PhD Position in Number Theory and Formalization (4 Years)

Part of 13 PhD vacancies within the COGENT Network

Your function

We welcome applications for a fully-funded, 4-year PhD position, at the Department of Mathematics of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. This position is part of the EU-funded MSCA Doctoral Network COGENT (Cohomology, Geometry, Explicit Number Theory). As such, the doctoral candidate will be an MSCA fellow. The PhD research will focus on Number Theory and Formalization, in particular on formal verification of theory and algorithmic output for modular forms using proof assistants (such as Lean). It will be supervised by Sander Dahmen (daily supervisor) and Assia Mahboubi. The position includes a prospective research secondment at the University of Sheffield. We are an inclusive, interdisciplinary group, and diversity and internationalism is at the heart of our research principles, as well as our teaching practice.

The preferred starting date is September 1, 2025 (but one month later is also possible).

Applications from all groups currently under-represented in academic posts are especially encouraged. We particularly welcome applications from women and people with an ethnic minority background.

• doing research towards writing a PhD thesis
• collaborate with international partners of the COGENT Network
• teaching tasks (roughly 15% of your time), for instance supervising exercise classes

Your profile

• a (prospective) MSc degree in Mathematics (or an equivalent thereof)
• good communication skills in English
• not having resided or carried out main activity in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date (this is a COGENT specific eligibility criterium)  

• a background in number theory/arithmetic geometry and interest in their computational aspects
• affinity with using a proof assistant (some experience or a clear motivation to acquire that)

What do we offer?

A challenging position in a socially involved organization. On full-time basis the remuneration amounts to a minimum gross monthly salary of €2901 (at the start) and a maximum €3707 (in the fourth year). The job profile is based on the university job ranking system and is vacant for 0.8-1.0 FTE.

The appointment will initially be for 1 year. After a satisfactory evaluation of the initial appointment, the contract will be extended for a further 3 years (with the last year formally not part of COGENT). Additionally, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers excellent fringe benefits and various schemes and regulations to promote a good work/life balance, such as:

• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• contribution to commuting expenses
• optional model for designing a personalized benefits package
• a maximum of 41 days of annual leave based on full-time employment
• good paid parental leave scheme
• additional project-related allowances may apply

About VU Amsterdam

Interested

Are you interested in this position? Please apply via the COGENT application website. There you will also find 12 other PhD vacancies within the COGENT Network that may interest you! The recruitment process will continue until all positions are filled.

Applications received by e-mail will not be considered.

If you have any questions regarding this vacancy, please do not hesitate to contact Sander Dahmen.
Email: s.r.dahmen@vu.nl