Fully Funded PhD & Postdoctoral Positions in Scientific Machine Learning for Turbulent Flow Simulation – CWI, Amsterdam (SYMBIOSIS Project)

Position Snapshot

• Institution: Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI), Amsterdam, The Netherlands

• Research group: Scientific Computing

• Project: SYMBIOSIS, ERC Consolidator Grant

• Supervisor: Dr. B. Sanderse (CWI, with a part-time position at Eindhoven University of Technology)

• Positions available: Several PhD and postdoc positions (6 in total across the project)

• Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands (Science Park Amsterdam)

• Research areas:

  • Probabilistic turbulence and closure models

  • Entropy-driven model reduction for fluid flows

  • Stochastic modelling, generative machine learning, and data assimilation

  • Applications in wind-turbine wakes and CO2 transport

• Application deadline: 31 August 2026

• How to apply: Online application via CWI vacancy pages (links below)

About the Position

As part of the ERC Consolidator project SYMBIOSIS, Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI) is recruiting a team of PhD and postdoc researchers to tackle major outstanding challenges in turbulent flow simulation with scientific machine learning.

Turbulent flows affect wind farms, industrial processes, and weather and climate systems, but it is impossible to compute every swirling eddy directly. Instead, "closure models" approximate the impact of unseen turbulence. SYMBIOSIS aims to build such closure models around the concept of entropy — drawing on both its physical meaning (linked to stability) and its information-theoretic role in measuring uncertainty — to create entropy-stable simulations of fluid flow. The framework combines model reduction, stochastic modelling, and data assimilation to construct adaptive, probabilistic turbulence models, applied to real-world problems such as wind-turbine wakes and CO2 transport.

SYMBIOSIS consists of six PhD and postdoc positions in total. Depending on each candidate's background, the focus will lean more toward stochastic fundamentals, generative machine learning, or data assimilation. Successful candidates will be positioned at CWI, with opportunities for close collaboration with universities and knowledge institutes — in particular Eindhoven University of Technology, where Dr. Sanderse holds a part-time position (and where PhD candidates will obtain their PhD degree). The project builds on related work on structure-preserving machine learning and model reduction for fluid flows already underway in CWI's Scientific Computing group.

PhD Position

Requirements

• A completed MSc in applied mathematics, physics, or a related discipline

• Strong expertise in at least one of: numerical analysis, stochastic methods, generative machine learning, computational fluid dynamics, or data assimilation

• A strong mathematical background, keen interest in fluid flow simulation, and good programming skills (e.g. Python, Julia)

• Proven research talent and good academic writing and presentation skills

• A team player, fully committed to working with the other SYMBIOSIS team members

• Excellent command of English

Terms and Conditions

• Employment follows the Dutch Collective Labour Agreement for Research Centres ("CAO-onderzoeksinstellingen")

• Initial contract of 18 months, extended by 30 months after a positive evaluation (4 years total)

• Gross monthly salary starting at €3,115, rising to €3,989 over the four-year period

• 8% holiday allowance and 8.33% year-end bonus

• Flexible scheduling, with support for expat employees on housing

Full details and application: https://www.cwi.nl/en/jobs/vacancies/1304811/

Postdoc Position

Requirements

• A completed PhD in applied mathematics, physics, or a related discipline

• Strong expertise in at least one of: numerical analysis, stochastic methods, generative machine learning, computational fluid dynamics, or data assimilation

• A strong mathematical background, keen interest in fluid flow simulation, and good programming skills (e.g. Python, Julia)

• Proven independence in research and good academic writing and presentation skills

• A team player, willing to help supervise PhD candidates within SYMBIOSIS

• Excellent command of English

Terms and Conditions

• Employment follows the Dutch Collective Labour Agreement for Research Centres ("CAO-onderzoeksinstellingen")

• 2-year appointment

• Gross monthly salary between €4,725 and €5,758, depending on experience

• 8% holiday allowance and 8.33% year-end bonus

• Flexible scheduling

Full details and application: https://www.cwi.nl/en/jobs/vacancies/1305098/

How to Apply

• PhD applicants should submit a detailed CV, a complete list of courses taken and grades obtained (BSc+MSc), a copy of their Master's thesis, a motivation letter, and at least two references.

• Postdoc applicants should submit a detailed CV, a complete list of courses taken and grades obtained, a copy of their Master's and PhD thesis, two articles relevant to the position, a motivation letter, and at least two references.

Application deadline: 31 August 2026. Applications received before the deadline are given full consideration, and multiple positions may be filled depending on the quality of applications.

About CWI

Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI) is the Dutch national research institute for mathematics and computer science, part of the Institutes Organisation of the Dutch Research Council (NWO). CWI is internationally oriented, with 160 scientists from around 27 countries, an informal atmosphere, and short lines of communication. It is located at Science Park Amsterdam, a major hub for physical sciences research in the Netherlands.

CWI's Scientific Computing group performs research at the frontiers of scientific machine learning, uncertainty quantification, and partial differential equations, applied to computational fluid dynamics, climate, and weather systems. The group is well known for fundamental advances in model reduction, closure modelling, high-dimensional uncertainty quantification, rare events, and stochastic approaches.

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

These positions offer:

• The chance to join a well-funded, ambitious ERC Consolidator project tackling major open problems in turbulence modelling

• Work at the cutting edge of scientific machine learning, combining entropy-based methods, stochastic modelling, generative ML, and data assimilation

• Real-world relevance, with applications to wind-turbine wakes and CO2 transport

• Collaboration within a 6-person interdisciplinary team, plus close ties to Eindhoven University of Technology

• A base at CWI, the Dutch national research institute for mathematics and computer science, within a Scientific Computing group recognized for its work in model reduction and uncertainty quantification

• Competitive compensation under the Dutch research-institute collective labour agreement, with clear salary progression

For candidates passionate about the mathematics of turbulence, scientific machine learning, and building principled, physics-informed models with real-world impact, this is a strong opportunity to join a growing team at one of Europe's leading research institutes.

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