Assistant / Associate Professor in Gravitational Wave Physics

SONICOM; Greater London; On-site; GBP 73,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

42 days off per year

Generous pension schemes

Job summary

Imperial College London invites applications for an Assistant Professor or Associate Professor in Gravitational Wave Physics. This is a unique opportunity to lead a world-class research program within a renowned department.

You will build collaborations, supervise PhD students, and contribute to teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, while pursuing externally funded research across theory, computation, and observation.

Qualifications

• PhD in Physics or closely related field
• Strong research record with publications of outstanding quality
• Clear plan to build internationally leading research programme
• Commitment to high-quality teaching and supervision of students

Responsibilities

• Conduct and publish internationally leading research in gravitational wave physics
• Contribute to teaching and curriculum development at undergraduate and postgraduate levels
• Supervise and mentor PhD students and junior researchers
• Secure external research funding and build collaborations within and beyond Imperial
• Play a role in the life and strategic development of the Department and Faculty

Skills

Teaching experience

Supervision

Funding experience

Education

PhD in Physics or related field

Job description

Assistant / Associate Professor in Gravitational Wave Physics

The Department of Physics at Imperial College London seeks an outstanding academic to join us as an Assistant Professor or Associate Professor in Gravitational Wave Physics.

Gravitational wave (GW) physics has opened an entirely new observational window into the Universe - enabling fundamental tests of gravity, probing the fundamental laws of nature, properties of compact objects, and offering unprecedented constraints on cosmology. With next-generation observatories including LIGO, the Einstein Telescope, LISA, NanoGrav/PTA, and the Simons Observatory either reaching new sensitivities or coming online imminently, the field is at an extraordinary inflection point.

The Department of Physics at Imperial has internationally leading expertise in theoretical and experimental physics, spanning astrophysics, cosmology, gravity, fundamental physics and precision measurement. It is consistently ranked among the very best in the UK and worldwide. This is an exceptional opportunity to extend the existing expertise at Imperial by building your own world‑class research group, lead Imperial's engagement with major international GW collaborations, and inspire the next generation of physicists.

What you would be doing

As a member of our academic faculty, you will:

• Conduct and publish innovative, internationally leading research within your field.
  Contribute to teaching and curriculum development at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
• Supervise and mentor PhD students and junior researchers.
• Secure external research funding and build productive collaborations within and beyond Imperial.
• Play an active role in the life and strategic development of the Department and the wider Faculty.
• Serve as a mentor and role model for colleagues and students.

Depending on your level of appointment, you may also:

• Contribute to departmental leadership and management.

What we are looking for

We are seeking an outstanding academic who is committed to excellence in research, teaching, and academic citizenship. We welcome applications from candidates across the full breadth of gravitational wave physics, spanning theoretical, computational, observational and experimental approaches.

You will be able to demonstrate:

• A PhD in Physics or in a closely related field, or equivalent.
• A strong research record with publications of outstanding quality.
• A clear plan to build or further develop an internationally leading research programme that enhances the Department’s profile.
• Commitment to high-quality teaching and supervision of students.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and leadership skills appropriate to your career stage.
• At the Assistant Professor level, you will have clear potential to develop an international reputation in Gravitational Wave Physics.
• At the Associate Professor level, you will have an established profile and emerging international recognition in Gravitational Wave Physics.

What we can offer you

• The opportunity to continue your career at a world‑leading institution and be part of our mission to use science for humanity.
• Access to state‑of‑the‑art facilities, including significant high‑performance computing resources through Imperial’s Research Computing Service.
• Grow in your career with tailored training programmes for academic staff including dedicated support with navigating your career and managing research as well as a transparent promotion process.
• Sector‑leading salary and remuneration package (including 42 days off a year and generous pension schemes).
• Be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources designed to support your personal and professional wellbeing.

Further information

Closing date: 30 September 2026, 23:59 hours Midnight BST

Salary:
Assistant Professor: £73,194 - £82,954 per annum
Associate Professor: minimum starting salary of £85,873 per annum

This is an open‑ended, full‑time post (35 hours per week). It is anticipated that this appointment would commence after 1 January 2027.

The Department of Physics is part of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Imperial College London. We are an internationally renowned Physics department, which enables us to create groups of international standing, and with sufficient scale and critical mass, that they influence the research agenda and attract the world’s top researchers. The Department is structured into five Research Communities that drive new research directions: Light, Matter, Physics of Particles, Physics of the Universe, and Space, Plasma and Climate.

The Universe Community hosts world‑leading researchers across cosmology, astrophysics, gravitational and fundamental physics, and this appointment represents a strategic investment in a priority growth area for the Department. Staff can associate with multiple Communities, providing the flexibility needed to tackle multidisciplinary challenges.

Imperial College is committed to equality of opportunity, eliminating discrimination and fostering an inclusive workplace culture. The Department of Physics is also proud to hold an Athena SWAN Silver Award, recognising our commitment to fostering a supportive, inclusive, and thriving community. We value the strength that comes from diverse perspectives, and we warmly welcome applications from talented people of all backgrounds, and particularly those under‑represented in physics, to join our vibrant community supported by initiatives that promote collaboration, inclusivity, and professional development.

If you would like more information or have specific queries about the role, please contact: Professor Stefan Söldner‑Rembold, Head of Department – s.soldner‑[e-mail] or Professor Claudia de Rham, Head of the Universe Community and Professor of Theoretical Physics – c.de‑[e-mail] .

If you experience any technical issues while applying online, please don't hesitate to email us at [e-mail]. We're here to help.

Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.

Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities mentioned above.

We reserve the right to close the advert before the stated closing date, should we receive a high volume of applications. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

If you encounter any technical issues while applying online, please don't hesitate to email us [e-mail]. We're here to help.

About Imperial

Welcome to Imperial, a global top‑ten university where scientific imagination leads to world‑changing impact.

Join us and be part of something bigger. From global health to climate change, AI to business leadership, here at Imperial we navigate some of the world’s toughest challenges. Whatever your role, your contribution will have a lasting impact.

As a member of our vibrant community of 22,000 students and 8,000 staff, you’ll collaborate with passionate minds across nine London campuses and a global network.

This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you’ll join us at Imperial College London.

Our Culture

We work towards equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination, and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. You can read more about our commitment on our web pages .

Proud signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant. We welcome applications from the Armed Forces community.

Our values are at the root of everything we do, and our crew is expected to demonstrate respect, collaboration, excellence, integrity, and innovation.