########################################### Table of Contents ########################################### 1. Conferences 1.1. Quantum Gravity 2020, Waterloo, Canada 1.2. Quantum Information in Quantum Gravity 6, Geneva, Switzerland 1.3. 10th Iberian Gravitational Waves Meeting, Valencia, Spain 1.4. X International Meeting on Lorentzian Geometry, Cordoba, Spain 1.5. 9th Gulf Coast Gravity Meeting, Oxford, MS, USA 1.6. 43rd COSPAR Scientific Assembly - Scientific Event H0.5 - Fundamental Physics in Space Applications 1.7. School on Quantum Photonics: Principles and Applications, Gebze, Turkey 1.8. Spanish Portuguese Relativity Meeting 2020 (EREP2020), Aveiro, Portugal 1.9. 19th Conference on Recent Developments in Gravity, Athens, Greece (2nd announcement) 1.10. The Fourth Zeldovich meeting, Minsk, Belarus (3nd announcement) 1.11. Sixth International Conference on the Nature and Ontology of Spacetime, Albena, Bulgaria 2. Jobs 2.1. PhD and Master's in Physics at Center for Gravitation and Cosmology, Yangzhou, China 2.2. Postdoctoral researcher in neutron star astrophysics, Amsterdam, Netherlands 2.3. Postdoctoral Fellowship in cosmology and FRBs, Cape Town, South Africa 2.4. Postdoctoral Fellowship in gravity and gravitational waves, Cape Town, South Africa 2.5. Two postdocs in theoretical cosmology at QMUL, Londom, UK 2.6. PhD position in Gravitational Wave Science, Leuven/Brussels, Belgium 2.7. Postdoctoral position in neutron star physics, Warsaw, Poland 2.8. PhD position in Loop Quantum Gravity, London, Canada 2.9. Ph.D. Position in Theoretical Astrophysics at Perimeter Institute and the University of Guelph, Waterloo, Canada 2.10. Postdoctoral position in approaches to modified gravity, Nottingham, UK 2.11. MSc in Astrophysics and Relativity at Dublin City University, Ireland 2.12. PhD position in quantum cosmology and quantum gravity, Sheffield, UK 3. News 3.1. Invitation to host Texas��Symposium on Relativistic Astrophysics in 2023 3.2. GRG welcomes new Editor-in-Chief Mairi Sakellariadou 3.3. GRG Golden Oldies by Ehlers and Schroedinger 3.4. SageMath 9.0 is out 3.5. Passing of Frank Estabrook 3.6. Call for papers on relativistic mass ============================================== 1. Conferences ============================================== 1.1. Quantum Gravity 2020, Waterloo, Canada --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=16838 Starting: 2020-07-13 to 2020-07-17 Location: Waterloo, Canada Additional Information: https://www.perimeterinstitute.ca/conferences/quantum-gravity-2020 Contact: eichhorn[AT]cp3.sdu.dk The conference "Quantum Gravity 2020" has a deliberately broad scope. We aim to include participants from all current approaches to quantum gravity, as well as researchers working on the phenomenology of quantum gravity. The main goal of the meeting is to assess the progress made and to constructively and openly discuss open questions in our understanding of quantum gravity. A second goal is to work towards combining the insights gained in the various approaches. In its overall goal as well as the format, this conference will differ from more specialized meetings that focus on specific quantum-gravity approaches. We hope that this inaugural conference "Quantum Gravity" can make a contribution to bridging the gaps between quantum gravity approaches, and bring the entire community together for a constructive and fruitful exchange. Registration for the conference is now open on the conference webpage. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.2. Quantum Information in Quantum Gravity 6, Geneva, Switzerland --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=16847 Starting: 2020-05-25 to 2020-05-29 Location: CERN, Geneva, Switzerland Additional Information: https://indico.cern.ch/event/874979/ Contact: a.belin[AT]cern.ch Insights from quantum information theory have played a tremendous role in understanding the emergence of spacetime in holography and quantum gravity. The aim of this workshop is to develop the interplay between these different fields in order to deepen our understanding of quantum gravity. This event will the 6th instalment of "Quantum Information in Quantum Gravity", which is a series of conferences centered around this pluri-disciplinary effort with previous editions being held in Vancouver, Perimeter, Vancouver, Florence, Davis. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.3. 10th Iberian Gravitational Waves Meeting, Valencia, Spain --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=16863 Starting: 2020-05-27 to 2020-05-29 Location: Valencia, Spain Additional Information: https://www.uv.es/igwm2020 Contact: igwm2020[AT]uv.es The IGWM is an international conference set up yearly since 2011 by different groups around the Iberian Peninsula with interests in Gravitational Waves. In 2020 it will take place in Valencia, Spain, organised by the Astronomy and Astrophysics Department (DAA) and the Mathematics Department (DM) of the University of Valencia. The goal of this series of meetings is to bring together researchers working in Gravitational Waves with the aim at promoting collaboration and synergies among them. It also serves as a way of keeping track of recent advances in the Iberian gravitational wave community. The meeting covers all aspects of gravitational waves, including theory, data analysis, experiments and multimessenger astronomy. Invited Speakers: Josefa Becerra, Instituto Astrofisico de Canarias. Vitor Cardoso, CENTRA/IST, Lisboa. Elena Cuoco, EGO, Pisa. Daniel Garcia Figueroa, IFIC-CSIC/UV, Valencia. Nikolaos Karnesis, APC-Universite Paris Diderot. Paola Leaci, Sapiencia University, Roma. Maria Angeles Perez Garcia, Universidad de Salamanca. Michele Punturo, INFN-Perugia (TBC). Nikolaos Stergioulas, University of Thessaloniki. Scientific committee: Mar Bastero Gil, Marie-Anne Bizouard, Marica Branchesi, Thomas Dent, Jose Antonio Font, Tanja Hinderer, Mario Martinez, Alicia Sintes, Carlos Sopuerta. Local organising committee: Isabel Cordero-Carrion, Jose Antonio Font, Pablo Cerda-Duran +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.4. X International Meeting on Lorentzian Geometry, Cordoba, Spain --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=16870 Starting: 2020-06-02 to 2020-06-05 Location: Cordoba, Spain Additional Information: http://www.uco.es/gelocor/ Contact: infogeom[AT]uco.es In 2001, researchers from several universities with a common interest on Lorentz Geometry met on Benalmadena in what was called "Meeting on Lorentzian Geometry". After this first and successful meeting, the organizers decided to make this one the first of a biennial series of conferences devoted to present and discuss the last advances on Lorentzian Geometry. Since then, what ended up being called "International Meeting on Lorentzian Geometry" has grown at an impressive pace. Currently, nine meetings have been held: Murcia 2003, Castelldefels 2005, Santiago de Compostela 2007, Martina Franca 2009 (Italy), Granada 2011, Sao Paulo 2013 (Brazil), Malaga 2016 and Warsaw 2018 (Poland). The Department of Mathematics of the University of Cordoba has the pleasure to organize in 2020 the X International Meeting on Lorentzian Geometry (GeLoCor) in an enclave with as much history as the city of Cordoba is. Looking forward to see you in Cordoba in June 2020 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.5. 9th Gulf Coast Gravity Meeting, Oxford, MS, USA --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2020/01/22/9th-gulf-coast-gravity-meetin... Starting: 2020-03-13 to 2020-03-14 Location: Oxford, MS, USA Additional Information: https://www.phy.olemiss.edu/gcgm9/ Contact: gcgm9[AT]phy.olemiss.edu This is the second announcement of the 9th Gulf Coast Gravity Meeting. The GCGM will be held at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, MS, on March 13 and 14, 2020. In keeping with its tradition, this will be an open, relaxed, and informal conference. We are inviting researchers and students interested in all areas of gravitational physics: classical and quantum gravity, general relativistic astrophysics and cosmology, quantum cosmology, gravitational waves, and experimental gravity. Because this is a regional meeting, many attendees will be from the southeastern United States, but all are welcome. Talks Following the usual tradition all participants, and especially postdocs and graduate students, are encouraged to contribute short, introductory talks on their current research, with the aim of fostering communication and understanding among gravitational physicists with different backgrounds. A prize (sponsored by the APS Division of Gravitational Physics) will be awarded for the best talk given by a student at the meeting. Deadlines Prospective speakers should register by February 14 to receive full consideration. Late applicants will be considered at the discretion of the organizers. A block of rooms has been reserved at the Inn at Ole Miss. Reserve your room by February 11 to receive a reduced rate. See the website for details: https://www.phy.olemiss.edu/gcgm9/. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.6. 43rd COSPAR Scientific Assembly - Scientific Event H0.5 - Fundamental Physics in Space Applications --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2020/01/24/43rd-cospar-scientific-assemb... Starting: 2020-08-15 to 2020-07-22 Location: Sydney, Australia Additional Information: https://www.cospar-assembly.org/admin/session_cospar.php?session=945 Contact: roberto.peron[AT]inaf.it Scientific Event H0.5 - Fundamental Physics in Space - Applications (Geodesy, Metrology, Navigation, and Others) Main Scientific Organizer: Juergen Mueller Deputy Organizer: Roberto Peron Dear colleague, the 43rd Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) Scientific Assembly will be held on 15 - 22 August 2020, in Sydney, Australia. As scientific organizers of the COSPAR session H0.5 "Applications (Geodesy, Metrology, Navigation, and Others)" and acknowledging your expertise in the related scientific fields, we would like to cordially invite you to submit an abstract for /a solicited talk in/ session H0.5. Event Description: In this Event, we will discuss new sensor measurement and mission concepts that apply advanced techniques for the study of the gravitational field on ground and in space. Terrestrial gravity anomalies will be determined by observing free-falling atoms (quantum gravimetry) instead of using falling corner cubes. This will open the door for a vast bundle of applications such as fast local gravimetric surveys and exploration, and the observation of Earth system processes with high spatial and temporal resolution. This technique can also be applied for future gradiometric measurements in space. Other concepts are approaching a frontier that can be termed as "Relativistic Metrology": the precise measurement of quantities (e.g., length and time) related to spacetime dynamics. Frequency comparisons of highly precise optical clocks connected by optical links give access to differences of the gravity potential (relativistic geodesy). In future, relativistic geodesy with clocks might be applied for defining and realizing height systems in a new way, locally as well as globally. Moreover, accurate clocks help to improve the accuracy of the International Atomic Time standard TAI. They are important for all space geodetic techniques as well as for the realization of reference systems and their connections. One example of increasing importance is positioning and navigation with GNSS for terrestrial and space applications. In addition, laser interferometry between test masses in space with nanometer accuracy - which has been recently implemented in the GRACE-FO mission - belongs to these novel concepts. For the latter, technology developed for gravitational wave detection and successfully tested in the LISA Pathfinder mission is being prepared for geodetic measurements. In the future even more refined concepts (tracking a swarm of satellites) will be implemented. We invite presentations to illustrate the principles and state of the art of these novel techniques and the application of the new methods for terrestrial and satellite geodesy (where local and global mass variations and surface deformations will be observed with unforeseen accuracy and resolution, variations that reflect changes in the Earth system), navigation and fundamental physics. We also welcome papers for further applications and invite contributions covering the theoretical description of the new methods, introducing novel theoretical concepts as well as new modelling schemes. With our best wishes, Prof. Dr. Juergen Mueller Institute of Geodesy, University Hannover Dr. Roberto Peron IAPS-INAF, Roma +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.7. School on Quantum Photonics: Principles and Applications, Gebze, Turkey --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2020/01/27/school-on-quantum-photonics-p... Starting: 2020-03-13 to 2020-03-15 Location: Gebze, Turkey Additional Information: http://tbae.tubitak.gov.tr/en/haber/quantum-photonics-principles-and-applica... Contact: tbae.iletisim[AT]tubitak.gov.tr Technologies based on the use of quantum principles continue to play a profound role in deeper understanding of the laws of nature, thus sparking a new wave of scientific and technological advances. The use of previously untapped quantum properties such as superposition and entanglement of individual quantum states provides novel technological resources for secure communication systems, computational paradigms, advanced sensing and metrology. The School will bring together graduate students and early career researchers engaged in the various aspects of quantum science and technology to offer an excellent series of lectures, with a broad scope of topics ranging from scientific fundamentals to the ongoing state of applications. Lecturers * Vahid Karimipour (Sharif University of Technology) * Angelo Bassi (University of Trieste) Topics Covered - Quantum Mechanics and its Foundations - Quantum Superposition - Entanglement - Quantum Nonlocality - Quantum Measurements - Quantum Cryptography - Quantum Teleportation - Quantum Computation Organizers: Hasan Mandal (TUBITAK, President), Alikram Nuhbalaoglu (TUBITAK TBAE) Deadline for Applications: March 3, 2020, 23:59 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.8. Spanish Portuguese Relativity Meeting 2020 (EREP2020), Aveiro, Portugal --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2020/01/29/erep2020/ Starting: 2020-09-14 to 2020-09-17 Location: Aveiro, Portugal Additional Information: http://erep2020.web.ua.pt/ Contact: erep2020[AT]ua.pt The Spanish-Portuguese Relativity Meetings are annual conferences on General Relativity and Gravitation that date back to 1977. They are organized each year by one of the different groups doing research on Relativity and Gravitation in Portugal and Spain. The 2020 meeting will be hosted by the gravity group at the University of Aveiro. In 2020, we celebrate the outstanding developments of the field, from the observations of gravitational waves and black hole imaging to the theoretical developments in modeling and fundamental issues. The meeting will take place at the University of Aveiro Campus. The city of Aveiro is located on the west coast of Portugal, about 220 km north of Lisbon and 60 km south of Porto. It is known for its system of city canals and it is some times called the "Portuguese Venice". Plenary Speakers: Sonia Anton (University of Aveiro, Portugal), TBC Juan Garcia Bellido (Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Spain) Geoffrey Compere (Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium) Pedro Cunha (Albert Einstein Institute, Germany) Will East (Perimeter Institute, Canada) Jutta Kunz (University of Oldenburg, Germany) Jose Natario (University of Lisbon, Portugal) Luciano Rezzolla (Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany) Nico Sanchis-Gual (University of Lisbon, Portugal) Alicia Sintes (Universidad de las Islas Baleares, Spain) Thomas Sotiriou (University of Nottingham, UK), TBC Frederic Vincent (Observatoire de Paris, France) Elizabeth Winstanley (University of Sheffield, UK) Venue: University of Aveiro - Rectory building (plenary lectures and parallel sessions) and Mathematics Department (parallel sessions) Organizing Commitee: C. Herdeiro (Chair), J. Delgado, A. Morais, J. Oliveira, A. Pombo, E. Radu, N. Santos Scientific Commitee: Vitor Cardoso, Jose A. Font, Carlos Herdeiro, Ruth Lazkos, Jose S. Lemos Administrative Support: Cristina Grosso Email Contact: erep2020[AT]ua.pt Important Dates 1st February 2020: Registration Open. 31st May 2020: Deadline for Early-Birds. Deadline for Grants Applications. 17th July 2020: Deadline for Abstract submission. 14th September 2020: Beginning of EREP 2020. 17th September 2020: End of EREP 2020. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.9. 