PhD Student in Statistical Physics with focus on active matter

The Department of Physics at the University of Gothenburg is located in the center of Gothenburg, with approximately 100 employees. The communication routes are good both nationally and internationally. The research focuses within the fields of Atom- and Molecular Physics, Condensed Matter Physics and Spintronics, and Complex Systems and Biophysics and is performed in an international environment with extensive national and international collaborations. The education programs at the Department include Bachelor- and Master programs in Physics, physics teacher-training programs, as well as outreach courses in Physics aimed for the general public. Gothenburg Physics Centre is a close collaboration with three other departments within the Faculty of Science and Chalmers University of Technology, which creates an innovative environment for all researchers and students at the department.For further information about the Department of Physics, please visit our website at www.physics.gu.se/english. More information about Gothenburg Physics Centre can be found at www.chalmers.se/en/centres/gpc/Pages/default.aspx. 

Our research is in the area of statistical physics. The present project concerns how microswimmers navigate turbulent environments. The swimming behavior of plankton is key when predicting future changes in aquatic food chains due to environmental changes, as well as in applications of aquaculture, toxic algal blooms, and bioreactors. Efficient navigation strategies are also important for engineered microswimmers. 

Job assignments 

You will develop and simulate models of microswimmers in turbulent environments. You will use reinforcement learning and analytical approaches to search for efficient navigation strategies. Regarding the turbulent environment, you may use turbulent flow data obtained in collaboration with other research groups, as well as numerical simulations using idealized model flows. To validate the models and/or strategies, you may analyze experimental data obtained by our collaborators, tracking plankton in the laboratory. 

Being a PhD is a 4 year full-time studies and leads to a Doctoral Degree. Those who are employed as doctoral students must primarily devote themselves to their doctoral education. However, a doctoral student may to a limited extent work with education, research and administration. Such work may, before the doctoral degree is completed, not cover more than 20 % of full-time work.  

Eligibility 

To be eligible for third-cycle studies, the applicant must meet both the general and specific entry requirements. A person meets the general entry requirements for third-cycle courses and study programs if he or she: 
1. has been awarded a second-cycle qualification,  
2. has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle, or 
3. has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad. 

To meet the specific entry requirements for third-cycle studies, applicants must: (i) have a second-cycle (advanced-level) degree in a relevant* subject area in the natural sciences, or (ii) have completed studies for at least 60 higher education credits at a second-cycle level in relevant subject areas in the natural sciences, or (iii) have completed a corresponding programme of relevance to the planned third-cycle programme, in Sweden or in another country, or have equivalent qualifications. 

The specific entry requirements also include an acceptable command of spoken and written English. Guidelines for assessing English proficiency may include a minimum score of 550 on the TOEFL test (or 213 on the TOEFL-CBT, or 79 on the TOEFL-iBT). 

Assessment 

The primary criteria in the assessment of suitable candidates are qualifications from bachelor and master studies, including relevant courses and the quality of the master’s thesis, as well as the anticipated ability of the candidate to benefit from research studies. 

Employment 

A new employment as a PhD student applies for a maximum of one year. The employment may be prolonged for up to two years at a time. The total employment period may not be longer than the equivalent of four years of full-time doctoral studies. 

Type of employment: Fixed-term employment, 4 years full time 
Extent: 100 % 
Location: Department of Physics, Gothenburg 
First day of employment: September 1 2024, or by agreement 

University applies a local salary agreement of graduate students. 

Appointment procedure 

Please apply online. The application shall include: 

- Cover letter with an explanation of why you apply for the position 
- CV including scientific publications 
- Copy of exam certificate  
- Two referees (name, telephone number, relation) 

For further information regarding the position 

Kristian Gustavsson, Senior Lecturer, +46 70 050 2211, kristian.gustafsson@physics.gu.se 

Unions 

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg: http://www.gu.se/english/about_the_university/job-opportunities/union-representatives 

How to apply 

In order to apply for a position at the University of Gothenburg, you have to register an account in our online recruitment system. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline. The selection of candidates is made based of the qualifications registered in the application. 

The application deadline is: 2024-05-03. 

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations. Salaries are set individually at the University. In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden’s regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed. In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.