########################################### Table of Contents ########################################### 1. Conferences 1.1. The Quantum and the Cosmos, Trieste, Italy 1.2. Teleparallel Gravity Workshop, Tartu, Estonia 1.3. Dynamical Aspects of Pseudo-Riemannian Geometry, Braga, Portugal 1.4. Bayesian Deep Learning for Cosmology and Gravitational waves, Paris, France 1.5. Announcing the first LISA Sprint, New York City, USA 1.6. Frontiers in Numerical Relativity 2020 (FNR 2020), Jena, Germany 1.7. First Latin American Conference on Astrophysics and Relativity, Bogota, Colombia 1.8. 19th Conference on Recent Developments in Gravity, Athens, Greece 2. Jobs 2.1. Heinrich Hertz Fellowship in History and Philosophy of Physics, Bonn, Germany 2.2. Postdoc opportunity in quantum gravity at CP3-Origins, Odense, Denmark 2.3. IGFAE Global Talent 2020, Santiago de Compostela, Spain 2.4. PhD studentships in Cosmology, Newcastle, UK 2.5. Two 3-year postdoctoral positions in Qubits and Spacetime Unit, Okinawa, Japan 2.6. Tenure-Track Position in Gravitational Astrophysics, Canberra, Australia 2.7. 2-year postdoc position in quantum gravity, Marseille, France 2.8. Postdoctoral positions in Gravitational Wave Astronomy at the University of Birmingham, UK 2.9. Research Fellow in Gravitational-Wave Astrophysics at University of Portsmouth, UK 2.10. PhD positions - The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia 2.11. PhD position in Theoretical Astrophysics - University of Potsdam, Germany 2.12. Professorship (W1, tenure track) in Theoretical Gravitational-Wave Physics, Frankfurt, Germany 2.13. Postdoctoral position "Gravitation and Physics of the Cosmos", Bilbao, Spain 3. News 3.1. GRG Editor's Choice: recent highlight articles 3.2. Deadline 1 Feb 2020: 2020 IUPAP General Relativity and Gravitation Young Scientist Prize 3.3. Call for suggestions to republish valuable books 3.4. 2020 Awards for Essays on Gravitation ============================================== 1. Conferences ============================================== 1.1. The Quantum and the Cosmos, Trieste, Italy --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=16685 Starting: 2020-03-23 to 2020-03-26 Location: Trieste, Italy Additional Information: http://www.qtspace.eu/?q=quantum-cosmos Contact: matteo.carlesso[AT]ts.infn.it Within the framework of QTSpace, the workshop will bring together experts in quantum mechanics, cosmology and quantum gravity, to discuss questions like: Does gravity need to be quantum? What are possible routes to quantum gravity? What are possible quantum effects in cosmology? Does quantum gravity eliminate space-time singularities like a big bang? Is space-time relational? Can alternatives to quantum mechanics be tested by cosmological observations? Registration open till January 31st, 2020. The workshop will take place at: Savoia Excelsior Palace, Riva del Mandracchio 4, Trieste. Program committee: Angelo Bassi (UniTs- INFN), Ward Struyve (KU Leuven). Local organizers: Matteo Carlesso (UniTs - INFN) Luca Ferialdi (UniTs - INFN). Confirmed speakers (to be completed): Giovanni Amelino-Camelia (University of Naples, Italy) Julian Barbour (University of Oxford, UK) Sougato Bose (University College London, UK) Caslav Brukner (University Vienna and IQOQI Vienna, Austria) Thibaut Demaerel (KU Leuven, Belgium) Lajos Diosi (Wigner Research Centre for Physics, Hungary) Domenico Giulini (University of Hannover, Germany) Henrique Gomes (University of Cambridge, UK) Adrian Kent (DAMPT, Cambridge, UK) Claus Kiefer (Institute for Theoretical Physics Cologne, Germany) Tim Koslowski (University Wuerzburg, Germany) - TBC Jean-Luc Lehners (Max-Planck-Institute for Gravitational Physics, Potsdam, Germany) Stefano Liberati (SISSA Trieste, Italy) Christian Maes (KU Leuven, Belgium) TBC Jerome Martin (Institut d'astrophysique de Paris, France) Flavio Mercati (Universita di Napoli, Italy) Daniele Oriti (Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics - Potsdam, Germany) Mauro Paternostro (Queen's University Belfast, UK) Roger Penrose (Oxford University, UK) Alejandro Perez (CPT Marseille, France) Patrick Peter (IAP Paris, France) Antoine Tilloy (Max-Planck-Institute of Quantum Optics, Germany) Hendrik Ulbricht (University Southampton, UK) Nino Zanghi' (University of Genova, Italy) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.2. Teleparallel Gravity Workshop, Tartu, Estonia --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2019/12/04/teleparallel-gravity-workshop... Starting: 2020-06-15 to 2020-06-19 Location: Tartu, Estonia Additional Information: http://hexagon.fi.tartu.ee/~telegrav2020/ Contact: geomgrav[AT]ut.ee Teleparallel Gravity Workshop in Tartu, Telegrav 2020, is a continuation of Teleparallel Gravity Workshop 2018 and the series of conferences Geometric Foundations of Gravity organized in 2017 and 2019. This time the workshop will take place June 15-19, 2020 at the University of Tartu in Estonia. The main focus of the workshop is teleparallel gravity and its extensions with a wide range of topics from the fundamental aspects to applications in cosmology. The participation at the conference is free for all participants, but we do not provide any financial assistance. The workshop is organized by the Laboratory of Theoretical Physics, University of Tartu. Organising Committee Sebastian Bahamonde Manuel Hohmann Laur Jaerv Tomi Koivisto Martin Krssak Christian Pfeifer Margus Saal +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.3. Dynamical Aspects of Pseudo-Riemannian Geometry, Braga, Portugal --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=16715 Starting: 2020-03-02 to 2020-03-06 Location: Braga, Portugal Additional Information: https://cmup.fc.up.pt/Pseudo-Riemannian-Geometry/ Contact: daprg2020[AT]math.uminho.pt This conference will focus on recent progress in Pseudo-Riemannian geometry, in particular, in Lorentzian geometry. One of the main goals of this meeting is to bring together geometers and specialists in dynamical systems while promoting the exchange of ideas and exploring the natural intervention and interaction of dynamical systems in questions of Pseudo-Riemannian geometry. