Summary
Nikhef, the national institute for subatomic physics in the Netherlands, is offering a fully-funded PhD position to investigate the common origin of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays and high-energy neutrinos. The successful candidate will address major open questions in astroparticle physics by analyzing and correlating data sets from two premier international collaborations: the Pierre Auger Observatory and the KM3NeT neutrino telescope.
PhD Position: Ultra-High-Energy Cosmic Rays and Neutrinos, Nikhef, Netherlands
Key Position Details
| Feature | Details |
| Designation | PhD Candidate |
| Research Area | Astroparticle Physics (Cosmic Rays and Neutrinos) |
| Location | Amsterdam, Netherlands (with regular travel to Nijmegen) |
| Employment Type | Full-time contract (1 + 3 years) |
| Preferred Start Date | September / October 2026 (Negotiable) |
| Application Deadline | Friday, August 14th, 2026 |
Research Area
Probing the common origin of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays and high-energy neutrinos by correlating data from the Pierre Auger Observatory and the KM3NeT neutrino telescope.
The research bridges cosmic ray physics and neutrino astronomy. Because cosmic rays are deflected by galactic and extragalactic magnetic fields, tracing them back to their source is highly challenging. High-energy neutrinos, however, travel in straight lines. This project aims to find a common source class by studying spatial and temporal correlations between the data from the Pierre Auger Observatory (Argentina) and the KM3NeT detector (Mediterranean Sea), factoring in magnetic field models, particle charge estimations, and advanced machine learning techniques.
Job Description
- Collaboration Memberships: Act as a full member of both the Pierre Auger Collaboration and the KM3NeT Collaboration, gaining complete access to both experimental data streams.
- Research & Development: Develop and implement data analysis workflows, potentially incorporating machine-learning methods to improve the sensitivity of source-identification analyses.
- Travel & Networking: Work primarily in Amsterdam while traveling to Nijmegen at least every other week for cosmic-ray group meetings. Participate in international collaboration meetings and workshops.
Eligibility & Qualification
- Education: Applicants must hold (or be close to completing) an MSc degree in (astro-)particle physics or a closely related discipline by the start of the appointment.
- Technical Skills: Excellent software and programming skills, particularly in Python, are highly encouraged.
- Soft Skills: Ability to work well in an open, international, and highly collaborative scientific environment.
- Note: Applications from women and individuals from minority or underrepresented groups are explicitly welcomed.
How to Apply
Interested candidates can apply directly via the online portal on the Nikhef Job Page.
Be prepared to provide and upload:
- A comprehensive Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- A formal motivation letter.
- The email addresses of at least two referents who are willing to submit letters of recommendation on your behalf.
For informal inquiries regarding the role, you can contact Dr. Teresa Bister (teresa.bister@ru.nl) or Prof. Dr. Dorothea Samtleben (dosamt@nikhef.nl).
Last Date for Apply
The deadline for submitting your application is Friday, August 14th, 2026.
