Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Postdoctoral Research Fellow in strong-field quantum electrodynamics.

Based in the Faculty of Science and Engineering, the School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics is an innovative, creative and inspiring place to study and covers the subject areas of civil and coastal engineering, computing, electrical and electronic engineering and robotics, mathematical sciences, mechanical, marine and materials engineering.

With many internationally recognised experts, our teaching staff are passionate about providing a practical learning experience enabling students to gain skills for the future. With the sustainably refurbished Babbage Building, STEAM subjects come together to support academic collaboration and innovation. Students of the School benefit from hands-on, state of the art learning environments, seeing projects through from design to manufacture, solving real-world challenges and working with students across disciplines. The School also hosts the Marine Building, home to the world-class Coastal, Ocean and Sediment Transport (COAST) Laboratory, amongst many other facilities. 

The School is a collaborative and interdisciplinary community of world-leading academics and researchers focused upon the creation of knowledge and innovative solutions that have a positive impact upon society. The School has an extensive portfolio of research from offshore renewable energy, coastal engineering and robotics to cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and data science.

The School holds an Athena SWAN Bronze award demonstrating the University’s ongoing commitment to advancing gender equality and success for all, and is an official Signatory of the Tomorrow's Engineers Code, a framework for organisations with a mission to increase the diversity and number of young people entering engineering careers.

The Centre for Mathematical Sciences at the University of Plymouth (UoP) is offering a postdoctoral position in theoretical physics, starting March 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter (but not later than June 2024).  The post is for 2 years. The successful candidate will undertake research on a range of topics in quantum field theory in electromagnetic backgrounds (e.g. strong field QED, laser-particle interactions, nonlinear trident pair production) as well as liaise and work with project partners from simulation and experiment.

The work will have analytical and numerical components and the candidate will participate in group meetings and give research presentations in international conferences.  The Theoretical Physics group at UoP comprises 8 members of staff, as well as postdocs and PhD students. Research interests in the group include QFT in external fields, strong-field QED, the worldline formalism, BSM physics, infra-red degeneracies in QFT, effective field theory and lattice QCD.  Applicants must have a PhD, or equivalent, in physics or a related discipline, and research experience in theoretical or high-energy physics. Previous experience with external field problems in QFT and strong-field QED specifically is desirable but not essential.

Please demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the knowledge, qualifications, training and experience elements of the job description in your supporting statement.

For an informal discussion to find out more about the role then please contact Ben King: by email at [email protected]  

Interviews are likely to take place week commencing Monday 5th February 2024 and you will be notified if you have been shortlisted or not.

This is a full-time position working 37 hours a week on a fixed-term basis for 24 months, due to funding.

Flexible working options including job share will be considered.

We offer a competitive salary package and a generous pension and holiday scheme. We also offer a range of other benefits, including ongoing development opportunities.

The University of Plymouth has a strong interdisciplinary research ethos which is supported by our three strategic Research Institutes; the Marine Institute, the Sustainable Earth Institute, and the Plymouth Institute of Health and Care Research. As a member of our academic community, you’ll be expected to contribute to our recognised research strengths. Working holistically across the University, you will be challenged to innovate, collaborate and deliver impactful research contributions as part of a systems thinking approach to addressing today’s global challenges.

The University of Plymouth is a diverse, welcoming community where everyone makes a difference and is encouraged to bring their whole selves to work. To find out more about our inclusive community, initiatives such as Athena Swan and the Race Equality Charter and our range of benefits / support mechanisms such as flexible working, staff networks and enhanced maternity, paternity & adoption leave please visit our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion webpages

We particularly welcome applicants from under-represented groups such as BAME/BIPOC and LGBT+

Job Description