Category: News

The Faculty of Physics and Astronomy/The Institute of Theoretical Physics seeks to fill the position of a Research assistant in the field of gravitational-wave and numerical relativity (theory)
commencing on 01. October 2026
We offer a full-time position (40 hours per week).
As our new ‘research assistant you will investigates questions relating to gravitational waves from compact binaries, relativistic and multimessenger astrophysics, and numerical methods for Einstein equations and relativistic fluids.

Your responsibilities:

• Conducting research projects in the field of gravitational theory with reference to gravitational-wave modelling, relativistic astrophysics and numerical relativity
• Develop, coordinate, manage and publish research projects within the indicated field, including high-performance computing
• Co-supervising bachelor’s and master’s students
• Teaching in bachelor’s and master’s programs to the extent of 4 LVS

Your profile:

• An excellent PhD degree in physics with focus in gravitation theory, gravitational waves, numerical relativity and/or computational astrophysics
• Proven experience and track record in the areas of gravitational-wave theory/modeling, multi-messenger astrophysics with compact objects, and/or astrophysical computer simulations is desirable.
• Ability to work independently and organizational skills

We offer:

• Remuneration based on the provisions of the Collective Agreement for the Public Sector of the Federal States (TV-L) at salary scale E13 full-time — precise salary scale depending on the candidate’s personal qualifications—, including a special annual payment in accordance with the collective agreement
• 30 days of vacation per calendar year plus two days off on December 24 and 31
• An exciting, varied and interesting field of employment. Autonomous work at one of the largest employers in Thuringia
• A graduate academy for doctoral students
• A family-friendly working environment with a variety of offers for families: University Family Office ‘JUniFamilie’ and flexible childcare (‘JuniKinder)

The position is a fixed-term position initially limited for two years; an extension is possible up to five years.

Candidates with severe disabilities will be given preference in the case of equal qualifications and suitability.

Are you eager to work for us? Then apply by June 1, 2026 using our online form.

Please find here full details.

The University of Bremen is one of Germany's leading universities in terms of third-party funding and research. The Centre for Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM) is a scientific institute within the Faculty of Production Engineering – Mechanical and Process Engineering – at the University of Bremen. It is an internationally renowned research centre, widely visible thanks to its 150-metre-high drop tower. More than 100 scientists, engineers, technicians, administrative staff, and students collaborate in research areas such as fluid mechanics, space technology, and space sciences. 

Position Overview

As part of the Cluster of Excellence “Quantum Frontiers”, ZARM develops advanced tests of Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, addressing both astrophysical approaches and quantum-physical aspects. We collaborate with the Institute of Geodesy, Leibniz University Hannover (LUH), on research using Lunar Laser Ranging and the Institute of Quantum Optics, LUH, on experiments involving atom interferometry.

The successful candidate will join ZARM’s Gravitational Theory Group, focusing on theoretical investigations of astrophysical tests in strong gravity regimes and/or high-precision experiments on or near Earth. Closing Date: March 26th 2026.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct independent research within the third-party funded project “Testing General Relativity by Integrating Classical and Quantum Methods” as a postdoc
• Develop theoretical concepts for General Relativity tests and their implementation, as well as where necessary, related data analysis methodologies
• Collaborate closely with national and international project partners
• Document, publish, and present scientific results
• Actively participate in events and coordinated programs of the Excellence Cluster

Requirements

• A successfully completed academic degree (Master’s/university diploma) in physics or a comparable subject area
• A successfully completed PhD in physics or a comparable subject area
• Advanced knowledge of General Relativity
• Proficiency in English, both written and spoken
• Ability to collaborate across disciplines
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent teamwork and communication abilities
• Ability to work independently and manage time effectively

General Information

We Offer

• Annual special payment (“Christmas bonus”), regular collective pay increases, and supplementary public sector pension scheme (VBL)
• A secure, stimulating, and varied position in an open-minded, internationally oriented university
• 30 days paid annual leave
• A diverse, future-driven, and inclusive institutional culture
• Support from a friendly, motivated team with a positive working atmosphere
• Individual onboarding
• Opportunities for professional development and training
• Family-friendly working conditions, including flexible hours (flexitime) and the possibility of remote work (respecting the general conditions)
• Free social and family counseling services
• Workplace health promotion programs with access to discounted fitness, sports clubs, gyms, and swimming pools (EGYM Wellpass)
• The possibility of a job ticket for public transport
• Wide range of sports and cultural activities
• Varied on-campus dining options at the university canteens

Since its foundation 50 years ago, the University of Bremen has embraced unconventional approaches in teaching and research while maintaining short paths between people and ideas. With a broad spectrum of disciplines, we combine high academic performance with strong innovation potential. As an ambitious research university, we are committed to the concept of research-based learning and a strong focus on interdisciplinarity. We actively and collaboratively shape scientific partnerships worldwide.

Around 23,000 people learn, teach, research, and work on our international campus. In research and teaching, administration and operations, we are firmly committed to sustainability, climate justice, and climate neutrality. The “Bremer Spirit” is expressed in the courage to try new things, in a supportive working culture, and in mutual respect and appreciation. With our profile in studies and research and as part of the European YUFE network, we take on social responsibility in the region, in Europe, and globally.

The University is family-friendly, diverse, and sees itself as an international institution. We therefore welcome all applications regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic or social background, religion/belief, disability, age, sexual orientation, or identity.

The University of Bremen intends to increase the proportion of female employees in science, and women are expressly encouraged to apply. Women with equal qualifications will be given priority, unless reasons relating to a male competitor prevail.

Applicants with severe disabilities will be given preference in cases of essentially equal professional and personal suitability.

