PhD Position Algebraic and Topological Dynamics

Laminated spaces turn up in dynamical systems, geometric group theory, number theory, and quasicrystals. You will study their fundamental properties and extend their applications in these fields.

Job description

M(atchbox)-manifolds are natural generalizations of Euclidean manifolds. While the one-dimensional case is relatively well understood, higher-dimensional m-manifolds remain largely unexplored. The focus of your research will be a special class of m-manifolds with additional symmetries that support rich dynamical behavior. These spaces were recently identified as particularly promising: they have now been topologically classified under the assumption of a free abelian group action, which opens the door to applications in higher-dimensional tiling theory and raises new questions on how the abelian condition may be relaxed.

You will collaborate closely with PhD students and postdocs at TU Delft and Leiden University who are working on other aspects of m-manifolds and dynamics. You will join the Applied Probability group at TU Delft, an active research environment spanning a wide variety of pure and applied topics.

The supervision team consists of Robbert Fokkink (TU Delft) and Olga Lukina (Leiden University). This PhD position is part of the NWO project 3-FOLDS, led by Olga Lukina (Leiden University).

Job requirements

• An MSc degree in Mathematics or Theoretical Physics.
• Strong proficiency in English, both spoken and written.
• Mathematical maturity. The ability to learn advanced material, and engage in creative problem solving.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) brings together three scientific disciplines. Combined, they reinforce each other and are the driving force behind the technology we all use in our daily lives. Technology such as the electricity grid, which our faculty is helping to make completely sustainable and future-proof. At the same time, we are developing the chips and sensors of the future, whilst also setting the foundations for the software technologies to run on this new generation of equipment – which of course includes AI. Meanwhile we are pushing the limits of applied mathematics, for example mapping out disease processes using single cell data, and using mathematics to simulate gigantic ash plumes after a volcanic eruption. In other words: there is plenty of room at the faculty for ground-breaking research. We educate innovative engineers and have excellent labs and facilities that underline our strong international position. In total, more than 1000 employees and 4,000 students work and study in this innovative environment.

Conditions of employment

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1.5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2.5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from €3059 - €3881 gross per month, from the first year to the fourth year based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.

As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

Additional information

If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact Robbert Fokkink, via r.j.fokkink@tudelft.nl.