Job Opportunities
General
The Computational Chemistry and Physics group offers regularly positions at the PhD and postdoctoral level for excellent students and researchers. More information on present job offers can be found below. PhD and postdocs will be appointed in accordance with the University regulations for academic personnel. Assistance with accommodation can be arranged. Applicants of a PhD positions should have a Master degree in chemistry, physics, or related fields. For applications, please provide a CV, a statement of career goals and general research interests, and name and e-mail addresses of two references. Please send the details of your application to the person involved either by email or by ordinary mail to the following address:
Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences
University of Amsterdam
Science Park 904
NL-1098 XH AMSTERDAM
The Netherlands
Open Positions
PHD vacancies in the Bolhuis group
Project 1: Effect of co-solutes on aqueous protein solutions
Salts and small cosolvent molecules like disaccharides are known to have a profound effect on the structure and functionality of dissolved proteins. The effect of ions as a co-solute usually follows the Hofmeister series. This series is a qualitative ordering of ions based originally on their propensity to salt-out proteins. Despite its importance, the underlying molecular level mechanism of the Hofmeister effect is still not understood. In one hypothesis the effect follows from the ability of a co-solute or co-solvent to influence the water structure and dynamics by forming or breaking hydrogen bonds but the results of most recent studies contradict this mechanism. Low molecular weight sugars like trehalose have been shown to show similar effects as ions on the properties and phase behavior of solutions of proteins and polysaccharides. For instance, it has been found that sugar as a co-solute increases (and salt decreases) the phase transition temperature between the solution and the gelation phase of starch, which is the most widely used polysaccharide in our daily diet.
In this PhD project, we aim at acquiring a better understanding of the effects of co-solutes like salts and sugars on the structural and dynamical properties of aqueous solutions of food protein using advanced molecular simulation techniques. The simulation results will be directly compared with femtosecond mid-infrared spectroscopy and time-resolved THz spectroscopy performed in the group of Prof. H. Bakker (HIMS, AMOLF).
The PhD project is part of the Nanonext initiative. For this PhD position the University of Amsterdam will be the employer.
University of Amsterdam
The University of Amsterdam
(UvA) is a university with an internationally acclaimed
profile, located at the heart of the Dutch capital. The
Faculty of Science at the UvA is one of Europe's foremost
institutions of higher education and research in its chosen
fields of specialization. It plays an active role in
international science networks and collaborates with
universities and industry. The Faculty has approximately
2,000 students and 1,500 staff members spread over ten
research institutes. Each institute has its own research
program, a substantial part of which is externally funded by
the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO),
the Dutch government, the EU and various private
enterprises.
Requirements
We are looking for an excellent, enthusiastic candidate with
a master's degree in physics or chemistry and an interest
in biophysics. Knowledge of statistical mechanics and
thermodynamics is preferred. Since the work will involve
using and modifying complex simulation codes, good
programming skills (in C, C++, Phyton, Perl) are required.
Appointment
The appointment starting as soon as
possible will be on a temporary basis for a maximum period
of four years and should lead to a dissertation (PhD
thesis). An educational plan will be drafted that includes
attendance of courses and (international) meetings. PhD
students are also expected to assist in teaching under
graduates. The salary is in accordance with the university
regulations for academic personnel (Collective Labour
Agreement Dutch Universities) and will range from € 2,042
(first year) up to a maximum of € 2,612 (last year) gross
per month (scale P). The annual salary will be increased
with 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
Project 2: Controlling Colloidal Superstructures via Critical Casimir Attraction
Nanoparticles and colloidal building blocks can play the role of "atoms" and "molecules" in hierarchical structures for tomorrow’s materials. Much is known about how atoms form molecules, and how molecules form supramolecular structures, but knowledge about the assembly of objects on the micrometer scale, and about the properties of the resulting materials is still at its infancy. A novel technique based on the Critical Casimir effect allows assembly of complex molecule-like structures on the colloidal and nanoscale with as yet unprecedented control. The temperature dependence of critical fluctuations allows exquisite control over these weakly attractive potentials. Employing specifically patterned colloidal particles will yield tunable anisotropic potentials. This project uses efficient combinations of experimental measurements and computer simulations, to exploit the active control over such particle potentials to investigate the formation of complex colloidal structures in equilibrium, as well as to elucidate arrest in kinetically trapped non-equilibrium structures. The results will yield novel ways to design structured nanomaterials with specific properties, as well as novel insight in the physics of these complex systems.
The PhD will perform advanced computer simulations of the Critical Casimir forces using microscopic models, as well as simulation of equilibrium properties and non-equilibrium dynamics of Critical Casimir colloidal systems using patchy particle models. The research will be in close collaboration with the experimental group of Dr. P. Schall at the UvA.
For this PhD position the FOM foundation will be the employer.
Requirements
We are looking for an excellent
physicist or chemist with an interest in statistical
mechanics and computer simulations. Since the work will
involve writing and modifying simulation codes, good
programming skills (in C, C++, Phyton, Perl) are
required. PhD candidates must meet the requirements for a
MSc-degree.
Conditions of Employment
When fulfilling a PhD
position at the FOM foundation, you will get the status of
junior scientist. You will have an employee status and can
participate in all the employee benefits FOM offers. You
will get a contract for 4 years. Your salary will be up to a
maximum of 2,610 euro gross per month. You are supposed to
have a thesis finished at the end of your four year term
with FOM. A training programme is part of the
agreement. You and your supervisor will make up a plan for
the additional education and supervising that you
specifically need. This plan also defines which teaching
activities you will be responsible (up to a maximum of 10%
of your time). The conditions of employment of the
FOM-foundation are laid down in the Collective Labour
Agreement for Research Centres (CAO-Onderzoekinstellingen),
more exclusive information is available at this website
under Personeelsinformatie (in Dutch) or under Personnel (in
English).
Grants and Fellowships
There are various possibilities to apply for a grant or fellowship that allows you to work in our group. Excellent researchers that are seriously interested in applying for a grant can contact us.
Marie Curie Individual Fellowships
A Marie Curie Fellowship, sponsored by the EU, provides the possibility to work as a postdoctoral researcher for several years and is available to nationals of an EU member or associated State and to those who have resided in the EU for at least five years immediately prior to the start of their fellowship.
Veni fellowships
A Veni fellowship, sponsored by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), provides the possibility to work as a postdoctoral researcher for several years. It is meant for young researcher that have recently finished their PhD.