For general questions about the recruitment process and for questions about the advertised position, please contact:

Dr. Eva Hackmann via email: eva.hackmann(at)zarm.uni-bremen.de

Please send your complete and informative application (cover letter, CV, certificates, proof of qualifications, list of publications, and two contacts for reference letters), quoting the reference number A010-26 by 26.03.2026 as a single PDF file via unencrypted email to

eva.hackmann(at)zarm.uni-bremen.de

or by mail to:

Zentrum für angewandte Raumfahrttechnologie und Mikrogravitation (ZARM)
Universität Bremen
Direktionsbüro
Am Fallturm
28359 Bremen

Please find here details.

The research engineer will participate in the design, prototyping, development, and deployment of software and digital infrastructures for large-scale galaxy catalogues and community-driven data platforms, in the context of gravitational-wave cosmology. The position is part of the OSCARS-funded project UpGLADE: community-driven open-data infrastructure for gravitational-wave cosmology, whose goal is to deliver the largest open-access all-sky galaxy catalogue. Application deadline: March 3rd 2026.

Placed under the scientific responsibility of Gergely Dálya, Principal Investigator (PI) of the project (moving to the Eötvös University of Budapest), and Nicola Tamanini, co-PI at the L2IT, the recruited person will work in close collaboration with astrophysicists and cosmologists involved in gravitational-wave and multi-messenger astronomy, while focusing primarily on software engineering, data infrastructure, and platform development rather than on scientific analysis itself. The research engineer will interact regularly with international partners and infrastructure providers involved in the OSCARS, EOSC, and ESCAPE ecosystems.

The following documents must be submitted to the CNRS Job Portal:

• CV
• Cover letter including a summary of previous work experience (max 2 pages)

Candidates selected for an interview will be asked to provide at least 2 letters of recommendation by email.
Activity

• Design, implement, and maintain scalable software solutions for the ingestion, validation, versioning, and dissemination of large astronomical catalogues;
• Develop and maintain database backends and high-performance querying solutions (e.g. spatial and redshift-based queries) for the UpGLADE catalogue;
• Design and implement programmatic access to the data through APIs and interoperable services, in compliance with FAIR and EOSC principles;
• Contribute to the upgrade of the GLADEnet platform into a community-driven system, including secure data submission workflows, provenance tracking, and validation pipelines;
• Report on progress, participate in project meetings and international collaborations, and present technical developments when appropriate;
• Produce and maintain technical documentation and user-oriented documentation to ensure long-term usability and sustainability of the developed infrastructure.
  Your Profil
  Skills

Required skills

• Proven experience in software engineering for data-intensive applications, including needs analysis, prototyping, and evaluation of technical solutions;
• Proven expertise in Python for scientific or data-oriented software development;
• Proven experience with relational databases and data modelling (e.g. PostgreSQL), including query optimisation and handling of large datasets;
• Proven knowledge of quality assurance practices: methods, tools, standards, and procedures applied to software and data products;
• Proven experience with version control systems (e.g. Git) and collaborative development workflows;
• Ability to write clear technical documentation and technical reports in English;
• Mastery of technical English: C1 level within the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Preferred skills

• Experience in developing backend services and APIs (e.g. RESTful or GraphQL services);
• Experience developing applications targeting scalable, load-balancing and/or fault-tolerant deployment infrastructures (e.g. kubernetes cluster);
• Experience with astronomical or geospatial data, including catalogue-based data or sky-coordinate systems;
• Familiarity with FAIR data principles, open science practices, or EOSC-related infrastructures;
• Experience working in an international research environment or large collaborative projects;
• Knowledge of Virtual Observatory standards or tools (e.g. TAP, VOTable, TOPCAT, Aladin);
• Ability to provide technical support, guidance, and advice to scientific users.
  Your Work Environment

The Laboratoire des 2 Infinis – Toulouse (L2IT) is a young and dynamic laboratory created in 2020 to conduct fundamental research with new numerical and theoretical approaches for data analysis. The laboratory’s research is concentrated on particle physics, gravitational waves, and the equation of state of nuclear matter, and relies on a complementary development of analysis methodologies and data science led by the “Calculation, Algorithms, and Data” (CAD) team. The “Gravitational Waves” (GW) team of L2IT conducts research on theoretical and experimental aspects of gravitational wave science, with a particular focus on the exploitation of new approaches linking theory to observations through data analysis and numerical simulations. The “GW” team is part of the LISA consortium, the Virgo collaboration, and the Einstein Telescope Consortium.

The core objective of the project is to transform the UpGLADE galaxy catalogue into a stable, publicly available, and FAIR-compliant infrastructure, and to upgrade the existing GLADEnet web tool into a participatory platform allowing astronomers to contribute new observations and improvements to galaxy data. These developments support key scientific goals in gravitational-wave cosmology, including precise measurements of the Hubble constant using standard sirens, and benefit a broad community ranging from large international collaborations to individual researchers and citizen scientists.

The research engineer will collaborate closely with astrophysicists, cosmologists, and infrastructure partners, but will not be expected to carry out independent scientific research or cosmological inference. The emphasis of the position is on software quality, scalability, interoperability, and long-term sustainability of the developed tools and services. The work will involve interaction with computing centres and infrastructure providers hosting the services, as well as coordination with international partners contributing to the catalogue and platform, located in Budapest, Glasgow, Perugia, and Warwick.

Please find here full details.

The Laboratory of Theoretical Physics in Toulouse has an opening for a two-year postdoctoral position in the field of one-dimensional quantum many-body systems.

The starting date is flexible (latest January 2027). To apply, please send your curriculum vitae, a brief research statement, and arrange for two letters of recommendation to be sent to Aleksandra Petković (petkovic(at)irsamc.ups-tlse.fr). Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Please find here details.