PhD Scholarship at Leiden Observatory, Netherlands

Deadline: 17 December 2010
Open to: holders of a MSc degree (or equivalent)
Scholarship: from EUR 28,000 in year 1 to about EUR 36,000 in year 4

Leiden Observatory (Sterrewacht Leiden), founded in 1633, is the oldest university astronomy department in the world with a distinguished history. The work  of famous astronomers such as De Sitter, Hertzsprung, Oort, Blaauw, and lorry de Hulst made Leiden an internationally renowned middle of astronomical research.

Positions are available in all the research areas in which the Observatory is active. This includes cosmology, galaxy formation and evolution, interstellar matter and star formation, stars and planetary systems, computational astrophysics, high energy astrophysics, laboratory astrophysics, astrochemistry, and instrumentation. The beginning dates are negotiable.

The four-year PhD program consists mostly of research under the supervision of the advisor(s). The course work consists of the yearly NOVA fall school (1 week), and attendance of summer/winter schools. Students are expected to participate actively in scientific meetings.

During their thesis, Leiden PhD students are paid as civil servants, which means that they earn competitive salaries (the current gross salary, including allowances, increases from about EUR 28,000 in year 1 to about EUR 36,000 in year 4) and are eligible for both social security and retirement benefits. PhD positions are funded for four years. At the end of the four-year period, the student submits a PhD thesis, which is ceremoniously defended in the historical Academy building.

Application

Applications are accepted only through our online application site.
The deadline for applications and all letters of recommendation is December 17, 2010

Applicants should provide the following:

* cover letter with a brief statement of research interests and a description of past research experience
* up-to-date curriculum vitae
* list of university courses taken and transcripts of grades obtained
* contact information for at least two referees

In addition we would like to encourage outstanding candidates to also think about applying for a Leiden/Huygens Fellowship. Note the earlier deadline of December 1st and the fact that the procedure for applying is separate from our general call.

The official webpage.

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