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.4. Bayesian Deep Learning for Cosmology and Gravitational waves, Paris, France --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=16731 Starting: 2020-03-04 to 2020-03-06 Location: Paris, France Additional Information: https://indico.in2p3.fr/e/bayesdeep-cosmogw2020 Contact: secretariat_pccp[AT]apc.in2p3.fr We are pleased to announce a workshop on *Bayesian Deep Learning for Cosmology and Gravitational waves* which will be held on March 4-6 2020 at Laboratoire AstroParticule et Cosmologie, Universite' de Paris, France. Machine learning attracts a lot of interest in the fields of cosmology and gravitational-wave astronomy and may potentially lead to major breakthroughs. Its adoption by the scientific community is increasing dramatically but it does not yet belong to the toolbox of "off-the-shelf" algorithms. One of the reasons is that built-in uncertainty estimation, which is core to the evaluation of any scientific measurement and analysis, is not yet common in machine learning models. Such limitation is on the verge to be overcome by the emergence of probabilistic machine learning models and algorithms. Among them, recent models called Bayesian neural networks, which combine machine learning and Bayesian statistics, use new (deep) neural networks architectures to enable Bayesian inference, and have received a great attention from the artificial intelligence community over the past few years. This workshop will give the participants the opportunity to learn more about these emerging methods and how to use and exploit them in their research. The workshop program includes invited lectures and tutorials from major computer science experts and contributed talk and poster sessions aimed at sharing experience between physicists on the practical applications of machine learning. Registrations are opened. The deadline for submitting abstracts is *Feb 2nd 2020*. More information is available on the workshop website at https://indico.in2p3.fr/e/bayesdeep-cosmogw2020 This workshop is part of the Paris Centre for Cosmological Physics Workshop Series. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.5. Announcing the first LISA Sprint, New York City, USA --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=16738 Starting: 2020-03-04 to 2020-03-06 Location: Additional Information: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1J7o6ywzBE2nWC5ovJlONUrbY7a8xPYb-BX8Ilyyc8bI/viewform?ts=5de9716e&edit_requested=true Contact: kchatziioannou[AT]flatironinstitute.org The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) is an ESA-led mission to observe gravitational waves in the mHz band. To prepare for LISA observations and its unique data products, we are organizing a meeting at the Center for Computational Astrophysics at the Flatiron Institute in New York, from Wednesday March 4 to Friday March 6, 2020. The meeting will be modeled after the successful Gaia Sprints following Gaia data releases and its goal will be two-fold: The first goal is to connect LISA data scientists with astronomers and astrophysicists who will incorporate LISA data products into their own research. The second is to advance the broader research community's readiness to capitalize on LISA observations. The themes of this first meeting are Galactic Astronomy and Cosmology. LISA, among other things, will probe Milky Way structure and binary astrophysics by surveying electromagnetically faint ultra compact binaries, and track the growth and properties of supermassive black holes out to large redshifts. During the workshop small interdisciplinary teams of researchers will come together and make concrete progress on concise projects and goals related to these scientific topics. A number of project ideas and mock data and/or data products will be produced and provided by the organizers in collaboration with experts in the field. Additionally, participants are encouraged to propose ideas and contribute further material that adheres to the workshop's format. This will be a hands-on workshop: there will be no talks--only brief project "pitches" at the beginning of the workshop, and "show and tell" at the close of the meeting to share progress with the group. Interested parties can apply using the link provided; the application includes a short (one paragraph) description of a potential project and/or goal of the applicant related to the workshop topics. Due to limited space (~30 participants), applications will be accepted until January 15, 2020 and participants will be notified soon after. Partial travel support will be provided. Katerina Chatziioannou Will Farr Tyson Littenberg +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.6. Frontiers in Numerical Relativity 2020 (FNR 2020), Jena, Germany --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2019/12/23/frontiers-in-numerical-relati... Starting: 2020-08-10 to 2020-08-14 Location: Jena, Germany Additional Information: https://indico.tpi.uni-jena.de/event/101 Contact: katrin.kanter[AT]uni-jena.de In the history of numerical (or computational) general relativity, the "Frontiers" meeting in 1988 at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (USA), played a pivotal role in establishing numerical relativity as a major topic in computational physics and simulation science. The "New Frontiers" meeting in 2006 at the AEI Potsdam convened after major breakthroughs in numerical simulations of binary systems. The goal of "Frontiers 2020" is to assess the state-of-the-art and point out future directions of numerical relativity in light of the breakthroughs in observations of gravitational waves and astrophysical counterparts. Main topics: o Mathematical foundations o Numerical methods for the Einstein equations o High performance computing o Astrophysics (binary mergers, gravitational waves, counterparts) o Beyond current astrophysics and general relativity Dates and Location: August 10 to 14, 2020 University of Jena (Germany) Scientific Organizing Committee: S. Bernuzzi, B. Bruegmann (chair), M. Campanelli, C. Gundlach, L. Lehner, H. Pfeiffer, L. Rezzolla, M. Shibata +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.7. First Latin American Conference on Astrophysics and Relativity, Bogota, Colombia --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=16804 Starting: 2020-07-06 to 2020-07-09 Location: Bogota, Colombia Additional Information: https://lacar.webflow.io Contact: alejandro.cardenasa[AT]konradlorenz.edu.co The spirit of this conference is to offer a connection between the community that works in General relativity and the astrophysics community of high energies and compact objects, and at the same time to (re)establish connections with the scientific community of Latin American physicists and astrophysicists among them and with the rest of the international community. Monday, July 6th, will feature a school with four review lectures given by some of the invited speakers providing background into the key topics covered by the conference. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.8. 19th Conference on Recent Developments in Gravity, Athens, Greece --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2019/12/31/19th-conference-on-recent-dev... Starting: 2020-07-01 to 2004-07-04 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 (Cambridge) 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) * * (to be confirmed) In addition, there will be a number of invited session speakers (to be announced). We welcome 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) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ============================================== 2. Jobs ============================================== 2.1. Heinrich Hertz Fellowship in History and Philosophy of Physics, Bonn, Germany ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=16667 Deadline: 2020-01-05 Location: Bonn, Germany Additional Information: https://www.history-and-philosophy-of-physics.com/heinrich-hertz-fellowship.... Contact: dennis.lehmkuhl[AT]uni-bonn.de The Heinrich Hertz Fellowship in History and Philosophy of Physics is designed to allow graduate students and early-career scholars to spend 3 months, 6 months or an entire academic year (9 months) at the University of Bonn to work on any topic in the history and philosophy of physics. They have no formal duties apart from following their own research agenda and interacting with the other historians and philosophers of physics in Bonn. Hertz fellows are provided with: 1. A (possibly shared) office in the Institute of Philosophy of the University of Bonn. 2. Reimbursement of all travel and visa costs to come to Bonn. 3. A monthly stipend of 2500 Euros to cover accommodation and maintenance during the stay in Bonn. Stipends are not generally taxable in Germany. Fellows have to show that they have sufficient (travel) health insurance for their stay in Bonn. 4. Reimbursements of some conference travel and similar expenses during the stay in Bonn. Starting times of the fellowships are flexible. However, the default would be to start on the 1st of October (beginning of the Winter Semester) or the 1st of April (beginning of the summer semester). If you are interested in a Hertz fellowship, please send your complete application documents by 5 January 2020 to office.lehmkuhl[AT]uni-bonn.de. Before sending your application, please combine and convert all of your documents into one PDF file. A complete application will consist of a.) a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, a writing sample of no more than 10.000 words; and b.) three letters of reference which must be sent by the letter writers or the placement service directly to the above address. In your cover letter, please state the preliminary dates during which you would like to come to Bonn, what kind of research project you intend to pursue during your time here, and why pursuing this project in Bonn would be particularly useful to you. If you have questions, please contact Prof. Lehmkuhl (dennis.lehmkuhl[AT]uni-bonn.de). +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.2. Postdoc opportunity in quantum gravity at CP3-Origins, Odense, Denmark ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=16668 Deadline: 2019-12-11 Location: Odense, Denmark Additional Information: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/15625 Contact: eichhorn[AT]cp3.sdu.dk We expect an opening according to funding availability in quantum gravity at the Centre for Cosmology and Particle Physics Phenomenology (CP3-Origins) at the University of Southern Denmark in Odense. The prospective candidate will work in the research team of Astrid Eichhorn, which focuses on aspects of quantum gravity, including asymptotically safe gravity, matrix and tensor models, causal sets, the interplay of quantum gravity with matter and black-hole spacetimes. CP3-Origins is a centre of excellence established by the Danish National Research Foundation, dedicated to understanding fundamental interactions, including quantum gravity, as well as the origins of bright and dark matter in our universe, and the mathematical underpinning of gauge theories of fundamental interactions. At the moment it contains 11 faculty and several postdocs and PhD students in these areas. There is an active international visitor program, together with international workshops, conferences and schools that contribute to a stimulating research environment. The appointment will be for a term of two years or longer, depending on the candidate's background, at a very competitive salary and is expected to start in 2020 (the starting date is flexible). We are happy to receive your expressions of interest all year long. However, full consideration will be given to enquiries received before the 11th of December 2019. To submit your expression of interest, go to Academic Jobs Online. For further information please contact Astrid Eichhorn at eichhorn[AT]cp3.sdu.dk +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.3. IGFAE Global Talent 2020, Santiago de Compostela, Spain ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2019/12/05/igfae-global-talent-2020/ Deadline: 2019-12-20 Location: Santiago de Compostela, Spain Additional Information: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/15498 Contact: jobs[AT]gfae.usc.es The Galician Institute of High Energy Physics, IGFAE, at the University of Santiago de Compostela, invites applications for research associate positions within its Global Talent 2020 Program. The IGFAE Global Program aims to recruit outstanding postdoctoral researchers capable of preparing and leading an ambitious research project within the Institute. Several positions are available in an extensive search that includes High-Energy Experimental Physics, Astroparticle Physics and Cosmology (including gravitational wave research), Nuclear Physics and Theoretical Physics including phenomenology and more formal aspects as well as Quantum Information and Computing. Opening new lines of research, complementing those already existing at the Institute, is encouraged. The positions are for a maximum of three years with additional funds for research and the possibility to supervise PhD students and postdocs. IGFAE will encourage and assist successful candidates to apply to ERC and Ramon y Cajal programs. Permanent positions will be available for successful ERC applicants through the (external) Oportunius program. Non-tenure assistant professor level positions will be available for a limited number of successful applicants. Review of the applications will start on December 20th, 2019, but later applications will be considered until the positions are filled. Applications should be submitted through Academic Jobs Online (see link). IGFAE is a Maria de Maetzu Excellence Unit. The current research programmes at the Institute can be found on its website http://igfae.usc.es IGFAE is an equal opportunity employer. IGFAE is committed to increasing the diversity of its personnel and particularly welcomes applications from qualified women, minorities and persons with disabilities. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.4. PhD studentships in Cosmology, Newcastle, UK ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=16698 Deadline: 2020-01-31 Location: Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK Additional Information: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/funding/sources/allstudents/msp022.html Contact: c.uhlemann@damtp.cam.ac.uk Dear all, The Cosmology and Quantum Gravity group at Newcastle University (UK) is pleased to advertise 3 funded PhD studentships in cosmology to begin in autumn 2020. Positions are available in the following areas of study. 1. The cosmic large-scale structure: The cosmic large-scale structure is the skeleton of matter on the largest scales in the Universe. Galaxies trace this large-scale skeleton of dark matter and form in large gravitationally bound dark matter structures. With major upcoming galaxy surveys like Euclid and LSST, we will be able to track the growth of structure through time across large volumes. This will provide a cosmic laboratory for testing cosmology, fundamental physics and astrophysics with the large-scale structure. To extract the maximum amount of information from galaxy surveys, we need a) accurate models for the gravitational dynamics of the dominant dark matter component, and b) powerful statistics that capture key aspects of gravitational clustering. This PhD project will tackle these two intertwined challenges. First, we will use novel techniques to describe gravitational dark matter dynamics, for example using the quantum-classical correspondence. The goal is to develop new analytical and computational tools to solve for the time-evolution of dark matter and hunt for signatures of particular dark matter candidates. Second, we will develop clustering statistics that capture non-Gaussian properties of the late-time matter distribution. The idea is to use a sweet spot of simple statistics that are easy to measure, and can be accurately predicted into the nonlinear regime. With this, we will seek to improve the standard analysis relying on two-point statistics to obtain unique insights into cosmology, fundamental physics and astrophysics. Advisor: Dr Cora Uhlemann (c.uhlemann[AT]damtp.cam.ac.uk) 2. Observational cosmology in a data-rich era: Cosmology is enjoying an era of unprecedented data abundance, with powerful observations already available and next-generation surveys on the immediate horizon. This wealth of data provides an exciting opportunity to pin down the nature of the mysterious dark energy which makes up 70% of the Universe. This PhD project will develop crucial, cutting-edge techniques for the analysis of modern cosmological survey data, and will apply these and other techniques to existing data in order to achieve new insight into the composition, history, and physical laws of our Universe. Advisor: Dr Danielle Leonard (Danielle.Leonard[AT]newcastle.ac.uk) 3. Measuring gravity and accretion using pulsars: Neutron stars are extremely dense cinders remaining after stellar explosions. They often have strong magnetic fields and rotate rapidly, and this combination often results in their appearing to pulsate with extreme regularity. We call these objects "pulsars", and their measurable rotation provides an opportunity to take precision measurements in some of the most extreme astrophysical environments accessible to observation. This project will use existing observations and request and carry out new observations of pulsar systems. These observations will strongly constrain theoretical models of how matter falls onto neutron stars, and in fact probe the details of how gravity works - does it behave as Einstein predicted? Advisor: Dr Anne Archibald (Anne.Archibald[AT]newcastle.ac.uk) Application details may be found online: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/funding/sources/allstudents/msp022.html https://www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/funding/sources/ukeustudents/msp019.html +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.5. Two 3-year postdoctoral positions in Qubits and Spacetime Unit, Okinawa, Japan ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=16702 Deadline: 2019-12-31 Location: Okinawa, Japan Additional Information: http://www.oist.jp Contact: quast.oist[AT]gmail.com Two 3-year postdoc positions will become available in fall 2020 in the new Qubits and Spacetime Unit at Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (www.oist.jp) led by Philipp Hoehn. This unit will be established in the first half of 2020 and its research will lie broadly at the interface of quantum gravity, quantum information and foundations, focusing on general questions in an around quantum gravity. Current research interests include studying dynamics and observables in a diffeomorphism-invariant context, using quantum reference frames/systems to explore a quantum version of general covariance, the interplay of quantum correlations and spacetime geometry, entanglement in gauge systems, as well as the emergence of classicality from within quantum theory, especially in the presence of chaos. Candidates with an interest in any of these or related topics are encouraged to apply. The unit is expected to grow further in the coming years. OIST currently harbors three further units in quantum gravity or related topics in mathematical physics, headed by Shinobu Hikami, Yasha Neiman and Reiko Toriumi. Furthermore, the institute regularly hosts international workshops, seminars and visitors in this area, providing for a stimulating research environment. The unit will provide support for traveling and hosting collaborators. Responsibilities: The successful candidate will contribute to the research program of the Qubits and Spacetime Unit, but is also encouraged to carry out self-designed projects. Active participation in group seminars and meetings is expected, as well as in assisting with their organization. The successful candidate may also contribute to mentoring students. Qualifications: 1. Completed PhD in theoretical physics or mathematics by the time of employment. 