I am hiring a PhD student in low-dimensional topology and knot theory at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany. The position is funded through my ERC Starting Grant "Cut-and-paste Conjectures and Multicurves".

Our research group works in low-dimensional topology and knot theory. We are interested in link homology theories, such as Heegaard Floer and Khovanov homology, and their application to open topological problems. Our work is supported by an individual research grant (project number 505125645) from the German Research Foundation (DFG) and a Starting Grant (project number 101115822) from the European Research Council (ERC). 

Your tasks:

• Conduct individual and collaborative research projects under my supervision.
• Publish high-quality papers in peer-reviewed journals.
• Disseminate research through talks at international workshops and conferences.
• Organize and actively participate in research group seminars.
• Contribute to fostering a collegial, inclusive, and respectful working environment where everyone is treated fairly, with dignity and respect.

Your profile:

• (Essential) Excellent Bachelor's Degree
• (Essential) Excellent Master's Degree (or be close to submission)
• (Essential) Good communication skills in either English or German.
• (Desirable, but not essential) Master thesis in topology, geometry, or algebra.
• (Desirable, but not essential) Working knowledge of a programming language (e.g., Python, C, C++).

Details about the position

• Duration: 36 months
• Start date: Between 1 April and 1 October 2026 (to be agreed upon)
• Salary: TV-L E13 75%, corresponding to an annual salary of €39,000–€44,000 before taxes
• Benefits: Ample travel funding and no teaching responsibilities
• Other incentives (standard German work benefits): Comprehensive health insurance and social security benefits, generous vacation policies, and a strong work-life balance

The position is salaried and based on the collective agreement of the Länder (TV-L). If the personal and collective agreement requirements are met, the employee will receive pay grade TV-L 13 TV-L. Further information can be found at oeffentlicher-dienst.info (in German). The place of work is Ruhr University Bochum.

About Ruhr University Bochum

Ruhr University Bochum is one of Germany’s largest universities, with a mathematics department that maintains a strong research focus, particularly in geometry and topology. The department is home to the Floer Centre of Geometry, a hub for collaboration with other German mathematical research centres, many of which are located nearby.

Application Process

Please submit the following documents as PDF files via our online application portal:

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The deadline for applications is 15 January 2026.

1. Cover letter (1–2 pages)
   • Provide a brief summary of your mathematical interests.
   • Indicate your preferred start date.
   • (Optional) Highlight any specific points about your application, such as reasons for joining my research group at Ruhr University Bochum.
2. Full CV (no page limit)
   • Include full details of your university studies.
   • Mention any programming experience, providing evidence where applicable (e.g. links to coding projects in online repositories such as GitHub).
3. A reference letter from the supervisor of your Bachelor's thesis (or equivalent)
   • Please ask your supervisor to send the letter directly from their institutional email address before the deadline.
   • If, for some reason, you cannot provide such a letter (e.g. if you have not written a Bachelor's thesis or equivalent), please explain the situation briefly in your cover letter and ask a university teacher who knows you well to provide a reference letter instead.
4. A reference letter from the supervisor of your Master’s thesis (or equivalent)
   • Please ask your supervisor to send the letter directly from their institutional email address before the deadline.
   • If the supervisors of your Bachelor's and Master’s theses are one and the same person, or if you cannot provide a reference letter from the supervisor of your Master’s thesis, please explain the situation briefly in your cover letter and ask another university teacher who knows you well to provide the second reference letter.
5. (Optional) Reference letter from other mathematicians
   • Please ask them to send the letter directly from their institutional email address before the deadline.
6. Official transcript of your Bachelor's degree
7. A copy of your Bachelor's thesis (or equivalent, if available)
8. Official transcript of your Master's degree
9. A copy of your Master's thesis (or equivalent, if already available)

Short-listed candidates for the PhD position will be interviewed remotely, with interviews expected to take place in January or February 2025.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch by email.