Job description

Waves are widely used for imaging in applications ranging from geophysics and medical ultrasound to non-destructive testing. In these applications, the aim is to infer quantitative properties of an object or medium from measurements of waves that have propagated through it. Mathematically, such problems lead to large-scale nonlinear inverse problems governed by partial differential equations (PDEs).

Full-waveform inversion is a powerful approach to such problems, but its practical use is limited by the strong nonlinearity of the inverse problem and by the computational cost of repeatedly solving wave equations.

In the project, we will develop a new mathematical and computational framework that combines PDE-based modelling with ideas from data-driven reduced-order modelling. The aim is to obtain imaging methods that are more robust and computationally efficient, while also providing a natural framework for uncertainty quantification and experimental design. A central question is whether suitable relaxations of the underlying PDE constraints can effectively reduce the nonlinearity of the inverse problem. Understanding this requires mathematical analysis of the PDEs and the resulting inverse problems, as well as the development of numerical methods that can eventually be applied to large-scale wave-imaging problems.

The PhD project will have a strong mathematical component. You will investigate questions concerning, for example, the analysis of PDE-constrained inverse problems, properties of wave equations and their solution operators, and the conditions under which relaxed formulations lead to better-behaved inverse problems. These mathematical insights will subsequently be translated into computational algorithms for inversion, uncertainty quantification and experimental design. The research will initially focus on relatively simple model problems in which mathematical questions can be studied rigorously, before progressing towards multidimensional acoustic and elastic wave propagation and realistic imaging applications. The mathematical level and type of research are illustrated, for example, by the paper

An Analysis of Constraint-Relaxation in PDE-Based Inverse Problems

by Van Leeuwen and Yang (arXiv:2403.15292).

As a PhD student on this project, you will:

develop mathematical theory for non-linear inverse problems governed by wave equations;
design and analyse numerical algorithms for inverse problems, uncertainty quantification and experimental design in the context of wave-based imaging;
implement prototype numerical methods and test them on increasingly realistic computational wave-based imaging problems;
collaborate with researchers in applied mathematics, scientific computing and wave-based imaging, as well as with academic and industrial partners;
present your results at international conferences and publish them in leading scientific journals.

Your day-to-day research will take place in the Computational Imaging group at CWI. You will be supervised by Prof. Tristan van Leeuwen (CWI) and co-supervised by Dr. Chris Stolk (University of Amsterdam). You will interact with researchers with backgrounds in inverse problems, numerical analysis, scientific computing and imaging, and with project partners working on applications including seismic imaging, medical ultrasound and non-destructive testing. The project offers considerable freedom to pursue fundamental mathematical questions while maintaining a clear connection to challenging real-world imaging problems.

Requirements

We are looking for a candidate with a strong mathematical background and an interest in developing mathematics that ultimately leads to computational methods for imaging.

You have:

a Master's degree in mathematics, applied mathematics, computational science, mathematical physics, or a closely related field;
a strong background in one or more of the follow areas: partial differential equations, inverse problems, numerical methods for PDEs, scientific computing;
the ability and interest to work with both rigorous mathematical arguments and numerical experiments;
programming experience in a language such as Python, Julia, MATLAB, C or C++;
good written and spoken English;
the ability to work independently while also collaborating in an interdisciplinary research team.

The terms of employment are in accordance with the Dutch Collective Labour Agreement for Research Centres ("CAO-onderzoeksinstellingen"). The initial labour agreement will be for a period of 18 months. After a positive evaluation, the agreement will be extended by 30 months. The gross monthly salary, for a PhD student on a full time basis, is 3,115 during the first year and increases to 3,989 over the four year period. Employees are also entitled to a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary and a year-end bonus of 8.33%. CWI offers attractive working conditions, including flexible scheduling and help with housing for expat employees.

Please visit the CWI website for more information about our terms of employment

, or go to

the working pages of the NWO website

Information and application

Please submit:

a motivation letter;
your CV, including the email addresses of two references;
a transcript of grades from your Bachelor's and Master's programmes;
a copy of your Master's thesis, or a draft if the thesis has not yet been completed;
if applicable, a list of publications or other relevant scientific work.

Applications can be sent up to and including October 31st

For more information about the position, please contact Prof. Tristan van Leeuwen (t.van.leeuwen@cwi.nl) or Dr. Chris Stolk (c.c.stolk@uva.nl). For more information about CWI, please visit

www.cwi.nl

or watch our video about working at CWI.

Diversity code

CWI strives to be a diverse and inclusive research institute. To achieve balanced representation in positions, we have been investing in a diverse and inclusive organization already since 2010, among others by prioritizing applications from women researchers. This approach has recently led to hiring a majority of women in Tenure Track positions.

CWI encourages a diverse workforce: we endeavour to develop talent and creativity by bringing people from different backgrounds and cultures together. We strongly encourage candidates with the appropriate qualifications to apply for the vacancy, regardless of age, origin, sexual orientation or physical abilities.

About CWI

Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI) is the Dutch national research institute for mathematics and computer science and is part of the

Institutes Organisation

of the

Dutch Research Council (NWO)

. The mission of CWI is to conduct pioneering research in mathematics and computer science, generating new knowledge in these fields and conveying it to trade, industry, and society at large.

CWI is an internationally oriented institute, with 160 scientists from approximately 27 countries, an informal atmosphere and short lines of communication. We have an activity committee that organizes after-work activities and among others a women s network.

CWI is located at Science Park Amsterdam, which is a major location of research in the physical sciences in The Netherlands, housing the sciences of the University of Amsterdam as well as several other national research institutes next to CWI.

About Research group

The Computational Imaging group develops mathematical and computational methods for extracting information from indirect measurements. Its research combines inverse problems, numerical mathematics, optimisation, machine learning and imaging physics, with applications ranging from medical and industrial imaging to geophysics. For more information, please visit the Computational Imaging group page:

https://www.cwi.nl/en/groups/computational-imaging/

Job details

Title

PhD student on the subject of Inverse Problems for Wave-Based Imaging

Employer

Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI)

Location

Science Park 123 Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Published

2026-08-25

Application deadline

2026-10-31 23:59 (Europe/Amsterdam)

2026-10-31 23:59 (CET)

Job type

PhD

Field

Image Processing

Applied Mathematics

Computational Mathematics

Mathematical Physics

Computational Sciences

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Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI)

Founded in 1946, CWI is the national research institute for mathematics and computer science in the Netherlands and is located at Science Park Amst...

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