########################################### Table of Contents ########################################### 1. Conferences 1.1. Quantum Gravity 2020, Waterloo, Canada 1.2. 5th International Conference on Quantum and Particle Physics, London, UK 1.3. XXIX Astronomy and Astrophysics National Meeting of the Portuguese Astronomical Society, Lisbon, Portugal 1.4. Gravitational Waves, Black Holes and Fundamental Physics, Trieste, Italy 1.5. 56th Karpacz Winter School in Theoretical Physics 2020, Karpacz, Poland 1.6. 30th Texas Symposium on Relativistic Astrophysics, Portsmouth, UK 1.7. 2019 TGWG Conference, Taipei, Taiwan 2. Jobs 2.1. Post-Doctoral Researcher positions in "Gravity theory and gravitational wave phenomenology", Rome, Italy 2.2. Ph.D. student positions in quantum cosmology, Warsaw, Poland 2.3. Tier II Canada Research Chair in multi-messenger astrophysics at Bishop's University, Sherbrooke, Canada 2.4. Faculty position in gravitational wave observation, Leuven, Belgium 2.5. Postdoctoral position in HEPCAT group at the University of Cape Town, South Africa 2.6. PhD position in the HEPCAT group at the University of Cape Town, South Africa 2.7. ESA Reserach Fellowships in Space Science, The Netherlands, Spain 2.8. Montalcini Fellowship in the University of Trento, Italy 2.9. STFC Rutherford Fellowship, Nottingham, UK 2.10. Nottingham Research and Anne McLaren Fellowships, Nottingham, UK 2.11. ICG postdoctoral research fellow, Portsmouth, UK 2.12. Postdoctoral position in numerical relativity at Rhodes University, South Africa 2.13. Postdoctoral position in relativistic astrophysics at Paris Observatory, France 2.14. Postdoc at Nottingham, UK 3. News 3.1. Living Reviews in Relativity: "Lorentzian causality theory" 3.2. International Master in Mathematical Physics at Leipzig University, Germany 3.3. News of the International School of Astrophysics Daniel Chalonge Hector de Vega, Paris, France 3.4. Death of Don Witt 3.5. GRG Editor's Choice free-to-read for GR22/Amaldi13 ============================================== 1. Conferences ============================================== 1.1. Quantum Gravity 2020, Waterloo, Canada --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=15768 Starting: 2020-07-13 to 2020-07-17 Location: Perimeter Institute, Waterloo, Canada Additional Information: http://www.perimeterinstitute.ca/conferences/quantum-gravity-2020 Contact: eichhorn[AT]sdu.dk This is the first announcement of the international conference "Quantum Gravity 2020" which will take place at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics from Monday, July 13 to Friday, July 17, 2020. 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 this conference will open shortly. The list of scientific organizers and the scientific advisory committee can be found on the webpage. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.2. 5th International Conference on Quantum and Particle Physics, London, UK --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=15773 Starting: 2019-10-21 to 2019-10-22 Location: London, UK Additional Information: http://quantumphysics.alliedacademies.com/ Contact: quantumphysics[AT]mail.com Theme: Endorse and Engross the Impacts of Quantum and Particle Physics The 5th International Conference on Quantum Physics and Particle Physics a two-day gathering of prominent physicists, researchers, students and experts in the industry of quantum technology on October 21-22, 2019 at Zurich, Switzerland. Over the past 4 years, our Physics conferences attendees have enjoyed a sound technical program with a world of opportunities to explore the future. At this quantum physics conference let us celebrate what we, as a professional community, have achieved. In addition, the future vision of this meetings is to create even greater value to all corners of the globe. With keynotes, oral and poster presentations, to delegates and exhibitors from national and international, this quantum physics conference will be filled with the greatest minds to share your thoughts and exchange ideas on how to chart your journey forward to reach new heights. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.3. XXIX Astronomy and Astrophysics National Meeting of the Portuguese Astronomical Society, Lisbon, Portugal --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2019/06/07/xxix-astronomy-and-astrophysi... Starting: 2019-09-12 to 2019-09-13 Location: Lisbon, Portugal Additional Information: https://centra.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/network/costar/enaa2019/ Contact: enaa2019[AT]tecnico.ulisboa.pt We are happy to announce the XXIX Astronomy and Astrophysics National Meeting on 12-13 September 2019 at the Instituto Superior Tecnico, University of Lisbon, Portugal. This year's edition will celebrate the 100th year anniversary of the detection of gravitational light deflection by the F. W. Dyson, A. Eddington, A. C. de la C. Crommelin and C. R. Davidson expeditions to the island of Principe in San Tome and Sobral in Brasil during the total solar eclipse on May 29th 1919. If you are interested in attending the conference, please register and send an abstract before July 26th. Links to registration and abstract submission are now available on the conference website: https://centra.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/network/costar/enaa2019/ We would appreciate if you could share the information below to people who you think might be interested in participating. Local Organizing Committee: Ana Brito - CENTRA, IST, University of Lisbon/ISG - Business and Economics School Ana Mourao - CENTRA, IST, University of Lisbon Andre Moitinho - CENTRA, FCUL, University of Lisbon Ilidio Lopes - CENTRA, IST, University of Lisbon Ismael Tereno - IA, University of Lisbon Jose Lemos - CENTRA, IST, University of Lisbon Jose Lopes - CENTRA, IST, University of Lisbon Santiago Gonzalez - CENTRA, IST, University of Lisbon Violetta Sagun - CFisUC, University of Coimbra Feel free to contact us: enaa2019[AT]tecnico.ulisboa.pt We look forward to see you at ENNA! +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.4. Gravitational Waves, Black Holes and Fundamental Physics, Trieste, Italy --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2019/06/17/gravitational-waves-black-hol... Starting: 2020-01-13 to 2020-01-16 Location: Trieste, Italy Additional Information: https://indico.sissa.it/event/37/ Contact: gwverse2020[AT]sissa.it Third meeting