Fully Funded PhD in Cosmic-Ray Physics at the University of Amsterdam 2026

The University of Amsterdam and Nikhef, the Dutch National Institute for Subatomic Physics, are accepting applications for a fully funded PhD researcher position in cosmic-ray physics. The position is part of the international KM3NeT programme, which focuses on neutrino research, particle physics, and astroparticle physics.

The selected researcher will use data collected by the KM3NeT neutrino detector, located deep in the Mediterranean Sea, to study muons produced by cosmic-ray air showers. The project will involve developing new data-analysis algorithms, including both conventional methods and machine-learning techniques, to investigate cosmic-ray composition, high-energy hadronic interaction models, and contribute to solving the so-called “muon puzzle.”

This opportunity is among the funded PhD programmes in the Netherlands offered through a formal university employment contract. The successful candidate will receive a monthly salary and employment benefits throughout the programme. The research will conclude with the preparation and successful defence of a doctoral thesis leading to a PhD degree.

• A fully funded PhD contract with a total duration of up to four years.
• An initial 18-month contract, renewable following a positive performance evaluation.
• A gross monthly salary ranging from €3,204 to €4,051.
• An 8% holiday allowance.
• An 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
• Potential eligibility for the Dutch 30% tax ruling for qualified international applicants.
• A full-time workload of 38 hours per week.
• Access to advanced computing resources and daily research supervision.
• Participation in an extensive international research collaboration.
• Opportunities to attend international courses, meetings, and conferences.
• Award of a PhD degree upon the successful completion and defence of the doctoral thesis.

Applicants must:

• Hold a master’s degree in physics before the position begins.
• Demonstrate a strong interest in astroparticle physics and cosmic-ray research.
• Possess good programming skills.
• Be capable of conducting independent research and working effectively within a large international team.
• Have excellent spoken and written English.
• Experience in particle physics or cosmic-ray data analysis is considered an advantage.
• Knowledge of machine learning is beneficial but not essential.

Required Documents

• A detailed CV specifying the starting and ending months of all study programmes and professional positions.
• A motivation letter.
• A list of scientific publications, if applicable.
• The names and email addresses of two referees who can provide letters of recommendation.