, we will consider the impact that noise terms have on patterns such as travelling waves, spirals and spots. The precise topic of your thesis can be tuned to your interests and background; see https://pub.math.leidenuniv.nl/~hupkeshj for a flavour of past research strongly related to this position.

Selection Criteria: Master’s degree in mathematics, including a solid background in dynamical systems and/or probability; Written and oral proficiency in English.

Research at our faculty: The Faculty of Science is a world-class faculty where staff and students work together in a dynamic international environment. It is a faculty where personal and academic development are top priorities. Our people are committed to expand fundamental knowledge by curiosity and to look beyond the borders of their own discipline; their aim is to benefit science, and to contribute to addressing the major societal challenges of the future. The research carried out at the Faculty of Science is very diverse, ranging from mathematics, information science, astronomy, physics, chemistry and bio-pharmaceutical sciences to biology and environmental sciences. The research activities are organised in eight institutes. These institutes offer eight bachelor’s and twelve master’s programmes. The faculty has grown strongly in recent years and now has more than 2,500 staff and almost 6,000 students. We are located at the heart of Leiden’s Bio Science Park, one of Europe’s biggest science parks, where university and business life come together.

Mathematical Institute: The Mathematical Institute (MI) is one of the eight institutes within the Faculty of Science and has a strong international orientation. Its mission is to push the frontiers of scientific knowledge by developing and applying high quality mathematics, while offering a wide range of mathematical training in a friendly and intellectually stimulating environment. We believe that mathematics is an essential part of human knowledge, and we take pride in our role as keepers of this rich field of science. We are dedicated to push the boundaries of mathematical knowledge and to contribute our experience towards solving problems in other sciences, society, and industry. In addition, we promote mathematical literacy in society at large through a multitude of outreach activities. The Mathematical Institute has four research themes: Algebra, Geometry and Number Theory; Analysis and Dynamical Systems; Probability Theory; and Statistics and Data Science. There are many collaborations between the themes.

Terms and conditions: We offer a full-time appointment of initially one year. After a positive evaluation of the progress of the research, teaching evaluations, personal capabilities and compatibility, the appointment will be extended for another three years. The gross salary ranges from €3,059 per month in the first year to €3,881 gross per month in the fourth year based on a full-time position (pay scale P). Additional funding is available to support travel to conferences and workshops abroad. Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package including pension build-up, paid parental leave and additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3%). Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break.