of the GWVerse COST action The long-held promise of gravitational-wave astronomy as a new window onto the universe has finally materialized. We have taken but the first steps along a new, exciting avenue that has now opened before us. The harvesting of useful information from gravitational-wave signals and the understanding of its broader implications demand a cross-disciplinary effort. How, when and in which environment were black holes formed? How fast do they spin and how have some of them grown to become supermassive? Can black hole mergers inform us on the nature and distribution of dark matter? Are there new fundamental degrees of freedom? Gravitational waves will allow for precise tests of General Relativity, and of the black hole paradigm itself. However, to be able to collect and interpret the information encoded in the GWs, one has to be equipped with faithful and accurate theoretical models of the predicted waveforms. To accomplish the far-reaching goals of gravitational-wave science it is of paramount importance to bring together expertise over a very broad range of topics, from astrophysics and cosmology, through general-relativistic source modelling to particle physics and other areas of fundamental science. In 2016, a short time before the announcement of the first gravitational-wave detection, a cross-disciplinary initiative in Europe led to the establishment of the new Marie Curie CA16104 COST networking Action on "Black holes, gravitational waves and fundamental physics" ("GWverse"). GWverse aims to maintain and consolidate leadership in black-hole physics and gravitational-wave science. The Action supports the training of the next generation of leaders in the field, and the very first "native" GW/multi-messenger astronomers, ready to tackle the challenges of high-precision GW astronomy with ground and space-based detectors. The third global meeting of the Action will take place in Trieste, Jan 14-16 2020. Scientific Organising Committee: Leor Barack (University of Southampton, UK) Enrico Barausse (SISSA, Trieste) Vitor Cardoso (CENTRA/Departamento de Fisica, Lisbon) Valeria Ferrari (INFN, Rome) Stefano Liberati (SISSA, Trieste) Samaya Nissanke (Department of Astrophysics/IMAPP, Radboud University Nijmegen) Thomas Sotiriou (School of Mathematical Sciences & School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham) Local Organising Committee: Enrico Barausse, Alexandru Dima, Stefano Liberati, Giovanni Tambalo. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.5. 56th Karpacz Winter School in Theoretical Physics 2020, Karpacz, Poland --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=15842 Starting: 2020-02-24 to 2020-02-28 Location: Karpacz, Poland Additional Information: https://indico.cern.ch/event/823088/overview Contact: karpacz2020[AT]ift.uni.wroc.pl The 56 Karpacz Winter School in Theoretical Physics will be held during the last week of February of 2020. This school is framed as a Ph.D. training school under the title "Superfluidity and Transport for Multimessenger Physics of Compact Stars." The venue of this meeting is the Artus Hotel Karpacz, Karpacz, Poland. Lecturers include: Mark Alford (Phys. Dept., Washington University St. Louis, USA) "Dissipation and transport in neutron stars and mergers" Danai Antonopoulou (Nikolaus Copernicus Astronomical Centre, Warsaw, Poland) "Superfluid signatures in neutron star rotation" Aurel Bulgac (Phys. Dept., Washington State U., USA) "Density functional approach to superfluid systems" Nicolas Chamel (Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium) "Probing nuclear superfluidity with neutron stars" Eckhard Krotscheck (Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria and SUNY, Buffalo, USA) "Many-body computations of pairing in neutron matter, EoS of nuclear matter from Correlated Basis Functions" Cristina Manuel (Instituto de Ciencias del Espacio (IEEC-CSIC) of Barcelona, Spain) "Relativistic chiral kinetic theory, transport methods in quantum field theories" Adriana R. Raduta (Horia Hulubei National Institute, Bucharest, Romania) "Thermal evolution of neutron stars and the role of their superfluidity" Organizers: Armen Sedrakian (Chair), David Blaschke, Tobias Fischer, Ian Jones, Bryn Haskell, Constanca Providencia Sponsors: COST Action CA16214 "PHAROS" +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.6. 30th Texas Symposium on Relativistic Astrophysics, Portsmouth, UK --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2019/06/28/30th-texas-symposium-on-relat... Starting: 2019-12-15 to 2019-12-20 Location: Portsmouth, UK Additional Information: http://www.texas2019.org Contact: texas2019[AT]port.ac.uk 30th Texas Symposium on Relativistic Astrophysics, Portsmouth, UK Sunday 15th to Friday 20th December 2019 Registration and Call for Abstracts opens on 15th July Invited speakers: Antony Lewis (University of Sussex, UK) Astrid Eichorn (University of Southern Denmark & Heidelberg University, Germany) Chris Reynolds (University of Cambridge, UK) Claudia De Rham (Imperial College London, UK) Dany Page (National Autonomous University, Mexico) Elena Gallo (University of Michigan, USA) Elena Rossi (Leiden University, Netherlands) Elisa Resconi (Technical University Munich, Germany) Elisabeth Krause (University of Arizona, USA) Giovanni Losurdo (INFN Pisa, Italy) Juan Garcia-Bellido (University of Madrid, Spain) Luciano Rezzolla (University of Frankfurt, Germany) Martin Lemoine (IAP, France) Rennan Barkana (Tel Aviv University, Israel) Takahiro Tanaka (Kyoto University, Japan) Tanja Hinderer (University of Amsterdam, Netherlands) Tom Giblin (Kenyon College Ohio, USA) Ulisses Barres de Almeida (CBPF, Brazil) The symposium will be hosted by the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation at the University of Portsmouth and is sponsored by the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics and the Royal Astronomical Society. Any enquiries please contact the organisers at Texas2019[AT]port.ac.uk. We look forward to welcoming you to Portsmouth Marco Bruni and David Wands (chairs of the scientific and local organising committees) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.7. 