19th Conference on Recent Developments in Gravity, Athens, Greece (2nd announcement) --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2020/01/30/19th-conference-on-recent-dev... Starting: 2020-07-01 to 2020-07-04 Location: Athens, Greece Additional Information: https://indico.physics.auth.gr/e/NEB19 Contact: neb19conference[AT]gmail.com The 19th NEB conference on "Recent Developments in Gravity" will be held in Athens, Greece, from the 1st to the 4th of July 2020. NEB19 is an international conference devoted to all aspects of Relativity, Gravitation and Cosmology, which is organized every two years by the Hellenic Society for Relativity, Gravitation and Cosmology. A list of previous conferences in the NEB series can be found at http://www.hsrgc.gr/activities.html. The website of the conference is https://indico.physics.auth.gr/e/NEB19 and the registration deadline is March 1st, 2020. NEB19 will focus on recent developments in several areas: gravitational waves, relativistic astrophysics, alternative theories of gravity, mathematical relativity, relativistic cosmology and quantum gravity. The venue of the conference is the conference center of the Eugenides Foundation, near the coastal line of Faliro (located a few km south of the center of Athens). The list of invited plenary speakers includes: E. Berti (Johns Hopkins) E. Gourgoulhon (Meudon) R. Gregory (Durham) M. Dafermos (Cambridge/Princeton) S. Katsanevas (EGO-VIRGO) K. Kokkotas (Tuebingen) E. Plionis (NOA, Athens) D. Psaltis (Arizona) Th. Sotiriou (Nottingham) M. Sakellariadou (King's College) S. Weinfurtner (Nottingham) In addition, there will be a number of invited session speakers (to be announced). We welcome the submission of abstracts for talks in the parallel sessions and for the poster session. We are looking forward to meeting all interested participants in Athens in July! With our best regards, The Organizing Committee Ch. Charmousis (CNRS - University Paris-Saclay) G. Pappas (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) E. Saridakis (NTUA, Athens) N. Stergioulas (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) A. Zoupas (University of Thessaly) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.10. The Fourth Zeldovich meeting, Minsk, Belarus (3nd announcement) --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2020/01/31/the-fourth-zeldovich-meeting-... Starting: 2020-04-20 to 2020-04-24 Location: Minsk, Belarus Additional Information: http://www.icranet.org/zeldovich4 Contact: zeld4[AT]icranet.org This is the third announcement of the Fourth Zeldovich meeting to be held in Minsk, Belarus, from 20 to 24 of April 2020. The preliminary list of invited speakers includes: Abhay Ashtekar, Institute for Gravitation and the Cosmos, Penn State University, USA Rong-Gen Cai, Institute of Theoretical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Jens Chluba, Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, University of Manchester, UK Alexander Dolgov, Novosibirsk State University and ITEP, Russia Jaan Einasto, Tartu Observatory, Estonia Stefan Gillessen, Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Germany Claus Laemmerzahl, ZARM, Germany Vladimir Lipunov, Moscow State University, Russia Felix Mirabel, CEA Saclay, France Razmik Mirzoyan, Max Planck Institute for Physics, Germany Slava Mukhanov, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Muenchen, Germany Konstantin Postnov, Sternberg Astronomical Institute of the Moscow State University, Russia Piero Rosati, University of Ferrara, Italy Jorge Rueda, ICRANet, Italy Remo Ruffini, ICRANet, Italy Nikolay Shakura, Sternberg Astronomical Institute of the Moscow State University, Russia Dmitry Sokoloff, MSU, Russia (first days) Alexey Starobinsky, Landau institute for theoretical physics, RAS, Russia Registration form: http://dbserver.icra.it:8080/meetings/registration_zeld4.htm Abstract submission form: https://uploader.icranet.org/zeld4/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.11. Sixth International Conference on the Nature and Ontology of Spacetime, Albena, Bulgaria --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2020/02/01/sixth-international-conferenc... Starting: 2020-05-11 to 2020-05-14 Location: Albena, Bulgaria Additional Information: http://www.minkowskiinstitute.org/conferences/2020/ Contact: 2020conference[AT]minkowskiinstitute.org Second Call for Papers So far representatives of 17 countries have submitted abstracts to the sixth spacetime conference in Albena (famous Black Sea resort near Varna), Bulgaria. The Scientific Organizing Committee invites papers from physicists, philosophers of physics and philosophers on any topic related to the nature and ontology of spacetime. As there is no main theme of the sixth spacetime conference a number of special sessions have been suggested by colleagues (http://www.minkowskiinstitute.org/conferences/2020/call.html): - Nature of time - Flow of time; Becoming (continuation of the Special Session on Becoming and the panel discussion at the Second Hermann Minkowski Meeting on the Foundations of Spacetime Physics on Wednesday, May 15, 2019) - Is spacetime a real (physical) four-dimensional entity or a mathematical concept? - Open Questions in Spacetime Physics - The controversy over Relativistic Mass - The problem with the gravitational energy-momentum pseudotensor in general relativity - should we have a closer look at the fact that the mathematical formalism of general relativity does not yield a proper tensor of the gravitational energy-momentum? - What is the difference between matter and geometry in general relativity, semi-classical gravity, and quantum gravity? - Do Black Holes Actually Exist? - Is there a conflict between relativity and quantum mechanics? - Quantum Gravity: Where do we stand? Depending on the number of colleagues participating in a special session, we plan to publish a volume with the talks presented at the session, which will include constructive criticism and the replies of the authors. Contributed papers in the form of extended abstracts of between one and two pages should be emailed to 2020conference[AT]minkowskiinstitute.org by February 28, 2020. Submissions will be reviewed and sending of notification of acceptance will start on February 17, 2020 (for the abstracts submitted by the original deadline January 31, 2020). Scientific Organizing Committee: Dennis Dieks (Utrecht University) Mauro Dorato (University of Rome Three) George F. R. Ellis (University of Cape Town) Robert Geroch (University of Chicago) Eleanor Knox (King's College London) Vesselin Petkov (Minkowski Institute, Montreal) Steven Savitt (University of British Columbia) Anguel Stefanov (Bulgarian Academy of Sciences) James Owen Weatherall (University of California, Irvine) Christian Wuethrich (University of Geneva) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ============================================== 2. Jobs ============================================== 2.1. PhD and Master's in Physics at Center for Gravitation and Cosmology, Yangzhou, China ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2020/01/02/phd-and-masters-in-physics-at... Deadline: 2020-04-03 Location: Yangzhou, China Additional Information: http://www.cgc-yzu.cn/ Contact: ycong[AT]yzu.edu.cn The Center for Gravitation and Cosmology of Yangzhou University welcomes applications of international students to pursue a Master's degree or PhD degree. The duration of Master's degree is 3 years, while PhD degree takes 4 years (if one already has a Master's degree in the relevant field; otherwise it takes 5-6 years). Interested candidate should have a strong undergraduate background in physics, astronomy or mathematics. The Center for Gravitation and Cosmology (CGC) is a young and vibrant research center founded in 2017 at Yangzhou University. We are a highly diverse center with members (including postdocs) from 9 different countries. Our research area primarily focuses on theories of gravity (with applications to gravitational waves and black holes), holography, and cosmology. CGC is an initiative of the BRICS-Association of Gravity and Cosmology (BRICS-AGAC), with support from the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). CGC also initiates the United Center for Gravitational Wave Physics in China and participates in the international BINGO collaboration on 21cm cosmology. Yangzhou is a scenic city with rich history in the Jiangsu Province of China, primarily known for its former major role in the salt trade. It is the Southern capital of China under Emperor Yang of Sui. It is believed that Marco Polo had served as a governer in Yangzhou around 1282-1287. In 2019, Yangzhou was named as UNESCO's new creative city for gastronomy. Interested candidates should submit the following documents in a SINGLE PDF file to Prof. Yen Chin Ong at ycong[AT]yzu.edu.cn : (1) A full curriculum vitae. (2) A copy of undergraduate certificate (3) A publication list, if any. (4) A brief description of research interests, including future plans, not exceeding 2 pages. In addition, 2-3 recommendation letters should be arranged to be sent to the same E-mail address. A complete application should be received no later than April 3rd, 2020. Successful candidates will be contacted in mid-April. A monthly stipend of at least 3000 RMB will be provided during the course of study (there is no tuition fee). In addition, accommodation will be provided. Courses will be conducted in English, but one is required to study basic Chinese for one semester. Inquiries are welcome. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.2. Postdoctoral researcher in neutron star astrophysics, Amsterdam, Netherlands ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2020/01/10/postdoctoral-researcher-in-ne... Deadline: 2020-02-28 Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands Additional Information: https://api.uva.nl/shared/uva/en/vacancies/2020/01/20-007-postdoctoral-resea... Contact: A.L.Watts[AT]uva.nl Are you interested in understanding the nature of the densest nuclear matter in the Universe? Or in using relativity to map the surfaces of neutron stars? We welcome applications for a 3-year postdoctoral position to work on neutron star astrophysics with Prof. Anna Watts and her group at the Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy (API) at the University of Amsterdam (UvA). The successful applicant will join the ERC Consolidator Grant funded project AEONS (Advancing the Equation of state Of Neutron Stars). NASA's NICER X-ray telescope has recently delivered its first measurements of neutron star mass and radius - key probes of the dense matter Equation of State (EOS) - using the new technique of Pulse Profile Modeling (PPM). PPM combines astrophysical modeling, relativistic ray-tracing, and Bayesian inference using high performance computers to deliver not only mass and radius but also a map of the hot emitting regions on the stellar surface. Our group played a major role in this effort, and the AEONS team will continue this work, analyzing new NICER data and carrying out simulations to address the complexities that we have encountered. AEONS also looks ahead to the next generation of large-area X-ray timing telescopes. Missions such as eXTP and STROBE-X are targeting accreting neutron stars for PPM - but these pose challenges such as variability, surface pattern uncertainty, and the need to consider X-ray polarimetry data. AEONS will tackle these issues, and study how to embed PPM in a multi-messenger EOS inference framework with radio and gravitational wave constraints. If you have a background in electromagnetic / gravitational wave neutron star astrophysics, dense matter physics, astrostatistics or computational astrophysics we encourage you to apply. You will join the vibrant high energy astrophysics group at API, and can expect to collaborate with our colleagues in the Gravitation and Astroparticle Physics (GRAPPA) Institute. Two postdoctoral researchers will eventually be hired within the AEONS team, with broad goals of quantifying the robustness of PPM and embedding PPM in the wider multi-messenger and nuclear physics context. There is flexibility in how this works in practice, and applicants with interests in either or both areas are welcome. You will work closely with the PhD students on the team, and will have the opportunity to supervise Bachelor and Masters student research projects. You will also be encouraged to pursue your own research lines (please highlight any synergies of existing projects with AEONS in your application). Applicants should have a PhD related to astrophysics and a track record that is relevant to the goals of the AEONS project. The appointment is for 3 years, to start in Fall 2020 (negotiable). Applications should be submitted electronically via the URL provided (there is an "Apply now" button at the bottom of that page). To apply, please submit a single PDF containing a cover letter, CV, publication list and a brief statement of your research experience, skills and goals. Please highlight anything that is particularly relevant to the AEONS project area. You should also provide names and email addresses for 3 people who can be contacted to provide a letter of reference in the event that your application is shortlisted. The closing date for receipt of applications is February 28, 2020. Included Benefits: The salary, depending on relevant experience before the beginning of the employment contract, will be 2.709 to 4.274 EUR (scale 10) gross per month, based on fulltime (38 hours a week), exclusive 8 % holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. A favorable tax agreement, the "30% ruling", may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement (CAO) of Dutch Universities is applicable. The UvA is an equal-opportunity employer. We prioritise diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. We value a spirit of enquiry and perseverance, provide the space to keep asking questions, and promote a culture of curiosity and creativity. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.3. Postdoctoral Fellowship in cosmology and FRBs, Cape Town, South Africa ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=16850 Deadline: 2020-02-16 Location: Cape Town, South Africa Additional Information: http://hepcat.group/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Postdoc-2020-NRF-ad-1.pdf Contact: melissa.largier[AT]uct.ac.za The High Energy Physics, Cosmology and Astrophysics Theory (HEPCAT) group in the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics at the University of Cape Town (UCT) is offering a SARChI in Physical Cosmology postdoctoral fellowship starting in 2020 with Prof. Amanda Weltman. The position is funded by the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) of the National Research Foundation. The research priorities of this position are on the science of the HIRAX experiment and the MeerKAT telescope, specifically cosmological parameter estimations with BAOs, understanding Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) and the cosmological implications of FRBs and using machine learning in astrophysics. FRB science is gaining increasing attention in the field of cosmology as it aims to synergise observable quantities with multi-wavelength observations in order to exploit them as unique probes of cosmology. We particularly welcome applications from candidates with expertise in one or more of the priority science areas: FRBs, using FRBs/pulsars to probe the interstellar/intergalactic medium, studies of the circumgalactic medium, studies of cosmic baryons and baryonic feedback processes in galaxies. You will use your in-depth subject matter knowledge of radio pulsar and/or FRB astronomy to enable and deliver high-quality scientific publications from the MeerKAT telescope. In addition to the scientific exploitation of the sensitivity and capabilities of the MeerKAT and MeerLICHT telescopes, you will also have the opportunity to leverage other world-class multi-wavelength facilities for FRB science and cosmology. You will have the possibility to collaborate with the HIRAX team and the MeerTRAP team at the University of Manchester and this may involve regular travel between these institutes. Applicants must have a track record of accomplishment and independence in their research. For more information on the activities of the HEPCAT group, see http://hepcat.group/. Our members include Shajid Haque, Julien Larena, Jeff Murugan, Jonathan Shock and Amanda Weltman. There are additional opportunities to perform joint work within other group research areas, including amplitudes in astrophysics, machine learning and theoretical cosmology more broadly. The appointment must comply with the University's approved policies, procedures and practices for the postdoctoral sector, and is subject to the rules and approval of the University of Cape Town and the National Research Foundation of South Africa. The appointment is for two years at the outset, with a possible extension of one year. A PhD in Physics, Applied Mathematics or Astronomy is required. Postdoctoral experience is a bonus, however the candidate needs to be within 5 years from the date of PhD at the start of the position and may not have held a full-time permanent academic or professional post. The value of the fellowship is R230 000, and it is tax-free. Equipment and travel funding are available. Interested candidates should send a CV, a research proposal (2-3 pages), and arrange for three letters of recommendation to be sent to melissa.largier[AT]uct.ac.za by February 16th, 2020. Please use the following format in the subject line : YOURNAME, SARChI postdoc 2020. Applications will be considered from that date until the position is filled. The position is available immediately. Any queries can be sent to Melissa at melissa.largier[AT]uct.ac.za. Eligible and complete applications will be considered by members of the HEPCAT group. The University of Cape Town