Postdoctoral Researcher in Data-Driven Micromagnetic Modelling

This study contributes to SPARK, an ERC Consolidator project that aims to unlock magnetic information stored in nanoscale vortex-state particles in rocks and other geological materials. These particles are predicted to be exceptionally stable magnetic recorders, yet their internal magnetic structure and recording behaviour remain largely enigmatic. Your work will focus on developing computational tools to bridge the gap between high-resolution magnetic observations and micromagnetic simulations.

You will lead the computational and data-driven development of a novel extension to the micromagnetic modelling code MERRILL, enabling reconstruction of internal magnetic configurations in individual vortex-state particles directly from experimental data.

Your main tasks and responsibilities include:

• Assessing the magnetic stability of vortex-state particles as a function of their size, shape, and mineralogy by developing data-driven micromagnetic computational simulations.
• Extending MERRILL with a data-driven workflow that incorporates constraints from Quantum Scanning Microscope and slice-and-view FIB-SEM measurements, enabling efficient convergence towards the most likely internal magnetic configuration of a particle.
• Contributing to the acquisition, processing, and interpretation of both high-resolution wide-field Quantum Diamond Microscope and Quantum Scanning Microscope data.
• Publishing both your scientific findings and the tools developed in a FAIR manner, contributing to open and reusable science and computational workflows.

You will work closely with two PhD candidates, who focus on the empirical characterization of vortex-state particles and the development of Nanomagnetic Tomography, and bring a geology-oriented background (e.g. from mineralogical or petrological courses or research projects during BSc and MSc studies). Together, you will combine complementary computational and experimental approaches to establish a robust, data-driven framework for identifying which vortex-state particles reliably record the Earth’s magnetic field. The development of the MERRILL extension will be done in collaboration with prof. Williams from Edinburgh University and prof. Fabian from NTNU Trondheim.

The project is embedded in the Paleomagnetic Laboratory Fort Hoofddijk, which hosts two Quantum Diamond Microscopes and a Quantum Scanning Microscope, enabling magnetic imaging at spatial resolutions from micrometres down to the nanometre scale. Advanced FIB-SEM facilities are available at Utrecht University’s Electron Microscopy Center. The project further benefits from excellent dedicated CPU and GPU computing infrastructure to support large-scale numerical modelling and data analysis.

This is a full-time, two-year postdoctoral position funded by an ERC Consolidator Grant ‘SPARK’ awarded to Dr Lennart de Groot.

PhD position in Nanoscale Rock Magnetism and Magnetic Imaging

This study is part of the ERC Consolidator project SPARK, which aims to unlock magnetic information stored in nanoscale vortex-state particles in rocks and other geological materials. These tiny particles may preserve key information on the strength and behaviour of the geomagnetic field during critical periods in Earth’s history, such as the early Earth, the great oxygenation event, and step-changes in the evolution in the Devonian and Ediacaran. Despite their potential, the recording behaviour and long-term magnetic stability of these vortex-state particles are still poorly understood. In this project, you will experimentally investigate which vortex-state particles are reliable recorders of the Earth’s magnetic field and how to obtain the crucial information hidden within them.

Your research will focus on the empirical characterization of individual magnetic particles, combining state-of-the-art magnetic imaging with advanced electron microscopy techniques. You will generate high-quality experimental datasets that form the basis for data-driven micromagnetic modelling developed within the project.

Your main tasks and responsibilities include:

• Acquiring nanoscale magnetic measurements using Quantum Scanning Microscopy and wide-field Quantum Diamond Microscopy.
• Characterizing particle geometry in three dimensions using slice-and-view FIB-SEM analysis.
• Determining mineralogical and chemical properties (composition, zoning, crystallographic orientation) using complementary electron microscopy techniques.
• Working closely with a postdoctoral researcher to use your experimental observations as constraints for micromagnetic simulations, systematically assessing how size, shape, and mineralogy control magnetic stability.
• Presenting your findings at international conferences and publishing in peer-reviewed journals.

You will be supervised by Dr Lennart de Groot and work closely with a postdoctoral researcher, who focuses on the data-driven development of micromagnetic modelling tools, as well as with a PhD candidate focusing on the paleomagnetic information stored in (statistical) ensembles of vortex-state particles. Together, you will integrate experimental observations and computational modelling to establish a robust framework for identifying which vortex-state particles reliably record the Earth’s magnetic field.

The project is embedded in the Paleomagnetic Laboratory Fort Hoofddijk, which hosts two Quantum Diamond Microscopes and a Quantum Scanning Microscope, enabling magnetic imaging at spatial resolutions from micrometres down to the nanometre scale. Advanced FIB-SEM facilities are available at Utrecht University’s Electron Microscopy Center. The project further benefits from excellent dedicated CPU and GPU computing infrastructure to support large-scale numerical modelling and data analysis. You will receive extensive training in these techniques as part of your PhD project and will work in an international, multidisciplinary research environment.

At the start of your PhD, a personalised training programme will be established reflecting your training needs and career objectives. About 20% of your time will be dedicated to this training component, which includes following courses/workshops as well as training on the job in assisting in the Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes of the department at Utrecht University.

Kliniekassistent bij de Universiteitskliniek voor Paarden

Als dierverzorger / kliniekassistent ben je een onmisbare schakel binnen het team van de Universiteitskliniek voor Paarden. Samen met de andere dierverzorgers en kliniekassistenten, de dierenartsen en studenten werk je dagelijks aan de best mogelijke zorg voor onze patiënten. Ook draag je bij aan het onderwijs van toekomstige dierenartsen en verricht je lichte administratieve taken. Daarnaast heb je een belangrijke rol in de communicatie met patiënteigenaren en draai je mee in het 24/7 onregelmatige dienstrooster van de kliniek.

Specialist in Opleiding Chirurgie gezelschapsdieren

Voor ons team zijn wij op zoek naar een enthousiaste en flexibele dierenarts die zich wil specialiseren in de chirurgie van gezelschapsdieren volgens het ECVS residency programma.

Binnen de afdeling vallen onder andere de vakgebieden orthopedie, neurochirurgie, algemene chirurgie, oncologische chirurgie, KNO, urologie, thoraxchirurgie en dierfysiotherapie. Je werkzaamheden bestaan uit het in toenemende mate zelfstandig bijdragen aan patiëntenzorg, onderwijs en onderzoek binnen het Departement Clinical Sciences. Tijdens deze werkzaamheden begeleid je masterstudenten Diergeneeskunde die actief participeren in de kliniek. Daarnaast neem je deel aan avond-, nacht- en weekenddiensten van het departement.

Postdoc Position in Gene Regulation

This project aims to systematically identify and characterize regulators of early transcription termination. Potential approaches will involve pooled CRISPR screens, genome editing mouse embryonic stem cells to allow for rapid protein depletion, mapping transcriptional effects (RNA-seq, TT-seq, PRO-seq), proximity labeling approaches, ChIP, and the bioinformatic analysis of generated sequencing data. You are encouraged to bring your own expertise to the current project and contribute your own project ideas.

While working on this project, you will hone your technical skills as well as skills in project design, writing, presenting, supervising, and collaborating. As part of our team, you will contribute to an enthusiastic, collaborative and respectful environment, in which we can perform high-quality research together.