2019 TGWG Conference, Taipei, Taiwan --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=15885 Starting: 2019-10-01 to 2019-10-04 Location: Taipei, Taiwan Additional Information: https://taipeigravitationalwavegroup.weebly.com/2019-tgwg-conference.html Contact: alessandro26[AT]live.it Due to the recent discoveries of gravitational wave from aLIGO/VIRGO observations, gravitational wave physics, and the related topics on black holes, neutron stars, quantum optics and dark matters have become the important portal to exploring the deep mysteries of our Universe. Regarding this, we hold this conference to bring local community in Taiwan both basics and advances of the topics, and hope to inspire the young generations to devote to gravitational wave physics. Invited Speakers: Luc Blanchet (IAP) Kostas Kokkotas (Tubingen University) James Lattimer (Stony Brook University) Yosuke Mizuno (Frankfurt University) Tsvi Piran (Hebrew University) Riccardo Sturani (IIP) John Veitch (University of Glasgow) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ============================================== 2. Jobs ============================================== 2.1. Post-Doctoral Researcher positions in "Gravity theory and gravitational wave phenomenology", Rome, Italy ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2019/06/05/post-doctoral-researcher-posi... Deadline: 2019-10-31 Location: Rome, Italy Additional Information: https://web.uniroma1.it/gmunu/jobs Contact: paolo.pani[AT]uniroma1.it We expect to open multiple Post-Doctoral Researcher positions at various seniority levels to work in the area of strong gravity (theory and phenomenology). The successful candidates will join the "Gravity theory and gravitational wave phenomenology" group at Sapienza University of Rome. The appointment is for two years, with a net salary (depending on seniority) competitive with international standards. All candidates must hold (or soon be completing) a Ph.D. in Physics. The positions are expected to start by September/October 2020, but earlier start dates (up to Fall 2019) will be considered. Screening of the applications will begin in September 2019 and will continue until the positions are filled. The research activity of the successful candidate will focus on gravitational-wave modelling and phenomenology, black-hole and neutron-star physics, tests of gravity and of the nature of compact objects, and strong-gravity tests of dark matter. The members of the group are also expected to get involved in other activities such as training of students. Staff members of the gravity theory group at Sapienza currently include Valeria Ferrari, Leonardo Gualtieri, Andrea Maselli, and Paolo Pani, as well as Marie Curie Fellow Richard Brito, postdoc Swetha Bhagwat, five PhD students, and several master students. The group is involved in the COST Actions "CA 16104 Gravitational waves, black holes and fundamental physics (GWverse)" and "CA 16214 The multi-messenger physics and astrophysics of neutron stars (PHAROS)". It is part of the "Amaldi Research Center for gravitational physics and astrophysics" at Sapienza, of the RISE H2020-MC network "Strong gravity and high-energy physics (StronGrHEP)" and of the INFN Specific Initiative TEONGRAV - Gravitational Wave Sources. Members of the group are also part of the LISA Consortium, the GWIC-3G Science Case Team, and eXTP Science Team. The group has also strong connections with other local groups at Sapienza, with the gravity groups in Lisbon (IST), Johns Hopkins University, Tubingen, Nottingham, Baleares, Cambridge, Aveiro, SISSA, Milano Bicocca, and King's College London. The Department of Physics at Sapienza hosts renowned research groups in several areas of physics and is regularly included among the first 40 Physics & Astronomy institutes in the world according to various rankings. Sapienza University of Rome values diversity and is committed to equality of opportunity. The selection will be done in agreement with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers, and particular attention will be paid to the gender balance of the group. These positions are funded by the Italian Ministry of Research (MIUR, PRIN 2017) and by the ERC Starting Grant DarkGRA. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.2. Ph.D. student positions in quantum cosmology, Warsaw, Poland ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=15775 Deadline: 2019-07-31 Location: Warsaw, Poland Additional Information: http://gradschool.ncbj.gov.pl Contact: Przemyslaw.Malkiewicz[AT]ncbj.gov.pl Theory Group in National Centre for Nuclear Research invites applications for Ph.D. student positions in gravity and cosmology. The positions are supposed to be filled after 1st of October 2019 and last for up to 4 years. The positions are funded by the National Science Centre, Poland with decision 2018/30/E/ST2/00370. The successful candidates will work in the area of classical and quantum cosmology with emphasis on such aspects as perturbation theory in anisotropic cosmological backgrounds, singularity resolution, semiclassical methods and use of observational data. The goal of the funded project is to develop a novel model explaining the origin of the primordial Universe and its structures. The monthly stipend is 4500PLN (not subject to income tax, a small sum will be deducted to cover health insurance). Necessary resources including some travel funds will be available to the appointees. The deadline for applications is 31 July 2019. Applications should be submitted via the Doctoral School online application portal https://gs.ncbj.gov.pl. The applicant will need to provide CV, College diploma, College transcripts, a statement of research interests and achievements, and optionally other information that may strengthen his or her application. In the application form one should indicate either "Modelling the Evolution of the Primordial Universe" or "Quantum origin of the primordial structure in the Universe" as the research topic. For details please visit the Doctoral School webpage http://gradschool.ncbj.gov.pl or contact the PI, dr. Przemyslaw Malkiewicz Przemyslaw.Malkiewicz[at]ncbj.gov.pl. