Postdoctoral Fellow in Theoretical and Computational Physics

• New Zealand Institute for Advanced Study
• College of Sciences
• Auckland

CS_NZIAS_913_10/23 
New Zealand Institute for Advanced Study
College of Sciences
Term length: fixed-term
Hours of work: full-time

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Position Overview

We have an opening for an 18-month fixed-term research position in theoretical and computational physics of ultracold atoms. 

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral fellowship in theoretical and computational physics of ultracold few-atom and condensed-matter systems. The postdoctoral fellow will work on fundamental aspects of quantum dynamics, semiclassical quantum chaos, and stochastic computational methods applied to strongly correlated ultra-cold atom systems with short-range interactions. 

A further aspect of the project is the development and implementation of stochastic algorithms for quantum dynamics and excitation spectra of closed and open quantum systems, extending the existing projector quantum Monte Carlo algorithms in the software package Rimu.jl (https://github.com/joachimbrand/Rimu.jl). 

The position is funded by two separate research projects related by the overarching question of how correlations in few-particle quantum systems relate to interesting observable phenomena. 

The first project is funded by the Marsden fund of New Zealand through the research grant “Three atoms in a tight spot”. This project asks how few-body quantum correlations can be engineered in ultra-cold atom experiments and how they affect measurable properties like the lifetime. The postdoctoral fellow will work closely with the project leader Prof Joachim Brand and Associate Investigator A/Prof Mikkel Andersen (University of Otago). Comparison with experimental data as well as experimental tests of theoretical predictions are possible with A\Prof Andersen’s optical tweezer experiment with cold atoms at University of Otago. Applications of the developed theory to topological quantum states and quantum information processing, as well as extensions to include dipolar interactions, spinor quantum systems, and synthetic gauge fields are possible. 

The second project is funded through Te Whai Ao – Dodd-Walls Centre for Photonic and Quantum Technologies. The aim of this project is to develop and study ultra-cold atom models for topological and unconventional superconductivity. The postdoctoral fellow will become a member of the Dodd-Walls Centre, a national Centre of Research Excellence, and will enjoy access to the facilities and programmes of the Centre. Based at the New Zealand Institute for Advanced Study at Massey University’s Auckland campus, the postdoctoral fellow will further interact with a lively community of ultra-cold atom researchers in New Zealand and Australia. The postdoctoral fellow will have access to high-performing computing facilities at Massey University and the national supercomputer NeSI. 

The salary range for this role is at a Postdoctoral Fellow grade (2024), ranging from $81,172 - $97,988 (NZD). Salary will be negotiable by background/experience.

Applicants should have a PhD in computational theoretical physics or a related field and publications in high-quality peer-reviewed journals. Previous experience with the theory of ultra- cold atomic gases, quantum many-body theory and quantum dynamics, quantum Monte Carlo or general computational methods of theoretical physics, and semiclassical chaos will be a plus. Experience and competency with scientific coding and high-performance computing is expected, preferably in the computer language Julia. 

Applications for this position should be submitted electronically through Massey careers and include a cover letter, full CV, and the names of at least three references.

Enquiries can be addressed to the project leader Prof Joachim Brand @ [email protected] 

To view/download the job description, please click on the file below

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