PhD position: Analysis of inhomogeneous wave equations

Job requisition Id: 16781 Job type: PhD positions Contract hours min: 38 Contract hours max: 40 Location: Leiden Applying is possible until: 15 september 2026

Teaser Text

The Mathematical Institute of Leiden University and the Centre for Mathematical Sciences of Lund University have a position for a PhD candidate to join the project "Analysis of Inhomogeneous Wave Euqations" under the supervision of Gianne Derks (Leiden University) and Sara Maad Sasane (Lund University).

What we offer

Our goal is to work together to create a transparent and inclusive work environment in which everyone feels welcome and appreciated. Our organisations are always evolving and we need your ideas for improvement and innovation to take us further. We want to devote attention to your personal development. You can count on an enjoyable job within the socially relevant world of education and research. The University's challenging and international work environment is located just steps away from their lively city centre at both Leiden and Lund. We also want to work with you to devote attention to your health and vitality, for example with the fun activities we organise through Healthy University.

We also offer:

• An employment contract of initially one year. After a positive evaluation of the progress of the research, teaching evaluations, personal capabilities and compatibility, the appointment will be extended for another three years. Two further years will be in Lund, the final year will be in Leiden. In Leiden, the contract falls under the CLA of Dutch Universities;
• The gross salary ranges from € 3.059 per month in the first year to € 3.881 per month in the fourth year based on a full-time position (payscale P). The middle two years will be in Lund. The Lund gross salary ranges from SEK 35300 to SEK 38800 per months based on a full-time position;
• Additional funding is available to support travel to conferences and workshops abroad;
• Leiden and Lund Universities offers an attractive benefits package including pension build-up, paid parental leave and additional holiday bonuses. For more information, see our websites: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at/job-application-procedure-and-employment-conditions and https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/about-university/work-us/working-lund-university .

You will also be embedded in the Leiden University Graduate School of Science and PhD programme in Mathematics at Lund University .

What you will do

You are invited to apply for a 4-year PhD position leading to a two paired PhD diplomas of Leiden University and Lund University. You will start in Leiden, transfer after a year to Lund for two years, with a final year in Leiden. You will consider nonlinear wave equations with spatial inhomogeneities and use tools from dynamical systems and functional analysis to analyse the behaviour of travelling waves and other coherent waves. You will be joining a vibrant research environment. In Leiden the project is embedded in the Analysis and Dynamical Systems group and in Lund it is embedded in the Partial Differential Equations group . You will be able to participate in a range of local and national seminars. There is also funding to present your work at international conferences and workshops.

Where you will work

LEIDEN UNIVERSITY

The Faculty of Science is a world-class faculty where staff and students work together in a dynamic international environment. The research carried out at the Faculty of Science is very diverse, ranging from mathematics, information science, astronomy, physics, chemistry and bio-pharmaceutical sciences to biology and environmental sciences. We are located at the heart of Leiden’s Bio Science Park, one of Europe’s biggest science parks, where university and business life come together.

The Mathematical Institute (MI) is one of the eight institutes within the Faculty of Science and has a strong international orientation. The institute's mission is to push the boundaries of scientific knowledge by developing and applying high-quality mathematics while offering a wide range of mathematical programs in a friendly and intellectually stimulating environment. We believe that mathematics is a fundamental part of human knowledge, and we take pride in our role as guardians of this rich scientific discipline. We are dedicated to expanding the frontiers of mathematical knowledge and applying our expertise to solve challenges in other sciences, society, and industry. Additionally, we actively promote mathematical literacy through various outreach activities. The Mathematical Institute focuses on four key research themes: Algebra, Geometry, and Number Theory; Analysis and Dynamical Systems; Probability; and Statistics. There is extensive collaboration between these themes.

LUND UNIVERSITYLTH, Faculty of Engineering at Lund University, is Sweden’s third‑largest institution for higher technical education and research. Its doctoral education programme spans over more than 50 research areas, within engineering, but also within science, architecture and design, and involves close collaboration with innovative start-ups and international corporations. The Centre for Mathematical Sciences is shared between the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Science.

Research training and education at the Centre for Mathematical Sciences provides the opportunity for advanced studies in mathematics, mathematical statistics and its applications at the frontier of modern mathematics. You will belong to a division whose research is concerned with algebra, analysis and dynamical systems. Partial differential equations have a strong research tradition in Lund, and are basis for many different areas of application. One of the rapidly growing research areas is dynamical systems for study of general principles of evolution processes. Other areas of interest are harmonic analysis, operator theory, computer algebra, optimisation and complex analysis. Other key research themes at the department are mathematical statistics, applied mathematics, computer vision, numerical analysis and computing as well as probability and statistics.

What you bring

• Master’s degree in mathematics or equivalent, including a solid background in analysis, dynamical systems, and differential equations.
• Written and oral proficiency in English. What we value

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Promoting an inclusive community is central to the values and vision of both Leiden University and Lund University. We strive to be an open community in which all students and staff members feel valued and respected, and are able to fully develop themselves. We consider an inclusive academic environment, where students and staff can share their experiences and viewpoints, to be essential for the development of talent.

Want to apply or find out more?

If you want to apply, click the application button. Please ensure that your application contains the following documents only:

• CV
• A completed copy of the application form, submit this instead of the cover letter
• Transcripts of your Bachelor and Master studies to date If you would like more information about what the job entails, please contact Gianne Derks at g.l.a.derks@math.leidenuniv.nl or Sara Maad Sasane at sara.maad_sasane@math.lth.se. The project can be started in autumn/winter 2026, though there is flexibility in the starting date. Applications received before 15 September 2026 will be guaranteed full consideration.

Information at a Glance Faculty / Unit: The Faculty of Science Contact with (Name + position): Gianne Derks Contact Email address: g.l.a.derks@math.leidenuniv.nl