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.3. Tier II Canada Research Chair in multi-messenger astrophysics at Bishop's University, Sherbrooke, Canada ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=15784 Deadline: 2019-08-30 Location: Sherbrooke, Canada Additional Information: https://www.ubishops.ca Contact: researchoffice[AT]ubishops.ca TIER II CANADA RESEARCH CHAIR IN MULTI-MESSENGER ASTROPHYSICS Bishop's University in Sherbrooke, Quebec (www.ubishops.ca) has an opening for a tenure-stream Tier II Canada Research Chair position in multi-messenger astrophysics. The Department of Physics & Astronomy welcomes applications in this broad field, with specialization in one or more of the following areas: gravitational waves, compact objects, cosmology, and gravitational physics; astroparticle physics; radio, optical, and X-ray astronomy; big data and astronomical instrumentation. The CRC program was created by the Government of Canada to cultivate world-class research and development. The Tier II Chair will be awarded for a five year period, renewable once upon approval from the CRC program. Tier II Chairs are intended for exceptional emerging scholars (i.e., candidates must have been active researchers in their field for fewer than 10 years at the time of nomination). Applicants who completed their highest degree more than 10 years ago (and where career interruptions exist) may have their eligibility for a Tier II CRC assessed through the program's Tier II justification process. The legitimate impact that leaves (e.g., maternity leave, sick leave) can have on a candidate's record of research achievement will be taken into careful consideration during the assessment process. Please contact Bishop's Research Office for eligibility details and consult the CRC Foundation for full program information, including further details on eligibility criteria (http://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/program-programme/nomination-mise_en_candida...). Applicants for this position should possess a PhD (or equivalent) and have postdoctoral experience and a superior research profile in one of the proposed areas. Successful candidates will demonstrate the ability to obtain external funding and the potential to emerge as internationally recognized scholars. Teaching duties consist of two (3 credit hours each) semester-length courses per academic year. A strong teaching record is also beneficial. Bilingualism/multilingualism is an asset. The successful candidate will join a thriving research team comprised of faculty members, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate and undergraduate students. Bishop's commits to building and enhancing an environment that supports outstanding research and creative activity. Astrophysics and Relativity are long-standing research strengths at Bishop's University and are prominent in its Strategic Research Plan (https://www.ubishops.ca/wp-content/uploads/Strategic-Research-Plan2017-2022-...). Bishop's University welcomes diversity in the workplace and encourages applications from all qualified members of equity-seeking groups, including women, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, people with diverse gender identities, and people with disabilities. Members of these groups are encouraged to identify themselves. Although, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, all qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Bishop's University implements an equal access employment / program under the Act respecting equal access to employment in public bodies for women, visible minorities, ethnic minority, Aboriginal and disabled people (including the possibility of accommodation during the selection process). Candidates who anticipate needing accomodation for any part of the process may contact Human Resources at HR@ubishops.ca. Application packages, including a letter of intent, curriculum vitae, statement of research achievements and future objectives, evidence of teaching effectiveness, and the names and contact of at least three referees, must be sent as PDF files to researchoffice[AT]ubishops.ca Review of the applications will begin on August 30, 2019 and will continue until a nominee is chosen. Ideally, a full application package will be submitted to the CRC program in April 2020. The start date is negotiable. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.4. Faculty position in gravitational wave observation, Leuven, Belgium ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=15793 Deadline: 2019-09-20 Location: Leuven, Belgium Additional Information: https://www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jobsite/jobs/55192386 Contact: thomas.hertog[AT]kuleuven.be KU Leuven invites applications for a tenure-track or tenured faculty position to strengthen its gravitational wave research program and to lead its efforts towards the development and scientific exploitation of the next generation of gravitational wave observatories. The Gravitational Wave Centre at KU Leuven currently includes gravity theorists and astrophysicists, and experimentalists working on the design of instrumentation for gravitational wave observations. In addition, KU Leuven is home to an extensive signal processing, data science and machine learning community. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.5. Postdoctoral position in HEPCAT group at the University of Cape Town, South Africa ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=15800 Deadline: 2019-07-15 Location: Cape Town, South Africa Additional Information: http://hepcat.group Contact: amanda.weltman[AT]uct.ac.za Postdoctoral Fellowships in the High Energy Physics, Cosmology & Astrophysics Theory (HEPCAT) group at the University of Cape Town, South Africa The High Energy Physics, Cosmology and Astrophysics Theory group in the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics at the University of Cape Town (UCT) seeks highly qualified postdoctoral candidates to start in 2019. The group has 2 core faculty members - Amanda Weltman and Shajid Haque and associate members include Jeff Murugan, Jon Shock, Julien Larena, Will Horowitz and Kurt van der Heyden. We will consider all eligible candidates, however the priority research areas will be 21 cm cosmology, FRBs and probing modified gravity theories with gravitational waves. The successful candidate(s) will have the opportunity to join and work on the Hydrogen Intensity and Real-time Analysis eXperiment (HIRAX), a new radio telescope array currently under construction in South Africa, that has science goals of 21cm cosmology, transients, pulsars, and hydrogen absorbers. Successful candidates will have the opportunity to work on a combination of radio hardware design and integration, instrument characterisation, simulations and forecasting, and analysis techniques for large data sets. The position is for two years with the possibility of extension subject to progress and funding. Starting dates