Researcher to work in real and non-orientable enumerative geometry. (Ref. 30277490001)

Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)- BarcelonaTECH; España; On-site; EUR 23,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)- BarcelonaTECH is seeking a postdoctoral researcher in Mathematics (Geometry) to work on topological recursion, real Gromov–Witten theory, and cohomological field theories within the GEOMVAP group in Barcelona. The project is funded by a Leonardo Grant and runs 2026–2028, with international conferences and workshops planned.

The successful candidate will conduct mathematical research, collaborate with the PI and international partners, and contribute to

Qualifications

• Postdoc-level mathematical research in real and non-orientable enumerative geometry.
• Familiarity with Gromov–Witten theory, cohomological field theories, and Givental–Teleman reconstruction.
• Experience with symbolic calculation and scientific programming.
• Ability to write and present research in English.

Responsibilities

• Develop research in real and non-orientable enumerative geometry, focusing on cohomological field theories and Gromov–Witten theory.
• Publish and present results at seminars, workshops and international conferences.
• Collaborate with the PI and international collaborators on the project.
• Prepare research proposals and participate in scientific activities of the GEOMVAP group.

Skills

Topological recursion

Real Gromov–Witten theory

Cohomological field theories

Givental–Teleman reconstruction

Scientific programming

English communication

Tools

Sage

Mathematica

Maple

Python

Job description

Organisation/Company Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)- BarcelonaTECH Research Field Mathematics → Geometry Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Positions Postdoc Positions Application Deadline 16 Nov 2026 - 23:00 (Europe/Madrid) Country Spain Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 37.5 Offer Starting Date 11 Jan 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Reference Number 30277490001 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

About the project. Topological recursion is a universal procedure that computes invariants of orientable surfaces (intersection numbers in moduli spaces of curves, Weil–Petersson volumes, Gromov–Witten invariants, enumeration of graphs on surfaces) and relates them to integrability and matrix models. For non-orientable surfaces and real structures, this theory is still very poorly developed. A refinement parameter b interpolates between the two worlds: b = 0 corresponds to orientable surfaces (complex structures) and b = 1 to those not necessarily orientable (real structures).

This project, funded by a Leonardo Grant from the BBVA Foundation (August 2026 – January 2028), is a first step, focused on b = 1, of a longer-term research program. It addresses three specific problems: the reconstruction of Givental–Teleman in the real case (preferred line for this position); the volumes of moduli spaces of Klein surfaces, calculated by geometric and recursive means; and a non-orientable version of the master relation between graphs on ordinary and totally simple surfaces, linked to the orthogonal set of real symmetric matrices.

Activities (2027). The contracted person will participate, with expenses covered, in the international conference Mathematical physics and the future of topological recursion (Humboldt University of Berlin), which commemorates 20 years of topological recursion and which the principal investigator co-organizes. He will also participate in a workshop at the UPC on the geometric aspects of the project with four international experts.

Duration and environment. The initial contract is for one year and can be extended for another year with another research grant from the principal investigator. The position is assigned to the Geometry of Varieties and Applications (GEOMVAP) research group of the Department of Mathematics of the UPC, in Barcelona, and to the SYMCREA unit of excellence. The principal investigator, Elba Garcia-Failde (Ramón y Cajal researcher), works on topological recursion, moduli spaces of curves, integrability and free probability. The working language of the project is English. Scientific inquiries: [e-mail] .

Mission:

Develop research in real and non-orientable enumerative geometry, preferably on cohomological field theories and Gromov–Witten theory in the real case.

Functions to be developed:

• Investigate cohomological field theories and their reconstruction in the real case (real Gromov–Witten theory, moduli spaces of real curves).
• Study enumerative invariants of non-orientable surfaces, from the geometric and recursive point of view.
• Develop other lines of the project related to topological recursion, integrability, matrix models or the combinatorics of graphs on surfaces.
• Participate in the scientific activities of the project and the research group, and collaborate with the principal investigator and, possibly, also with international collaborators.
• Write scientific articles with the results and present them at seminars, workshops and international conferences.
• Symbolic calculation and scientific programming: execution of explicit calculations and checking conjectures using specialized software (Sage, Mathematica, Maple or Python).
• Management and coordination of research activities: organization of scientific conferences/conferences and support for student tutoring and training.
• Scientific writing and editing of texts in LaTeX: production of high-impact scientific publications in English.

Other requirements to consider:

• Previous research (thesis or publications) in real Gromov–Witten theory, cohomological field theories or Givental–Teleman reconstruction.
• Complementary documentation to be submitted (preferably in English): (1) research proposal (research statement) of a maximum of 5 pages; (2) letter of a maximum of 1 page explaining what we could work on together (you can refer to the research proposal for details). The adequacy of the research proposal and the letter to the objectives of the project will be assessed; (3) name and contact details of 2 or 3 reference people.
• Ability to develop original mathematical research, both independently and in collaboration.
• Availability to join in January 2027 and to travel to conferences and workshops.

Specific Requirements

Knowledge:

• Modulus spaces of curves and their intersection theory (tautological classes, ψ and κ classes).
• Cohomological field theories, Frobenius manifolds and Givental–Teleman reconstruction.
• Gromov–Witten theory, in particular the real one (real curves, Klein surfaces, antiholomorphic involutions).
• Topological recursion, integrable systems (KdV/KP hierarchies, Virasoro constraints) and matrix models.
• Hyperbolic surfaces and Weil–Petersson volumes, combinatorics of graphs on surfaces and Hurwitz numbers, free probability.

Professional Experience:

• In research in real Gromov–Witten theory, cohomological field theories or Givental–Teleman reconstruction.
• Have published and preprinted in enumerative geometry, moduli spaces of curves, mathematical physics or related areas.
• Having presented results at international seminars and conferences, and research stays at other centers.
• Experience in functions similar to those described will be valued, specifically in the development of research activities, both in the university and industrial environment.

Languages CATALAN Level Basic

Languages ENGLISH Level Good

Languages SPANISH Level Good

Research Field Mathematics → Mathematical analysis Years of Research Experience 1 - 4

Additional Information

€26,034.59 gross per year (for a full-time position)

Eligibility criteria

All the candidates who cannot prove the required academic degree will be immediately withdrawn from the selection process.

The CVs will be assessed according the following general criteria:

• The maximum score for the candidates who accomplish all the eligibility criteria stated in the job offer will be 10 points.
• Threshold: 5 points.
• The maximum score (10 points) will be distributed as follows:
• 1 point for required speciality.
• 2 points for required academic training.
• 2 points for technic competences.
• 1 point for organisational competences.
• 3 points for professional experience.
• 1 point for any aspect of the candidate’s professional profile to be determined as specially relevant by the Selection committee.

If the selection committee decide to include a personal interview as additional step of the selection process, only the candidates scored 5 or above for their CV will be retained for the interview step.

The interview will be assessed according the following criteria:

• Threshold: 3 points.
• The maximum score will be distributed according the following criteria:
• 2 points for adequacy to functional competences of the job.
• 2 points for adequacy of professional experience.
• 1 point for any aspect of the candidate’s professional profile to be determined as especially relevant by the Selection committee.

The eligible candidates will be ranked from highest to lowest score, being this the selection criteria.

Selection process

The planned selection process is as follows:

• The members of the selection committee will decide for each case what the selection process will be, if an assessment is made only for the curriculum vitae or any other procedure is planned: interview, tests, etc ...
• Each phase of the selection process will be reported on the website where the offer is published. If applicable, indicate your request.
• Finally, the name of the person selected will be published on the same website where the offer is published.

Additional comments

Remember that the resume should not include any personal data or photographs.