The Department of Mathematics of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam welcomes applications for a fully-funded, 4-year PhD position in computional modelling of synthetic living systems within the Amsterdam Center for Dynamics and Computation.

The project aims to generate a synthetic living system that features multiple functions of life by modelling the emergence of metabolism and compartmentalization using a simple out-of-equilibrium peptide-based self-replicating system as a starting point. This position is part of the PRELIFE consortium.

We are looking for a candidate with a master’s degree in (applied) mathematics, (bio)physics, (bio)chemistry, biomedical / life-sciences or a related field with a strong interest in computational modelling. The project will entail programming (scripting, Python etc.), solving coupled differential equations and carrying out molecular dynamics simulations on high-performance super-computers.

You will be supervised by Bob Planqué (VU) and Patrick Onck (RUG). The first two years you will work in Groningen; the second two years in Amsterdam.