are negotiable and may begin as soon as possible in 2019. Applicants should please send 1 pdf file including your CV, publications and a brief statement of your research interests, and arrange to have three letters of reference e-mailed to Professor Amanda Weltman - Amanda.weltman[AT]uct.ac.za by 15 July, 2019, for full consideration. The position(s) will remain open until filled. Note that applicants should have obtained their PhD degree in a related field (Physics, Astronomy or Applied Mathematics) within the last five years and may not have held any prior permanent academic posts. The University of Cape Town: reserves the right to disqualify ineligible, incomplete and/or inappropriate applications, and reserves the right to change the conditions of award, and/or to make no awards at all. UCT is committed to the pursuit of excellence, diversity and redress. Our Employment Equity Policy is available http://www.uct.ac.za/downloads/uct.ac.za/about/policies/eepolicy.pdf +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.6. PhD position in the HEPCAT group at the University of Cape Town, South Africa ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=15801 Deadline: 2019-07-15 Location: Cape Town, South Africa Additional Information: http://hepcat.group Contact: amanda.weltman[AT]uct.ac.za PhD Fellowships in the High Energy Physics, Cosmology & Astrophysics Theory (HEPCAT) group at the University of Cape Town, South Africa The High Energy Physics, Cosmology and Astrophysics Theory group in the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics at the University of Cape Town (UCT) seeks highly qualified postdoctoral candidates to start in 2019. The group has 2 core faculty members - Amanda Weltman and Shajid Haque and associate members include Jeff Murugan, Jon Shock, Julien Larena, Will Horowitz and Kurt van der Heyden. We will consider all eligible candidates, however the priority research areas will be 21 cm cosmology, FRBs, probing modified gravity theories with gravitational waves. The successful candidate(s) will have the opportunity to join and train on the Hydrogen Intensity and Real-time Analysis eXperiment (HIRAX), a new radio telescope array currently under construction in South Africa, that has science goals of 21cm cosmology, transients, pulsars, and hydrogen absorbers. Successful candidates will have the opportunity to work on a combination of radio hardware design and integration, instrument characterisation, simulations and forecasting, and analysis techniques for large data sets. There are additional opportunities to perform joint work within other group research areas, including amplitudes in astrophysics, machine learning and theoretical cosmology more broadly. A Masters degree in a related field (physics, astronomy or applied mathematics) is a prerequisite. Applicants should please send 1 pdf file including your CV, publications if any, academic transcripts and a brief statement of your research interests, and arrange to have three letters of reference e-mailed to Professor Amanda Weltman - Amanda.weltman[AT]uct.ac.za by 15 July, 2019, for full consideration. The University of Cape Town: reserves the right to disqualify ineligible, incomplete and/or inappropriate applications, and reserves the right to change the conditions of award, and/or to make no awards at all. UCT is committed to the pursuit of excellence, diversity and redress. Our Employment Equity Policy is available http://www.uct.ac.za/downloads/uct.ac.za/about/policies/eepolicy.pdf +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.7. ESA Reserach Fellowships in Space Science, The Netherlands, Spain ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=15864 Deadline: 2019-10-01 Location: Noordwijk (NL) and Madrid (E) Additional Information: http://cosmos.esa.int/fellowship Contact: fellowship@cosmos.esa.int The European Space Agency awards several postdoctoral fellowships each year. The aim of these fellowships is to provide scientists in their early career, holding a PhD or the equivalent degree, with the means of performing research in fields related to the ESA Science Programme. Areas of research include planetary science, astronomy and astrophysics, solar and solar-terrestrial science, plasma physics and fundamental physics. The fellowships have a duration of two years, with the possible extension to three years, and are tenable at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in Noordwijk, Netherlands, or at the European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC) in Villafranca del Castillo, near Madrid, Spain. Applications are now solicited for fellowships in space science to begin in the fall of 2020. Preference will be given to applications submitted by candidates in an early stage of their career. Candidates not holding a PhD yet are encouraged to apply, but they must provide evidence of receiving their degree before starting the fellowship. ESA fellows are enrolled in ESA's Social Security Scheme, which covers medical expenses. A monthly deduction covers these short-term and long-term risks. The deadline for applications is 1 October 2019. More information on the ESA Research Fellowship programme in Space Science, on the conditions and eligibility, as well as the application form can retrieved from the fellowship website (see link). Questions on the scientific aspects of the ESA Fellowship in Space Science not answered in the above pages can be sent by e-mail to the fellowship coordinators, Dr. Oliver Jennrich or Dr. Jan-Uwe Ness at the address fellowship[AT]cosmos.esa.int +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.8. Montalcini Fellowship in the University of Trento, Italy ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=15865 Deadline: 2019-07-18 Location: Trento, Italy Additional Information: https://bandomontalcini.cineca.it/ Contact: massimiliano.rinaldi@unitn.it The Laboratory of "Relativistic theory of gravity and cosmology" of the Physics Department of the University of Trento, Italy, encourages suitable candidates to apply for a "Rita Levi Montalcini" fellowship. The group is composed by Prof. L. Vanzo, Dr. M. Rinaldi, one postdoc, and few PhD students. The research interests span from the physics of black holes to inflation, dark energy, modified gravity, and quantum fields on curved space. The "Rita Levi Montalcini" is a very competitive program aimed to bring to Italy young researchers, of any nationality, who have worked at least three years outside Italy and have obtained their doctorate between Oct 31st 2012 and Oct 31st 2015. The online application form allows to choose up to 5 institutions in order of preference. If a candidate is willing to work in our lab, he/she should put Trento as first choice. The appointed candidates will be enrolled with a three-year tenure track contract that will turn into associate professorship upon satisfactory performance. To apply, go the url indicated below and click on "Presentazione domande". A description in English of the Montalcini Fellowship is available here: https://bandomontalcini.cineca.it/ProgGiovRic/dm241218_869_english_version.p... The deadline for online submission is July 18th 2019. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.9. STFC Rutherford Fellowship, Nottingham, UK ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=15872 Deadline: 2019-07-15 Location: Nottingham, UK Additional Information: https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/mathematics/research/mathematical-physics.aspx Contact: Thomas.Sotiriou[AT]nottingham.ac.uk The School of Mathematical Sciences of the University of Nottingham plans to support a candidate for the Ernest Rutherford Fellowship awarded by the STFC. The duration of the fellowship is 5-years and the STFC deadline is September 19th 2019. More information about the fellowship can be found here: http://www.stfc.ac.uk/funding/fellowships/ernest-rutherford-fellowship/ The School of Mathematical Sciences can support only one candidate and we will review applications from interested candidates. Expressions of interest should be sent to Professor Thomas Sotiriou, email: Thomas.Sotiriou[AT]nottingham.ac.uk They should be received before July 15th in order to receive full consideration and should include a full CV (a research statement or proposal is not necessary at this stage). Successful applicants will be hosted by the Quantum Gravity Group that includes John Barrett, Steffen Gielen, Kirill Krasnov, Jorma Louko, Alex Schenkel, Thomas Sotiriou and Silke Weinfurtner. The current research interests of the group include: alternative theories of gravity, analogue gravity, black holes and compact stars (strong gravity), quantum field theory in curved spacetimes, quantum gravity Research proposals in topics that are complementary to the above are also very welcome. The group has close ties (including a joint STFC Consolidated Grant) with the Particle Theory Group in the School of Physics and Astronomy, which includes Tasos Avgoustidis, Clare Burrage, Ed Copeland, Anne Green, Adam Moss, Tony Padilla and Paul Saffin. Candidates who would like to be consider for other national fellowship schemes (e.g. Royal Society University Research Fellowship, EPSRC Early Career, etc.) or the Nottingham Research and Anne McLaren Fellowships are strongly encouraged to mention it in their expression of interest. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.10. Nottingham Research and Anne McLaren Fellowships, Nottingham, UK ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=15877 Deadline: 2019-08-22 Location: Nottingham, UK Additional Information: https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/jobs/currentvacancies/ref/SCI1897 Contact: Thomas.Sotiriou[AT]nottingham.ac.uk Applications are invited for Nottingham Research and Anne McLaren Fellowships in the School of Mathematical Sciences. Our fellowships provide 3 years of independent research funding, and are linked to a permanent academic position. More information about the fellowship scheme can be found here (use other link to apply): https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/research/researchwithus/fellowships/nottingham/... All queries regarding eligibility/details of the scheme should be directed to fellowships[AT]nottingham.ac.uk. Queries about a research project and its fit with School research priorities should be sent to Professor Thomas Sotiriou: thomas.sotiriou[AT]nottingham.ac.uk or David Hawker: david.hawker[AT]nottingham.ac.uk. Applications need to be submitted online though external link. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.11. ICG postdoctoral research fellow, Portsmouth, UK ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2019/06/29/icg-postdoctoral-research-fel... Deadline: 2019-07-16 Location: Portsmouth, UK Additional Information: http://www.icg.port.ac.uk/2019/06/postdoctoral-research-fellow/ Contact: david.wands[AT]port.ac.uk Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation, University of Portsmouth Postdoctoral Research Fellow Employment type: Fixed-term (12 months) Salary: GBP: 35,211 - 38,460 per annum Post number: ZZ005407 Closing date: 16 July 2019 We announce a one-year postdoctoral research fellowship at the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation (ICG) at the University of Portsmouth aimed at promising early-career researchers in cosmology. The successful candidate will have demonstrated excellence in research, complementing and extending the existing ICG research interests and expertise. During the fellowship, they will have the opportunity to develop their own programme of research and innovation, and help attract external funding to the ICG. The ICG consists of 14 academic staff, 18 postdoctoral researchers and 29 PhD students, with an active international visitors programme. Portsmouth is a member of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-IV) and Dark Energy Survey and the Large Synpotic Survey Telescope (LSST) with involvement in the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) and other major international collaborations, including ESA's Euclid satellite mission and the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). The University of Portsmouth is a member of the South-East Physics Network (SEPnet) and hosts the 3704-core SCIAMA supercomputer. More information is available at http://www.icg.port.ac.uk/ 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 which show a commitment to introduce organisational and cultural practices that promote diversity and equality and create a better working environment for women and men. Applications (application form, CV, publication list and research proposal for the fellowship) 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 icg-admin[AT]port.ac.uk, to arrive by the same date. We expect the fellowship to start 1st October 2019 or as close