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University of Zurich

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Three PhD Positions in Computational Astrophysics at the University of Zurich University of Zurich in Switzerland

Degree Level

PhD

Field of study

Computer Science

Funding

The positions are funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation project "Euclid Science in Switzerland" for up to four years.

Deadline

Nov 8, 2026

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Country

Switzerland

University

University of Zurich

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Keywords

Computer Science
Mathematics
Astronomy
Astrophysics
Cosmology
Dark Matter
High Performance Computing
Dark Energy
Galaxy Clusters
Statistics
Physics
ML

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About this position

The Department of Astrophysics at the University of Zurich is inviting applications for three PhD positions in computational astrophysics. The project is part of the Swiss National Science Foundation initiative Euclid Science in Switzerland and focuses on cutting-edge research connected to ESA’s Euclid space telescope.

Successful candidates will work on one of three closely related research directions: Flagship simulations with the PKDGRAV3 N-body code on GPU-accelerated supercomputers; Euclid emulators using machine learning to predict cosmological statistics; or baryonification and multi-probe cosmology to model how gas and stars affect matter distribution and to generate synthetic sky maps for weak lensing, galaxy clustering, X-ray, and Sunyaev–Zel'dovich analyses.

The positions sit at the intersection of physics, astronomy, computer science, mathematics, and statistics, with strong emphasis on high-performance computing, numerical astrophysics, and machine learning. The successful candidates will join the international Euclid Consortium and collaborate with partners at ETH Zurich, EPFL, FHNW, and the University of Geneva.

Applicants should have a master’s degree (or equivalent) in physics, astronomy, or a related field by the start date. Programming experience is an advantage, and interest in HPC, ML, or numerical astrophysics is especially welcome. Standardized test scores and English proficiency tests are optional.

The positions are funded for up to four years. Start of employment is from 1 January 2027. Applications received by 8 November 2026 will be considered for that start date; later applications may still be reviewed until all positions are filled.

Apply via the Apply Now button on the job page and include a CV, letter of intent, transcripts, thesis draft, and referee contacts.

Funding details

The positions are funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation project "Euclid Science in Switzerland" for up to four years.

What's required

Applicants must hold a master's degree or equivalent in physics, astronomy, or a related field by the starting date. Strong interest in high-performance computing, machine learning, or numerical astrophysics is especially encouraged, and programming experience is an asset. Applicants should provide a CV, a letter of intent indicating preferred research area, undergraduate and master's transcripts, the master's thesis or a current draft, and contact details for at least three academic referees. Standardized test scores and English proficiency tests are optional.

How to apply

Submit the application via the Apply Now button on the job page. Include the requested documents and preferred research area in the letter of intent. Applications received by 2026-11-08 will be considered for the 1 January 2027 start; later applications may be reviewed until the positions are filled.

More information can be found here

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