Category: News

We invite applications for PhD positions in gravitational physics at the School of Mathematical Sciences of the University of Nottingham. We are seeking applicants in several areas of research listed below, with one scholarship reserved for AI for gravitational waves. Application deadline: December 20th, 2025.

Potential supervisors include Dr Miguel Bezares (numerical relativity), Dr Stephen Green (black holes, AI for gravitational waves), Prof Kirill Krasnov (mathematical relativity, differential geometry), Prof Jorma Louko (black holes and quantum field theory), Dr Laura Sberna (gravitational waves including astrophysics, black holes), and Prof Thomas Sotiriou (gravitational waves, black holes, and alternative theories). A complete list of projects is available at https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/Mathematics/Study/Research/PhD-research-opportunities/PhD-research-projects.aspx.

Successful applicants will also join the Nottingham Centre of Gravity (NCoG), which unites gravitational physics expertise across the School of Mathematical Sciences and the School of Physics and Astronomy. The Centre comprises 17 permanent staff, as well as typically 7-8 postdocs and 25 students. Staff are active members of the LIGO, LISA, and ET collaborations, providing ample opportunities for international collaboration and impact.

For more information and to apply, see https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/pgstudy/course/research/mathematics-phd. Please apply by 20 December for full consideration.

The Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute, AEI) in Potsdam, Germany, announces the opening of several PhD positions at the IMPRS “Gravity at the Extreme: from Theory to Observation”. We are particularly interested in hiring creative, proactive and motivated candidates who flourish at working in a vibrant, interdisciplinary and synergistic group. Successful candidates will join one of the scientific departments at the AEI in Potsdam, either the “Astrophysical and Cosmological Relativity” (ACR) or the “Computational Relativistic Astrophysics” (CRA) department. 

The International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) is comprised of the scientific departments and groups of the AEI at its locations in Potsdam and Hannover, the University of Potsdam (UP), the Humboldt University (HU) in Berlin, and the Leibniz University in Hannover (LUH). Our graduate students are exposed to a variety of research topics and have access to a world-wide research network, including international partner universities (University of Maryland and the Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics at Kyoto University). Our graduate students also have the opportunity to join the LIGO Scientific Collaboration and the LISA Consortium through the ACR-division’s membership, and the Einstein Telescope Collaboration through the AEI-UP membership. For an overview of the IMPRS, its research groups, and the application procedure, please visit the IMPRS website.

The ACR and CRA research divisions at the AEI in Potsdam operate three high-performance compute clusters to model gravitational-wave sources (binary black holes, neutron star binaries, and stellar collapse of massive stars), electromagnetic counterparts of gravitational waves, high-energy astrophysical phenomena, and to carry out waveform development, and data analysis of gravitational waves observed by LIGO and Virgo detectors.

Research Topics and research environment:
PhD theses can cover a broad spectrum of topics in gravitational-wave astronomy, high-energy astrophysics and fundamental physics, such as: 

• analytical modeling of gravitational dynamics and radiation (within post-Newtonian theory, post-Minkowskian theory, gravitational self-force, black-hole perturbation theory, and effective-one-body theory),
• numerical-relativity, most notably simulations of compact objects in general relativity and alternatives,
• interpretation and analysis of data from gravitational-wave detectors on the ground (LIGO, Virgo and KAGRA),
• development of pipelines and data-analysis methods for future detectors in space (LISA) and on the ground (Einstein Telescope),
• acceleration techniques for gravitational-wave inference, including machine learning,
• cosmography with gravitational waves (including dark energy, dark matter, gravitational lensing),
• tests of gravity in the strong-field and highly dynamical regime
• modelling neutron star mergers as high-energy phenomena,
• modelling electromagnetic counterparts of gravitational waves,
• exploring neutron-star equation of state,
• exploring nucleosynthesis,
• stellar collapse to a black hole and a neutron star, and
• modelling gamma-ray bursts.

Successful applicants will conduct their research projects at the AEI in Potsdam, and they will have to enrol and receive their PhD degree from either the University of Potsdam or the Humboldt University in Berlin. The expected duration of the PhD program is three to four years. Applicants are required to have a Master degree by the start of the PhD program.

We offer:

• A vibrant research environment with access to a world-class research facilities and cutting-edge research projects
• A structured English-language graduate program
• Fully funded positions, no tuition fees, and additional funding for conferences and professional development, more info on financial aspects, see here.
• Individual supervision and mentoring by research scientists who are leaders in their respective fields
• An excellent working environment with various on-campus support (computing facilities, PhD representatives, language courses, residence permit and visa support, children’s day care, etc.), located just 30 minutes from the city center of Berlin

Application Process:
In order to apply, please fill in this form.

You will be asked to upload a cover letter, curriculum vitae, university transcripts, a statement of research interests (no more than three pages), a list of publications (if applicable), and your Master thesis (if applicable). The statement of research interests should describe the student’s past research experience, future research interests and how they relate to the IMPRS’s scientific mission.

Applicants also need to indicate the names of three referees for recommendation letters. Referees will be notified by email on how to upload the letters. More information on the preparation of the documents can be found in the IMPRS’ FAQ section.

Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. The deadline for full consideration is December 19th, 2025.

Please find here full details.

Multiple funded PhD positions are available at the UMass Dartmouth and University of Rhode Island gravity research group. 
We seek candidates for multiple, fully-funded PhD positions at UMass Dartmouth and the University of Rhode Island in the broad area of gravitational-wave science. 

Gravitational physics researchers at both universities have recently established the UMass-URI Gravity Research Consortium (U2GRC) — a joint gravity research group. Several new researchers have been hired by both universities, including Drs. Aidan Chatwin-Davies (URI), Sarah Caudill (UMassD), Derek Davis (URI), Deborah Ferguson (URI), Michael Puerrer (URI) and Vijay Varma (UMassD). This is in addition to others who were already present, i.e. Drs. Rob Coyne (URI), Scott Field (UMassD), Bob Fisher (UMassD), Doug Gobeille (URI), and Gaurav Khanna (URI/UMassD). Most are members of the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Collaboration, LISA Consortium and the SXS Collaboration. U2GRC currently has over 20 PhD students working on various different aspects of gravitational-wave science. The group has Zoom meetings twice a week and meets in person monthly. Course exchange agreements have been formalized between the two universities to make it seamless for U2GRC students to take classes being offered at either campus. Additional agreements underway include joint student advising, collaborative grant funding, and extensive computational resource sharing.

We are particularly interested in applicants interested in working in these specific research areas: gravitational-wave data analysis and detector characterization, data driven surrogate models, numerical relativity, black hole perturbation theory, and quantum information / gravity. Please apply by February 1st, 2026 for best chances of receiving funding.

Please reach out with any questions to Drs. Scott Field (UMass Dartmouth) and Gaurav Khanna (URI) by emailing u2grc-faculty(at)googlegroups.com. Candidates are welcome to apply to either or both universities, but may wish to consult Drs. Field and Khanna first on the best match for their interests and goals. To find out more about the PhD programs at both universities: UMass Dartmouth Interdisciplinary PhD (Computational Science option) and URI Physics PhD Program.

Please find here details.