reserves the right to: - disqualify ineligible, incomplete and/or inappropriate applications - change the conditions of award or to make no awards at all +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.4. Postdoctoral Fellowship in gravity and gravitational waves, Cape Town, South Africa ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=16851 Deadline: 2020-02-16 Location: Cape Town, South Africa Additional Information: http://hepcat.group/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Postdoc-2020-VC-Fellowship-ad... Contact: melissa.largier[AT]uct.ac.za The High Energy Physics, Cosmology and Astrophysics Theory (HEPCAT) group in the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics at the University of Cape Town (UCT) is offering a postdoctoral fellowship starting in 2020. The position is funded by the VC2030 Future Leaders award to Prof Amanda Weltman; awarded by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Town. The focus of the grant is on theoretical aspects of gravity research, in particular using gravitational waves to constrain theories of gravity. We will consider candidates with a range of interests related to gravity and high energy theory. Applicants should work in one of the following fields: High Energy Theory, Cosmology and Theoretical Astrophysics. Applicants must have a track record of accomplishment and independence in their research. Preference will be given to applicants whose research activities overlap with members of the HEPCAT (http://hepcat.group/) group: Shajid Haque, Julien Larena, Jeff Murugan, Jonathan Shock and Amanda Weltman. There are additional opportunities to perform joint work within other group research areas, including amplitudes in astrophysics, machine learning and theoretical cosmology more broadly. The appointment must comply with the University's approved policies, procedures and practices for the postdoctoral sector, and is subject to the rules and approval of the University of Cape Town. The High Energy Physics, Cosmology and Astrophysics Theory (HEPCAT) group in the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics at the University of Cape Town (UCT) is offering a postdoctoral fellowship starting in 2020. The appointment is for two years at the outset, with a possible extension of one year. A PhD in Physics, Applied Mathematics or Astronomy is required. Postdoctoral experience is a bonus, however the candidate needs to be within 5 years from the date of PhD at the start of the position and may not have held a full-time permanent academic or professional post. The value of the fellowship is R230 000, and it is tax-free. Equipment and travel funding are available. Interested candidates should send a CV, a research proposal (2-3 pages), and arrange for three letters of recommendation to be sent to melissa.largier[AT]uct.ac.za by February 16th, 2020. Please use the following format in the subject line : YOURNAME, VC2030 postdoc 2020. Applications will be considered from that date until the position is filled. The position is available immediately. Any queries can be sent to Melissa at melissa.largier[AT]uct.ac.za. Eligible and complete applications will be considered by members of the HEPCAT group. The University of Cape Town reserves the right to: - disqualify ineligible, incomplete and/or inappropriate applications - change the conditions of award or to make no awards at all +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.5. Two postdocs in theoretical cosmology at QMUL, Londom, UK ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2020/01/15/2-postdocs-in-theoretical-cos... Deadline: 2020-02-28 Location: London, UK Additional Information: https://webapps2.is.qmul.ac.uk/jobs/job.action?jobID=4971 Contact: t.clifton[AT]qmul.ac.uk The Cosmology and Relativity Group at Queen Mary University of London invites applications for two STFC funded postdoctoral positions in theoretical cosmology. These are: 1. Testing and constraining dark energy and modified gravity with non-linear structures in cosmology. This project will develop new theoretical frameworks for investigating the effects of alternative theories in the non-linear regime of structure formation - with Timothy Clifton (t.clifton[AT]qmul.ac.uk) and Alkistis Pourtsidou(a.pourtsidou[AT]qmul.ac.uk). closing date: 28th February 2020 job refence: QMUL21213 apply here: https://webapps2.is.qmul.ac.uk/jobs/job.action?jobID=4971 2. Detecting relativistic effects in large scale structure and the bispectrum. This project will develop theoretical tools, predictions and/or N-body simulations preparing the way for the first detection of relativistic effects in large-scale structure - with Chris Clarkson (chris.clarkson[AT]qmul.ac.uk), Phil Bull and Timothy Clifton. closing date: 28th February 2020 job refence: QMUL21204 apply here: https://webapps2.is.qmul.ac.uk/jobs/job.action?jobID=4985 A PhD degree and relevant research experience are required. The posts are for three years, starting in September 2020 (or other date by agreement). The Cosmology Group is part of the Astronomy Unit at QMUL consisting of 8 permanent staff members (Tessa Baker, Phil Bull, Chris Clarkson, Tim Clifton, Karim Malik, David Mulryne, Alkistis Pourtsidou and Will Sutherland), together with ~7 postdocs and ~10 PhD students, with an active international visitors programme. The vibrant group has diverse research interests spanning large-scale structure and radio cosmology, inflation and the early universe, advanced perturbation theory, and modified gravity. Group members play key roles in many international experiments, including the Square Kilometre Array, Hydrogen Epoch of Reionization Array (HERA), Euclid, and the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST). The Astronomy Unit has access to excellent local computational facilities, including an HPC cluster with 5000 cores, and a Tier2 GridPP cluster with more than 5PB of storage and 2000 cores. Project 2 will be in close collaboration with researchers in South Africa, at the Centre for Radio Cosmology at the University of the Western Cape in Cape Town, and successful applicants will have the opportunity to spend significant periods of their fellowship there. We welcome applications from all qualified applicants, but applications are particularly encouraged from traditionally under-represented groups in science. QMUL holds the Athena SWAN Silver award and the School of Physics and Astronomy holds Juno Champion status from the Institute of Physics which shows our commitment to promoting an inclusive working environment. Applications (application form, CV, publication list and research statement) should be submitted via the online application system by the closing date. Applicants should also arrange for up to three reference letters to be sent by email to Jazmina Vaca Ortiz (spa-hr@qmul.ac.uk) to arrive by the same date. Please feel free to contact any of the project leaders for further information. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.6. PhD position in Gravitational Wave Science, Leuven/Brussels, Belgium ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2020/01/16/phd-position-in-gravitational... Deadline: 2020-03-01 Location: Leuven/Brussels Additional Information: https://fys.kuleuven.be/gwc Contact: thomas.hertog[AT]kuleuven.be The joint Centre for Gravitational Waves at the Institute for Theoretical Physics of KU Leuven and at the University of Brussels (ULB) invites applications for a PhD position in the area of gravitational wave physics. The Centre for Gravitational Waves (https://fys.kuleuven.be/gwc) is an inter-university center of research that stimulates nationwide collaboration on gravitational wave physics and facilitates the Belgian contributions to the development and construction of future gravitational wave observatories. This year the Centre has an opening for a PhD position in the context of its contributions to LISA, the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna that will measure gravitational waves in space. Target areas of research concern in particular the theory and modelling of gravitational wave patterns and will be performed in close collaboration with members of the LISA Science Group. Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. The deadline for full consideration is March 1st, 2020 To apply, interested candidates should submit their application by email to our secretary Anneleen Marcelis (email: anneleen.marcelis[AT]kuleuven.be). The application package should include your CV, your grades from the bachelor and master program, a letter of motivation which includes a brief description of your research interest (maximum one page), and (at least) two letters from professors (one of whom should be your master thesis supervisor) who are willing to support your application. Further information about these positions can be obtained from Prof. T. Hertog (thomas.hertog[AT]kuleuven.be) or Prof. G. Compere (gcompere[AT]ulb.ac.be). +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.7. Postdoctoral position in neutron star physics, Warsaw, Poland ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2020/01/23/postdoctoral-position-in-neut... Deadline: 2020-02-14 Location: Warsaw, Poland Additional Information: https://www.camk.edu.pl/en/archiwum/2020/01/10/postdoctoral-position-neutron... Contact: bhaskell[AT]camk.edu.pl Applications are invited for a postdoctoral position at the Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center (CAMK PAN) in Warsaw, Poland, with a preferred, start in the summer or fall of 2020. The successful applicant will collaborate with the group of Dr Brynmor Haskell on numerical implementation of dissipative processes in general relativistic models of neutron stars. The position is available for two years with a possibility to extend of another one and will be funded from a Polish National Science Centre OPUS research grant (2019/33/B/ST9/00942). Funding for travel and research equipment will also be provided. CAMK is one of the leading astronomical institutes in Poland and current research at the institute encompasses a broad range of both observational and theoretical subjects in modern astrophysics. CAMK scientists participate in many international projects, e.g. H.E.S.S., CTA, Fermi, Herschel, Virgo, LIGO, SALT, Gaia-ESO, ATHENA. Candidates are required to have completed a PhD in astronomy, physics or a related discipline before the start date and no earlier than in 2014. Applicants should have a strong background in general relativity, computational physics or astrophysics. Experience with numerical relativity simulations will be an advantage but are not essential. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Dr Brynmor Haskell (bhaskel[AT]camk.edu.pl) to discuss the project further. Applications (in pdf format) can be sent to recruitment[AT]camk.edu.pl and should include a copy of the applicant's PhD diploma, a curriculum vitae with a list of publications and a brief statement of research interests and plans (2 pages). Applicants should also arrange for at least two letters of recommendation to be sent to the same address, and send a scan of signed GDPD form (available from https://www.camk.edu.pl/media/uploads_current/o_instytucie/rodo/ncn/ rodo_deklaracja_ncn_ang.pdf). For full consideration applications should be received by February 14th, 2020. The review of applications will begin soon after this date and continue until the position is filled. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.8. PhD position in Loop Quantum Gravity, London, Canada ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=16903 Deadline: 2020-11-24 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Additional Information: https://forms.gle/rRuPeisWSCFQUT2F9 Contact: fvidotto[AT]uwo.ca We invite applications for a PhD position in the new research group led by Francesca Vidotto at the Department of Applied Mathematics of the University of Western Ontario in London, Canada (www.uwo.ca/apmaths). The duration of the PhD degree is of 4 years and students are usually expected to work as teaching assistant for two courses during the academic year. The successful candidate will be fully involved in the research life of the group, in particular in connection to the development of new computational tools for Loop Quantum Gravity. The research in the group will include: - analytical and numerical aspects of spinfoam amplitudes, in particular applied to cosmology and black holes, - quantum gravity phenomenology, in particular astrophysical and cosmological signatures of black/white holes and remnants, - conceptual aspects in the physics of space-time, in particular those connected to singularity resolution and spacetime emergence, - foundations of physics, focusing on relational aspects across relativity and quantum theory. The research at Western is fostered by a highly interdisciplinary environment. The group participates in the activities of the Rotman Institute for Philosophy of Science and benefits of close interactions with the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, located at just 1 hour distance by car. The campus of Western University provides a stimulating and welcoming environment. We particularly encourage applications from those individuals who can enrich the intellectual and human diversity of our working environment, and we commit to make an active effort towards this goal. *How to Apply* The review of the applications starts on February 24th and will continue until the position is filled. Informal inquires about possible additional openings are welcome at any time of year. In order to complete your application, please fill the form at https://forms.gle/rRuPeisWSCFQUT2F9 and send the following documents combined in a single pdf file to fvidotto[AT]uwo.ca, formatting the subject as "PhD Application - YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME": 1. Cover Letter, highlighting your motivations and aspirations 2. Curriculum Vitae, highlighting research experiences if any 3. A transcript of records of university courses and grades +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.9. Ph.D. Position in Theoretical Astrophysics at Perimeter Institute and the University of Guelph, Waterloo, Canada ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2020/01/24/ph-d-position-in-theoretical-... Deadline: 2020-02-01 Location: Waterloo, Canada Additional Information: https://www.perimeterinstitute.ca/ Contact: dsiegel[AT]pitp.ca Applications are invited for one or more PhD positions in gravitational-wave and multi-messenger astrophysics at Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics and the University of Guelph, to start Fall 2020 or earlier. Successful applicants will work with Assistant Professor Daniel Siegel on numerical simulations of compact binary mergers and associated electromagnetic counterparts. One position will be linked to the Canadian Astroparticle Physics Research Institute (Arthur B. McDonald Institute) and explore the interface of neutron star mergers and neutrino physics. Successful applicants will benefit from Perimeter's thriving international and multi-disciplinary research community with ample opportunity to collaborate within and across fields. They will be embedded in a unique combination of Perimeter's strong gravity community, the newly established Gravitational Waves Initiative, as well as the Astrophysics and Gravitation Group at the University of Guelph. More information on PhD opportunities at Perimeter can be found here (https://www.perimeterinstitute.ca/training). Evaluation criteria for the positions include academic record, prior research experience relevant to the position as well as commitment to fostering an inclusive research environment. Candidates from underrepresented groups in theoretical astrophysics are strongly encouraged to apply. Successful candidates will receive their degree from the University of Guelph, one of Perimeter's partnering universities. Interested candidates must typically hold a MSc degree in Physics and need to apply through the Guelph-Waterloo graduate program, the largest physics and astronomy graduate program in Canada: https://www.physics.uoguelph.ca/graduate-studies/prospective-graduate-studen.... In addition, interested candidates should submit a CV and cover letter to dsiegel[AT]pitp.ca summarizing the candidate's motivation for this PhD position as well as prior research experience relating to gravitational-wave and multi-messenger astrophysics. Candidates should also comment on their numerical and computational skills. Deadline for applications is February 1st, 2020. Late submissions may be considered until the positions are filled. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.10. Postdoctoral position in approaches to modified gravity, Nottingham, UK ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=16915 Deadline: 2020-02-24 Location: Nottingham, UK Additional Information: https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/jobs/currentvacancies/ref/SCI507019 Contact: Thomas.Sotiriou[AT]nottingham.ac.uk Are you interested in approaches to modified gravity and dark energy? If so, we invite you to apply for the above two year STFC funded post to begin in October 2020. If your research interests are in one or more of the following areas we particularly encourage you to apply: addressing the cosmological constant problem and well tempered cosmologies, dark energy in the laboratory, such as with atom interferometry experiments, searches for light scalar fields such as the chameleon, symmetron and axion fields in cosmology and in the laboratory, and establishing a framework for performing non-linear simulations in alternative theories of gravity. If successful, you will have the opportunity to work with a diverse set of researchers in the particle cosmology, quantum gravity and astronomy groups in Nottingham. You will need to have a PhD (or close to obtaining a PhD) in physics or mathematics related to the subject. This post will be offered on a full time, fixed term contract for a period of 2 years. Job share arrangements may be considered. Informal enquiries may be addressed to Ed Copeland, tel: 0115 9515164: Or email: ed.copeland[AT]nottingham.ac.uk. Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted. Our University has always been a supportive, inclusive, caring and positive community. We warmly welcome those of different cultures, ethnicities and beliefs - indeed this very diversity is vital to our success, it is fundamental to our values and enriches life on campus. We welcome applications from UK, Europe and from across the globe. For more information on the support we offer our international colleagues, visit; https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/jobs/applyingfromoverseas/index2.aspx +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.11. MSc in Astrophysics and Relativity at Dublin City University, Ireland ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=16945 Deadline: 2020-07-17 Location: Dublin, Ireland Additional Information: https://www.dcu.ie/courses/postgraduate/maths/msc-astrophysics-and-relativit... Contact: brien.nolan[AT]dcu.ie Applications are invited for a new MSc degree in Astrophysics and Relativity at Dublin City University. This course runs on a full-time (12 months) and part-time (24 months) basis. Students on the course combine the advanced study of astrophysics (including galactic astrophysics and high energy astrophysics) and general relativity (including black holes, gravitational waves and relativistic cosmology) with the development of a variety of computational and data analysis skills that are both relevant to the core topics of the programme and highly sought-after in a wide range of industries. Students will also undertake a project under the individual supervision of academic members of the programme team. The course is jointly run by the DCU School of Mathematical Sciences and the DCU School of Physical Sciences and is led by researchers from the Centre for Astrophysics and Relativity (CfAR). For more details, including information on the application process, fees and course requirements, see the link above. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.12. PhD position in quantum cosmology and quantum gravity, Sheffield, UK ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=16949 Deadline: 2020-02-23 Location: Sheffield, UK Additional Information: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/maths/prospectivepg/phd/projects Contact: s.c.gielen[AT]sheffield.ac.uk One of the most important questions in fundamental science concerns the beginning of the Universe. In classical general relativity, this beginning is described by the Big Bang singularity, but we expect this picture to be different in quantum gravity. Quantum gravity could indeed influence the initial conditions for the Universe and thus our understanding of fundamental cosmology. In studying the impact of quantum gravity on cosmology, one often studies symmetry-reduced models in which the Universe is exactly homogeneous and isotropic, with small linear perturbations added on top. It is often not clear whether this is a valid approximation to the full dynamics, which is complicated and nonlinear. In this project we want to assess the impact of nonlinearities in quantum cosmology and quantum gravity on the effective description on large scales. The approximation of a homogeneous universe should fundamentally arise from an averaging over the physics at smaller scales. This becomes particularly pertinent in discrete approaches to quantum gravity in which a macroscopic universe arises from a large number of "spacetime quanta". We will extend the linearised perturbation theory which has been well-studied in quantum cosmology to nonlinear order, and use coarse graining techniques in quantum gravity and quantum cosmology to define a notion of quantum averaging for the cosmological setting. The latter will require developing numerical tools together with some analytical work. We will work within the group field theory approach to quantum gravity and neighbouring fields, such as loop quantum gravity and loop quantum cosmology. The PhD position is fully funded for 3.5 years including tuition fees and stipend at the Research Council rate (which is GBP 15k in 2019/20). The studentship can cover a UK or EU student. Informal enquiries regarding the project and any of its practical aspects are encouraged. If you are interested, please contact the proposed supervisor, Dr Steffen Gielen. Full applications can only be sent to the University of Sheffield, not directly per email. Applications received by 23rd Feb 2020 will receive full consideration. The preferred start date would be September/October 2020 but this is negotiable. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ============================================== 3. News ============================================== 3.1. Invitation to host Texas��Symposium on Relativistic Astrophysics in 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------ Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=16830 Additional Information: http://texas2019.org At the recent 30th Texas Symposium on Relativistic Astrophysics held in Portsmouth, UK, it was announced that the 31st Texas Symposium will be held in Prague, Czech Republic, 13-17 December 2021. The International Organizing Committee now invites proposals to host the 32nd Texas Symposium in 2023. The IOC is particularly interested to receive proposals to host the meeting in Asia or North America, but potential organisers from any country may apply. Proposals should include details of the proposed dates, likely venue for the meeting and a preliminary budget. For further information please contact Marco.Bruni[AT]port.ac.uk or David.Wands[AT]port.ac.uk who are happy to provide guidance as organisers of the most recent meeting in Portsmouth. For full consideration proposals should be sent to david.wands[AT]port.ac.uk by 15th March 2020. On behalf of the International Organizing Committee ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 3.2. GRG welcomes new Editor-in-Chief Mairi Sakellariadou ------------------------------------------------------------ Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2020/01/10/grg-welcomes-new-editor-in-ch... Additional Information: https://www.springer.com/journal/10714/updates/17482428 With great pleasure, we would like to announce that Mairi Sakellariadou has accepted our invitation to succeed Roy Maartens as new Editor-in-Chief of the journal General Relativity and Gravitation. Mairi Sakellariadou has been a Professor of Theoretical Physics at King's College London since 2011. She is an excellent researcher with a broad background in theoretical physics and cosmology, with emphasis on the physics of the early universe. Her research stands at the interface between cosmology, theoretical particle physics and gravitational theories. As a member of various scientific collaborations (e.g., LIGO, LISA, EUCLID, SKA), with her position as Chair of the Gravitational Physics Division of the EPS, and her publishing experience at Helvetica Physica Acta and Europhysics Letters, she is highly-qualified for the job as the journal's Editor-in-Chief. Together will Pablo Laguna from Georgia Institute of Technology, Mairi Sakellariadou will lead the journal into its 50th anniversary year! We are glad to have two lead editors representing both the American and European research communities, and for the first time, a female Editor-in-Chief of the GRG journal! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 3.3. GRG Golden Oldies by Ehlers and Schroedinger ------------------------------------------------------------ Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2020/01/13/grg-golden-oldies-by-ehlers-a... Additional Information: https://www.springer.com/gp/livingreviews/relativity/grg-golden-oldies The Golden Oldies series of the journal General Relativity and Gravitation reprints important papers in general relativity theory that were published 30 or more years ago and are either hard to get hold of, or were originally printed in a language other than English. Two new articles have been republished in December 2019: Ehlers, J. Republication of: On the Newtonian limit of Einstein's theory of gravitation. Gen Relativ Gravit 51, 163 (2019) https://doi.org/10.1007/s10714-019-2624-0 (Commemorating the 90th birthday of Juergen Ehlers.) An editorial note by Thomas Buchert and Thomas Maedler is freely available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s10714-019-2623-1 Schroedinger, E. Republication of: Dirac electron in the gravitational field I. Gen Relativ Gravit 52, 4 (2020) doi:10.1007/s10714-019-2626-y An editorial note by Bernard S. Kay is freely available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s10714-019-2625-z ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 3.4. SageMath 9.0 is out ------------------------------------------------------------ Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2020/01/14/sagemath-9-0-is-out/ Additional Information: https://sagemanifolds.obspm.fr/ SageMath 9.0 has just been released. It is a major new version, the first one based on Python 3. Binaries for Linux, macOS and Windows, as well as Docker images, are available at https://www.sagemath.org/download.html. It is also available online at https://sagecell.sagemath.org/ and https://cocalc.com. Regarding calculus on manifolds, SageMath 9.0 has important new features: - vector bundles (brand new!) - characteristic classes - more flexibility in constructing vector frames - possibility to specify multiple symmetries and contractions in index notation - more control on the numerical ODE solver for geodesics - various small improvements and bug fixes See https://sagemanifolds.obspm.fr/changelog.html for details. SageMath is a Python-based free computer algebra system, with some differential geometry and tensor calculus capabilities implemented via the SageManifolds project (https://sagemanifolds.obspm.fr/). See https://sagemanifolds.obspm.fr/examples.html for examples of use, in particular in the context of general relativity. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 3.5. Passing of Frank Estabrook ------------------------------------------------------------ Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2020/01/21/passing-of-frank-estabrook/ Additional Information: With deep sadness we report the passing of our friend and colleague Frank B. Estabrook on October 16, 2019. Frank was born in Boise, Idaho in 1922. He received a Ph. D. from Caltech in 1950. He came to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 1960, following appointments as a professor at Miami University and as a physicist for North American Aviation and the US Army Office of Ordinance Research. Frank brought to JPL a deep understanding of, and a love for, Einstein's general relativity theory. In the mid to late 1960s, when few thought relativity relevant to anything practical, he understood that rapidly advancing technology would make relativity's effects observable in JPL spacecraft tracking and in planetary orbits, and he played a lead role in inspiring his JPL colleagues to incorporate relativity into their work. At JPL Frank achieved an international reputation for his own work in general relativity, differential geometry, soliton theory, and gravitational waves. With Hugo Wahlquist he reformulated Einstein's general relativity equations into a "dyadic" form that is closely tied to physical measurements, and used this reformulation to gain new insights into Einstein's theory. For the Caltech relativity group led by Kip Thorne, he was a valuable source of mathematical inspiration and advice from the 1960s to the 2000s. On a more practical side, with Hugo Wahlquist he derived the exact response of spacecraft Doppler tracking (electromagnetically-tracked separated test masses) to gravitational waves and thus how Doppler tracking could be used as a detector in the low-frequency band. The Estabrook-Wahlquist response function is also central to the analysis of very-low-frequency pulsar-timing gravitational wave searches, and it is a foundation for deducing the response of the ultra-sensitive LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) detector to gravitational waves. Frank was co-inventor of "time delay interferometry", a crucial enabling technology for LISA. Frank's theoretical work on detector response, and his analysis of noise and sensitivity, provided the scientific impetus for technical improvements in NASA's Deep Space Network, leading to ~1000-fold improvement in Doppler tracking sensitivity between 1980-2000. He was a member of the Galileo radio science team (Principal Investigator for its gravitational wave experiment) and a member of the LISA Mission Definition Team. He lectured in general relativity and applied mathematics at Caltech, served on several NASA advisory committees, and was on the editorial board of the Journal of Mathematical Physics. Frank had extensive scientific interests. In addition to his general relativity and mathematical physics work he was, for example, the first to propose deep sea drilling into the earth's mantle. He was generous with his time and ideas. On a personal note, he was a man of broad classical culture and a lover of music, especially opera. A quick wit and elegant spirit, he was beloved by his friends and colleagues. /s/ J. W. Armstrong, J. Kendall, M. Tinto, M. Vallisneri, R. Woo, K. Thorne Further information on Frank's life and work can be found in: - https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechOH:OH_Estabrook_F [Caltech oral history project (2007); Frank in his own words] - Estabrook, F.B. "Geophysical Research Shaft" Science, 124, 686 (1956) [proposed deep sea drilling] - https://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.124.3224.686 - Estabrook, F. B. and Wahlquist, H. D. "Dyadic Analysis of Space-Time Congruences", J. Mathematical Physics, 5, 1629 (1964) [Estabrook-Wahlquist reformulation of Einstein's general relativity equations] - https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1931200 - Estabrook, F. B. and Wahlquist, H. D. "Response of Doppler Spacecraft Tracking to Gravitational Radiation," General Relativity and Gravitation 6, 439-447 (1975) [Estabrook-Wahlquist response function for electromagnetically-tracked test masses] - https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00762449 - Estabrook, F. B., Tinto, Massimo, and Armstrong, J. W. "Time-Delay Analysis of LISA Gravitational Wave Data: Elimination of Spacecraft Motion Effects", Phys. Rev. D, 62, 042002 (2000) [LISA time delay interferometry, including some practical instrumental effects] - https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.62.042002 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 3.6. Call for papers on relativistic mass ------------------------------------------------------------ Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2020/01/28/call-for-papers-on-relativist... Additional Information: http://www.minkowskiinstitute.org/relmass-cfp.html Dear Colleagues, I hope you would agree that the present status of relativistic mass in spacetime physics should not be silently tolerated. On the one hand, the physics community is divided - some firmly reject the concept of relativistic mass (e.g., in papers entitled "The Virus of Relativistic Mass in the Year of Physics"), whereas others continue to regard it as an integral part of spacetime physics including in books published last year. On the other hand, both mass and relativistic mass appear to be equally supported by the experimental evidence - since mass is defined as the measure of the resistance a particle offers to its acceleration (which is the accepted definition based on the experimental evidence) and since it is also an experimental fact that a particle's resistance to its acceleration increases indefinitely (in a given reference frame) as the particle's velocity approaches the speed of light (in the same reference frame), it follows that the particle's mass increases when its velocity increases. Therefore the concept of relativistic mass (like the concept of mass) reflects an experimental fact. If you are interested in contributing to a volume on relativistic mass, please reply to this Call and also indicate if you would like to serve as an editor or co-editor of the volume. To try to reach a common understanding of relativistic mass, it was suggested by colleagues to include a special session on relativistic mass in the program of the Sixth Spacetime Conference (see Call for Papers): http://www.minkowskiinstitute.org/conferences/2020/ Best regards, Vesselin Petkov Minkowski Institute vpetkov[AT]minkowskiinstitute.org ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++