to that date as feasible. To find out more about the University of Portsmouth and this role, visit https://port.engageats.co.uk and apply on-line. All applications for this position will be processed and conducted in compliance with UK legislation relevant at that time. The University of Portsmouth is an equal opportunities employer, fully committed to creating and sustaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.12. Postdoctoral position in numerical relativity at Rhodes University, South Africa ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2019/06/30/postdoctoral-position-in-nume... Deadline: 2019-07-29 Location: Grahamstown, South Africa Additional Information: http://www.ru.ac.za/mathematics/ Contact: n.bishop[AT]ru.ac.za The appointment is for up to two years with a starting date as soon as possible and a salary of R220 000 per year, to work on a project "Cauchy Characteristic Matching, and Other Uses of the Characteristic Method in Numerical Relativity". In particular, we are seeking to further develop our matching code, which uses the Cactus framework with a BSSN code in the interior and a characteristic code in the exterior. The faculty members involved in this project are Nigel Bishop - see https://scholar.google.co.za/citations?user=m8CpFJkAAAAJ&hl=en Denis Pollney - see https://scholar.google.co.za/citations?user=lOK_rucAAAAJ&hl=en Chris Stevens - see https://www.ru.ac.za/mathematics/people/staff/chrisstevens/ Background information about the Department and the University can be found at https://www.ru.ac.za/mathematics/ Please apply via e-mail attaching a single PDF file that contains a letter of application, and a CV with a list of publications and a statement of accomplished research. The application should include the date of award of the PhD degree; and if not yet formally awarded, please explain your current status and the expected date of formal award of the degree. Please also arrange for 2 letters of recommendation to be sent in support of the application. All these items should be emailed to n.bishop[at]ru.ac.za with subject "Postdoc Application - Candidate name". This is a re-announcement of the position, and applications will be considered until the position is filled. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.13. Postdoctoral position in relativistic astrophysics at Paris Observatory, France ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2019/07/01/postdoctoral-position-in-rela... Deadline: 2019-08-15 Location: Meudon, France Additional Information: http://www.lesia.obspm.fr/-Emplois-stages-.html?id_emploi=112 Contact: guy.perrin[AT]obspm.fr Applications are solicited for a post-doctoral position at Paris Observatory/LESIA in collaboration with LUTh, IAP to work on the detection of the pericenter shift of the star S2 at the Galactic Center and on the detection of a potential extended mass around the super-massive black hole. The offer is for one year, renewable for a second year on the basis of satisfactory performance. The contract should start in fall 2019, an earlier start can be considered. GRAVITY has produced unprecedented results on the Galactic Center comprising the first ever direct detection of gravitational redshift around a super-massive black hole and the direct constrain of the size of a black hole down to a scale of 3.5 Schwarzschild radii. One of the next goals of the GRAVITY collaboration is the detection of the pericenter shift of S2 for a new test of general relativity and to explore invisible matter at the scale of the orbit and, later, the measurement of the spin of Sgr A*. The goals of the offer are (1) to build a Kerr metric perturbed by an extended mass component, (2) to test the orbit of S2 against this metrics and detect its relativistic pericenter advance, (3) to constrain the extended mass in the black hole vicinity, (4) to prepare for the measurement of the spin of Sgr A* with the orbit of S2. The PDRA will participate to observation campaigns and data reduction/analysis. Check the link at the LESIA website (given below) for a more detailed description. Applications are open to candidates of any nationality. Candidates should provide: a CV; a letter of motivation; a complete list of publications and a separate list of first-author publications; the PhD certificate or, if not yet earned, the date of defense; two reference letters. Applications must be submitted electronically to guy.perrin[AT]obspm.fr. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.14. Postdoc at Nottingham, UK ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=15891 Deadline: 2019-07-30 Location: Nottingham, UK Additional Information: https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/jobs/currentvacancies/ref/SCI228519 Contact: ed.copeland[AT]nottingham.ac.uk Applications are invited for the above STFC funded post to begin in October 2019, in which the candidate will have the opportunity to work with members of both the particle cosmology and quantum gravity groups. Candidates with research interests in any of the areas of Dark Energy, Dark Matter, Modified Gravity and Strong Gravity are encouraged to apply. They should have a PhD in physics or a related subject area. Because of the nature of the consolidated grant funding, the position is jointly held between the schools of physics and astronomy and mathematical sciences, the candidate will therefore have a unique opportunity to interact and collaborate with members of both schools. This full-time post will be offered on a fixed-term contract until 30 September 2020. Job share arrangements may be considered. Candidates are asked to attach a research proposal to their application along their CV. 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 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ============================================== 3. News ============================================== 3.1. Living Reviews in Relativity: "Lorentzian causality theory" ------------------------------------------------------------ Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2019/06/12/living-reviews-in-relativityl... Additional Information: https://www.springer.com/gp/livingreviews/relativity The open-access journal Living Reviews in Relativity has published a new review article on 3 June 2019: Ettore Minguzzi, "Lorentzian causality theory" Living Rev Relativ (2019) 22:3. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41114-019-0019-x Abstract: I review Lorentzian causality theory paying particular attention to the optimality and generality of the presented results. I include complete proofs of some foundational results that are otherwise difficult to find in the literature (e.g. equivalence of some Lorentzian length definitions, upper semi-continuity of the length functional, corner regularization, etc.). The paper is almost self-contained thanks to a systematic logical exposition of the many different topics that compose the theory. It contains new results on classical concepts such as maximizing curves, achronal sets, edges, horismos, domains of dependence, Lorentzian distance. The treatment of causally pathological spacetimes requires the development of some new versatile causality notions, among which I found particularly convenient to introduce: biviability, chronal equivalence, araying sets, and causal versions of horismos and trapped sets. Their usefulness becomes apparent in the treatment of the classical singularity theorems, which is here considerably expanded in the exploration of some variations and alternatives. Please, visit frequently our relativity channel (https://www.springer.com/gp/livingreviews/relativity) at http://livingreviews.org for other news. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 3.2. International Master in Mathematical Physics at Leipzig University, Germany ------------------------------------------------------------ Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2019/06/18/international-master-in-mathe... Additional Information: http://www.uni-leipzig.de/mathematical-physics Following the footprints of famous former professors such as W. Heisenberg, F. Klein or F. Bloch in our new 2-year master course students learn general principles of mathematics and theoretical physics, in-depth knowledge on selected topics and do independent research under the guidance of a professor. By solving complex problems and transferring concepts to related fields, the students prepare for a job in academia or industry and economy. Special features: - international - English as course language - interdisciplinary - joint initiative of Mathematics and Physics departments - forefront research - supported by the local Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences - no tuition fees; semester fee of 220 EUR Students can shape the program along their own preferences! We offer a wide range of courses on: - Dynamical Systems - Differential Geometry - Stochastic Processes - Gravity and Cosmology - Condensed and Soft Matter - Partial Differential Equations - Particles and Quantum Fields We would be more than happy to welcome interested students in our vibrant city with a rich cultural scene, affordable housing and a lot of green spaces and nearby lakes. The course starts annually in October. Application deadlines (May 31st - September 15th) depend on the current degree of the applicant. For more details, please refer to our program website: www.uni-leipzig.de/mathematical-physics ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 3.3. News of the International School of Astrophysics Daniel Chalonge Hector de Vega, Paris, France ------------------------------------------------------------ Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2019/06/18/news-of-the-international-sch... Additional Information: https://chalonge-devega.fr Open Session on The New Universe, Dark Energy and the New Black Holes, on Thursday, June 27, 2019 at the College of Spain at Paris, International University City of Paris, 7 boulevard Jourdan, 75014 Paris Addressed to specialists, non-specialists, teachers, students, post-docs, mediators, journalists. It brings together researchers from different disciplines and diverse personalities. On the Program: The Standard Model of the Universe beyond the Planck scale: The New Universe and the Quantum light-cone. The New Quantum Phase of the Universe. The New Black Holes. Dark energy = Vacuum energy = Cosmological constant = Temperature and Entropy of the Universe. -The scientific programs of the Italian Space Agency. -The image of the black hole explained by Norma Sanchez. The challenge today is to "see" the interior ... Chandrasekhar's triumph over Eddington ... Victor Hugo and the Observatoire de Paris ... "And that's not all ...." (Quote from Henri Poincare') Announcement and program: https://www.obspm.fr/ecole-internationale-d-4072.html Brochure and invitation: https://chalonge-devega.fr/Invitation27Juin2019.pdf To know more: https://chalonge-devega.fr/Programme2019.html With compliments and kind regards, International School Daniel Chalonge Hector de Vega https://chalonge-devega.fr/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 3.4. Death of Don Witt ------------------------------------------------------------ Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=15870 Additional Information: It is with great sadness that I write to let you know that Don Witt passed away April 19th after a long battle with cancer. Don received his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee under John Friedman. After positions at University of California, Santa Barbara and Syracuse University, he eventually became faculty at the University of British Columbia. He was best known for his discovery that homotopy was not equivalent to isotopy for homeomorphisms of 3-manifolds and for his work on topological censorship. He will be sorely missed by his family and colleagues. Kristin Schleich ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 3.5. GRG Editor's Choice free-to-read for GR22/Amaldi13 ------------------------------------------------------------ Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2019/06/26/grg-editors-choice-free-to-re... Additional Information: https://www.springer.com/gp/livingreviews/relativity/grg-editors-choice On the occasion of the GR22/Amaldi13 conference, all recent GRG Editor's Choice articles will be free-to-read during July 2019! 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. This recent article deserves special attention: Alan A. Coley, "Mathematical general relativity", Gen Relativ Gravit (2019) 51: 78. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10714-019-2559-5 Please, browse all Editor's Choice articles at: https://www.springer.com/gp/livingreviews/relativity/grg-editors-choice Frank Schulz Publishing Editor GRG ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++