2. Background in one or several of the following topics: quantum gravity, quantum information, quantum field theory, quantum foundations, quantum many-body physics or mathematical physics. 3. Fluency in English. Starting Date: Fall 2020 Term and Working hours: Term: Full-time, fixed term appointment for 3 years. Compensation and Benefits: We pay an internationally competitive salary, which is raised upon completion of every additional year after the PhD award. A housing allowance of up to 80% of the rent complements the salary. Additional benefits: - Relocation and commuting allowances - Annual paid leave and summer holidays - Health insurance, welfare pension insurance and worker's accident compensation insurance How to Apply: Apply by uploading your Submission Documents through Academic Jobs Online under the link https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/15684 or by emailing them to: quast.oist[AT]gmail.com For further information please contact Philipp Hoehn under the above email address. Submission Documents: - Cover letter - Research statement including summary of past achievements and future research plans - Curriculum vitae including publication list - Three letters of reference Application Due Date: Applications will be screened as they come in. Preferably they should be received by December 31st, 2019. However, given the short notice, applications will be considered until the positions are filled in approximately mid January 2020. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.6. Tenure-Track Position in Gravitational Astrophysics, Canberra, Australia ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2019/12/10/tenure-track-position-in-grav... Deadline: 2020-01-12 Location: Canberra, Australia Additional Information: https://physics.anu.edu.au/quantum/cgp/ Contact: sareh.rajabi[AT]anu.edu.au (open to female identifying candidates only) The Australian National University in Canberra, Australia, has recently established a new Centre for Gravitational Astrophysics (CGA), jointly supported by the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics and the Research School of Physics. The Centre encompasses all aspects of gravitational wave physics and astrophysics, including instrumentation, theory and data analysis, source follow-up and multi-messenger astronomy. It will bring together existing ANU researchers in these areas under one umbrella and expand the capability by making up to seven new tenure-track academic appointments across these research programs over the next year. The inaugural CGA Director is Professor David McClelland. We are seeking to appoint an outstanding early or mid-career academic with a strong research record in gravitational wave astrophysics (theory and data analysis, source follow-up, multi-messenger astronomy). This will be a tenure-track position attracting a significant start-up package. It will be a key foundation position in the CGA. The appointee will assist with recruiting additional appointments into the CGA, helping to shape its future. We are now seeking Expressions of Interest (EoI) in this position. An EoI will comprise a 1-page statement of achievement and proposed program of research at ANU, along with a 2-page CV. EoIs will be accepted any time up until January 12, 2020. Please email your EOI to the CGA administrator, Dr Sareh Rajabi, sareh.rajabi[AT]anu.edu.au, and expect confirmation of receipt. For further information, please contact Professor Susan Scott (susan.scott[AT]anu.edu.au) or Professor David McClelland (david.mcclelland[AT]anu.edu.au) at RSPhys and/or Associate Professor Christian Wolf (christian.wolf[AT]anu.edu.au) at RSAA. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.7. 2-year postdoc position in quantum gravity, Marseille, France ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=16711 Deadline: 2020-01-31 Location: Marseille, France Additional Information: http://www.cpt.univ-mrs.fr/~quantumgravity/ Contact: applications.qg.cpt[AT]gmail.com The quantum gravity group at the Centre de Physique Theorique in Marseille opens a two-year postdoctoral position. The group has 3 permanent members (Carlo Rovelli, Alejandro Perez and Simone Speziale), currently one postdoc (Pietro Dona), 6 PhD students and a few master students. The position can start at any time before, but no later than, *September 1st, 2020*. The candidate is expected to collaborate with members of the group on the group projects, interact with the students and contribute to the organisation of the group's activities. The group focuses on quantum gravity and on foundational questions, and it is part of the international QISS project (see http://www.qiss.fr ) which provides funding. Interested applicants should send a CV, list of publications and motivational cover letter, plus up to 3 support letters, to the following address: applications.qg.cpt[AT]gmail.com preferably before January 31st. Please indicate the name of the applicant in the subject line of all relevant mails. We encourage applications contributing to gender and origin diversity in our group. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.8. Postdoctoral positions in Gravitational Wave Astronomy at the University of Birmingham, UK ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2019/12/13/postdoctoral-positions-in-gra... Deadline: 2020-01-27 Location: Birmingham, UK Additional Information: http://www.sr.bham.ac.uk/gwgroup/people.php Contact: d.gerosa[AT]bham.ac.uk The Institute for Gravitational Wave Astronomy at the University of Birmingham, UK, invites applications for postdoctoral positions. The Institute provides a vibrant and diverse environment with expertise covering theoretical and experimental gravitational-wave research, with applications to present and future-generation detectors, theoretical astrophysics, transient astronomy, gravitational-wave source modeling, and general relativity theory. Applications from top researchers in all areas related to gravitational-wave and transient astronomy are encouraged. Institute faculty members include Andreas Freise, Davide Gerosa, Denis Martynov, Haixing Miao, Christopher Moore, Conor Mow-Lowry, Matt Nicholl, Patricia Schmidt, Silvia Toonen, and Alberto Vecchio. One postdoctoral appointment is funded by the UK Leverhulme Trust (PI Dr. Davide Gerosa) and is focused on developing astrophysical and statistical predictions for the LISA space mission. The successful candidate will have ample opportunities to explore other areas of gravitational-wave astronomy as well. Appointments will be for a three-year term starting in the Fall of 2020 and come with generous research and travel budget. Applications should include a CV with a list of publications, and a two-page statement covering research interests and plans. Complete applications should be received by 27 January 2020 for full consideration. Applications should be sent to Ms Joanne Cox at: j.s.cox[AT]bham.ac.uk. Applicants should also arrange for 3 reference letters to be sent by 27 January 2020 to the same email address. For further information and informal inquiries please contact Dr. Davide Gerosa (d.gerosa[AT]bham.ac.uk) and Prof. Alberto Vecchio (av[AT]star.sr.bham.ac.uk). +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.9. Research Fellow in Gravitational-Wave Astrophysics at University of Portsmouth, UK ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=16718 Deadline: 2020-01-20 Location: Portsmouth, UK Additional Information: http://www.icg.port.ac.uk/2019/12/research-fellow-in-gravitational-wave-astr... Contact: ian.harry[AT]port.ac.uk We announce two research fellow positions in gravitational-wave astrophysics at the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation (ICG) at the University of Portsmouth. One position will focus on enabling rapid observation of compact binary mergers with a network of gravitational-wave observatories working with Dr Ian Harry. The second position will focus on the characterisation of compact binary mergers in the presence of non-Gaussian and non-stationary detector noise with Dr Laura Nuttall. Each independent project is funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). A PhD degree and relevant research level knowledge of gravitational-wave astrophysics or related areas are required. We expect each 2-year position to start 1 September 2020, or as close to that date as feasible. The ICG consists of 15 academic staff, 16 postdoctoral researchers and around 30 PhD students, and has an active international visitors programme. Portsmouth is a member of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), the Dark Energy Survey (DES), the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), ESA's Euclid satellite mission, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO), the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), the Gravitational Wave Optical Transient Observer (GOTO), and other international collaborations. The University of Portsmouth is a member of the South-East Physics Network (SEPnet) and hosts the 3704-core SCIAMA supercomputer. We welcome applications from all qualified applicants, but applications are particularly encouraged from traditionally under-represented groups in science. The University of Portsmouth and the ICG hold Athena SWAN bronze awards and the University is an Institute of Physics Project Juno Supporter; these projects show a commitment to introduce organisational and cultural practices that promote diversity and equality in science and create a better working environment for men and women. Applications (application form, CV, publication list and research statement for the Fellowship) should be submitted via the University's online application system by the closing date. Applicants should also arrange for up to three reference letters to be sent by email to icg-admin[AT]port.ac.uk, to arrive by the same date. Please address informal enquiries to Dr Ian Harry (ian.harry[AT]port.ac.uk) and Dr Laura Nuttall (laura.nuttall[AT]port.ac.uk). All applications for this position will be processed and conducted in compliance with UK legislation relevant at that time. Applications from candidates who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons and all appointments will be made on merit. As we are committed to the principles of the Race Equality Charter Mark, we would particularly welcome applications from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community who are currently under-represented at this level in this area. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.10. PhD positions - The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2019/12/18/phd-positions-the-australian-... Deadline: 2020-12-31 Location: Canberra, Australia Additional Information: https://physics.anu.edu.au/quantum/people/profile.php?ID=288&tab=available_projects Contact: david.mcclelland[AT]anu.edu.au Projects with the Centre for Gravitational Astrophysics will develop skills in a number of highly employable areas such as: optics, electro-optics, electronics, control systems, isolation systems and modelling. We also have research projects which aim to develop spin-off technology into commercial products, for example high sensitivity trace gas analysis, laser intensity and frequency stabilization techniques and more. More details about some of the available projects can be found at: https://physics.anu.edu.au/quantum/people/profile.php?ID=288&tab=availab... For more information Contact: Prof. McClelland, David (02) 612 59888 David.McClelland[AT]anu.edu.au +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.11. PhD position in Theoretical Astrophysics - University of Potsdam, Germany ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=16726 Deadline: 2020-02-14 Location: Potsdam, Germany Additional Information: https://www.nikhef.nl/~diettim/ Contact: diet.tim[AT]gmail.com In February 2020 a new theoretical astrophysics group led by Tim Dietrich will be established at the University of Potsdam. The group will focus on the simulation of compact binary systems (in particular binary neutron stars), on the construction of gravitational waveform models, and the analysis of electromagnetic signatures connected to compact binary mergers. The group will have a vacant PhD position for which we ask interested candidates to send their expression of interest, which should include a description of previous experience and research topics of interest, together with their CV, and a transcript of records of university courses and grades. Additionally, please provide the contact details of two academics who could provide reference letters. The starting date is flexible but should lie within April and December 2020. Please send your documents by the 14th of February as a single pdf file to Tim Dietrich (diet.tim[AT]gmail.com). Further questions should be sent via email to the above address. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.12. Professorship (W1, tenure track) in Theoretical Gravitational-Wave Physics, Frankfurt, Germany ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2019/12/21/professorship-w1-tenure-track... Deadline: 2020-01-31 Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany Additional Information: https://www.uni-frankfurt.de/45303054/Ausschreibungen_von_Professuren___Fach... Contact: dekanat[AT]physik.uni-frankfurt.de The Institute for Theoretical Physics, Department of Physics, of Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt am Main invites applications for the following position as civil servant or public employee starting at the earliest possible date but no later than 30 November 2020: The position will be filled in connection with the DFG-funded CRC-TR 211 "Strong-interaction matter under extreme conditions". The initial tenure track appointment is for six years according to paragraph 64 of the Higher Education Act of the State of Hesse (HHG). The professorship is funded by the "Bund-Laender-Programm zur Foerderung des wissenschaftlichen Nachwuchses (BLP-TT)". Upon positive evaluation, the incumbent will be promoted to a permanent position at a higher level (W2). Candidates should not have obtained their PhD at Goethe University Frankfurt or should have worked as a researcher at an external institution for at least two years after their PhD. The doctorate should not date back to more than four years. We are looking for an early-career researcher with an outstanding research record in the field of gravitational-wave physics and its connections to neutron stars and nuclear physics. Participation in current and future collaborative-research initiatives of the Department of Physics, as well as interdisciplinary cooperation within the Faculties of Science is expected. The ideal candidate has a PhD in Theoretical Physics and experience in teaching Theoretical Physics as well as the ability to teach advanced courses in Theoretical Astrophysics and Gravitational Physics. Goethe University is committed to increasing the proportion of female faculty and therefore especially encourages women to apply. Applications of persons with international experience are explicitly requested. Severely handicapped applicants with equal qualification and aptitude will be given preferential consideration. For further information regarding the general conditions for professorship appointments and the "BLP-TT", please see: www.vakante-professuren.uni-frankfurt.de Qualified researchers are invited to submit their application in English or German including a CV, certificates, teaching experience and, if possible, teaching evaluations, publication list, list of third-party funding, short presentation of the research concept by 31 January 2020 in electronic form to the Dean of the Department of Physics, Goethe-Universitaet, Max-von-Laue-Str. 1, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany, e-mail: dekanat[AT]physik.uni-frankfurt.de +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.13. Postdoctoral position "Gravitation and Physics of the Cosmos", Bilbao, Spain ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=16742 Deadline: 2020-02-15 Location: Bilbao, Spain Additional Information: https://www.ehu.eus/en/web/fthc-ftzh/ Contact: david.brizuela[AT]ehu.eus Applications are invited for a postdoctoral position in the Department of Theoretical Physics and History of Science at the University of the Basque Country in Bilbao (Spain). The appointment will have a duration of 14 months and will begin in the fall of 2020. There is some flexibility on the date of the beginning of the position although, in any case, the funds will expire by the end of 2021. This position is attached to the Research Group "Gravitation and Physics of the Cosmos" (FIS2017-85076-P), funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, with Ruth Lazkoz and David Brizuela as principal investigators. Other members of our group are Jose M M Senovilla, Raul Vera, Inaki Garay, Mariam Bouhmadi-Lopez, Borja Reina and Vincenzo Salzano, as well as several graduate students. Some members of the group belong to the European Network (COST Action) CANTATA, led by Dr. Lazkoz. The group also benefits from close ties and permanent collaboration with the Early Universe group, also attached to the same Department, including Igor Bandos, Jose Juan Blanco-Pillado and Jon Urrestilla. Our lines of research cover all mathematical and theoretical aspects of gravitation and Lorentzian geometry, astrophysical compact objects, loop quantum gravity, quantum cosmology, dark energy and dark matter, cosmological observational tests, and alternative theories of gravity. The successful candidate is required to hold a PhD at the starting date of the position, and might have the opportunity to assist with some teaching duties of the Department. Interested candidates should send a CV and a brief statement of research interests (1-2 pages long) to the following both email addresses with the subject "Postdoc Bilbao 2020": david.brizuela[AT]ehu.eus ruth.lazkoz[AT]ehu.eus In addition, the candidates should arrange for at least two letters of recommendation to be submitted to the same email addresses with the subject "Postdoc Bilbao 2020: 'candidate's name'". All applications received before next 15 February will be considered. The deadline might be extended, if needed, until a suitable candidate is found and the position is filled. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ============================================== 3. News ============================================== 3.1. GRG Editor's Choice: recent highlight articles ------------------------------------------------------------ Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2019/12/09/grg-editors-choice-recent-hig... Additional Information: https://www.springer.com/gp/livingreviews/relativity/grg-editors-choice In each volume of the journal General Relativity and Gravitation (GRG), a few papers are marked as "Editor's Choice". The primary criteria is original, high-quality research that is of wide interest within the community. These recent articles deserves special attention: Abraham I. Harte, "Gravitational lensing beyond geometric optics: II. Metric independence", Gen Relativ Gravit (2019) 51: 160. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10714-019-2646-7 Madeleine Burkhart and Daniel Pollack, "Causal geodesic incompleteness of spacetimes arising from IMP gluing", Gen Relativ Gravit (2019) 51: 139. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10714-019-2621-3 Please, browse all Editor's Choice articles at: https://www.springer.com/gp/livingreviews/relativity/grg-editors-choice Frank Schulz Publishing Editor GRG ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 3.2. Deadline 1 Feb 2020: 2020 IUPAP General Relativity and Gravitation Young Scientist Prize ------------------------------------------------------------ Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2019/12/21/deadline-1-feb-2020-2020-iupa... Additional Information: http://www.isgrg.org/IUPAPprize.php The IUPAP Young Scientist Prizes recognize outstanding achievements of scientists at early stages of their career. Each prize consists of a certificate citing the contributions made by the recipient, a medal and 1000 euros. The conditions for the prize are: The Prize can be for work in any area of relativity and gravitation, theoretical or experimental. On 1 February 2020, nominees must have a maximum of eight years of research experience (excluding career interruptions) following the Ph.D. (or equivalent) degree. They are expected to have displayed significant achievement and exceptional promise for future achievements in relativity and gravitation. The primary nominator MUST BE A MEMBER of the International Society on General Relativity and Gravitation. Writers of support letters and candidates need not be members. The nomination deadline is 1 Feb 2020. Additional details may be found at http://www.isgrg.org/IUPAPprize.php. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 3.3. Call for suggestions to republish valuable books ------------------------------------------------------------ Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2019/12/26/call-for-suggestions-to-repub... Additional Information: http://www.minkowskiinstitute.org/mip/books/lobachevsky.html Dear Colleagues, Any suggestions for republishing valuable (spacetime physics related) books that are out of print and are now in the public domain will be appreciated. The books will be published by the Minkowski Institute Press (http://www.minkowskiinstitute.org/mip/books/) - an academic publisher run by academics for academics and associated with the Minkowski Institute in Montreal. Best wishes, Vesselin Petkov Minkowski Institute Montreal, Canada http://spacetimecentre.org/vpetkov/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 3.4. 2020 Awards for Essays on Gravitation ------------------------------------------------------------ Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2019/12/29/2020-awards-for-essays-on-gra... Additional Information: http://www.gravityresearchfoundation.org 2020 Awards for Essays on Gravitation In 2020, for our seventy-first competition, the trustees of the Gravity Research Foundation are offering five awards for short essays for stimulating thought and encouraging work on the phenomenon of gravitation. The stipulations follow: (1) We will make these Awards on May 15, 2020 for the best and most well-written essays about gravitation, its theory, applications, or effects. Essays should be 1500 words or fewer excluding abstracts and a small number of equations, diagrams, tables, and references. The subject matter may or may not be original research. The essay competition is not intended to replace a research journal where the detailed results of original research are submitted. Essays should not give lengthy detailed mathematical calculations nor detailed descriptions of an experimental setup. Essay ideas should be self-contained and understandable - not dependent on reading other documents. (2) The First Award will be $4000.00 The Second Award will be 1250.00 The Third Award will be 1000.00 The Fourth Award will be 750.00 The Fifth Award will be 500.00 (3) Essay must be typed in English and e-mailed in a single PDF file before April 1, 2020. One essay only will be accepted from each author. Notify us within 24 hours if you do not receive an e-mail confirmation of your submission. (4) Title page should include all the following: essay title, authors' names (specify corresponding author), e-mail & complete mailing addresses (for award notifications), submission date, an abstract of 125 words or fewer, and the statement: "Essay written for the Gravity Research Foundation 2020 Awards for Essays on Gravitation." Pages should be numbered. (5) The decision of the judges will be final and no reviews or comments will be provided. (6) Please check the awards announcement to be posted on our website: www.gravityresearchfoundation.org around May 15, 2020. We will also attempt to send all participants a general e-mail notification. (7) The five award-winning essays will be published in a special issue of the International Journal of Modern Physics D (IJMPD). Authors of essays designated Honorable Mention will be invited to submit their essays to the IJMPD where these may undergo additional refereeing at editorial discretion for possible publication. Authors of all other essays are free and encouraged to publish their essays after May 15th. Submission e-mail address: George M. Rideout, Jr., President, grideoutjr[AT]aol.com Recent First Award Winners: 2019 - Alessio Belenchia, Queen's University, Belfast, UK; Robert M. Wald, Enrico Fermi Institute, Chicago; Flaminia Giacomini, Esteban Castro-Ruiz, Caslav Brukner and Markus Aspelmeyer, IQOQI, Vienna, Austria 2018 - Jessica Santiago and Matt Visser, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand 2017 - Ivan Agullo, LSU; Adrian del Rio and Jose Navarro-Salas, Centro Mixto Universidad de Valencia-CSIC, Spain 2016 - Stephen L. Adler, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, New Jersey 2015 - Gerard't Hooft, Utrecht University and Spinoza Institute, the Netherlands 2014 - Lawrence M. Krauss, Arizona State University and Frank Wilczek, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) 2013 - Baocheng Zhang, Qing-yu Cai, Ming-sheng Zhan, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan and Li You, Tsinghua University, Bejing, China 2012 - Claus Kiefer and Manuel Kraemer, University of Cologne, Koeln, Germany 2011 - Ivan Agullo, Penn State and Leonard Parker, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 2010 - Mark Van Raamsdonk, University of British Columbia, Vancouver 2009 - Alexander Burinskii, Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia 2008 - T. Padmanabhan, IUCAA, Pune, India 2007 - S. Carlip, University of California at Davis 2006 - Vijay Balasubramanian, University of Pennsylvania; Donald Marolf, University of California at Santa Barbara and Moshe Rozali, University of British Columbia ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++