Postdoctoral Research Associate in Non-Equilibrium Many-Body Physics

KINGS COLLEGE LONDON; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious UK university is seeking two postdoctoral research associates in theoretical physics to contribute to research on many-body systems. Successful candidates will hold a PhD and have knowledge of non-equilibrium behaviours and integrability methods. The role offers a competitive salary and is a full-time position.

Benefits

Travel money

Computing equipment

Professional development training

Qualifications

• Candidates should have a PhD qualified in a relevant subject area (theoretical physics, statistical/condensed matter physics).
• Knowledge of non-equilibrium behaviours in many-body physics, such as thermalisation.
• Experience with methods of integrability including Bethe ansatz and form factors.

Responsibilities

• Work on projects related to many-body systems.
• Conduct research supported by EPSRC under specified grants.
• Collaborate within the team on complex physics problems.

Skills

PhD qualified in relevant subject area

Knowledge of non-equilibrium behaviours in many-body physics

Analytical skills in methods of integrability

Solid track record of publications

Robust presentation skills

Competence in spoken and written English

Ability to work in a team

Numerical skills

Knowledge of quantum field theory

Education

PhD in theoretical/condensed matter physics

Tools

Monte Carlo methods

Density Matrix Renormalisation Group

Truncated Conformal Space Approach

Job description

Organisation/Company KINGS COLLEGE LONDON Research Field Physics Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Established Researcher (R3) Country United Kingdom Application Deadline 25 Nov 2025 - 00:00 (UTC) Type of Contract Other Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

About us

The Department of Mathematics at King’s College London is a leading centre for mathematics research in the UK, fostering a vibrant and innovative environment to explore new ways of looking at familiar issues and deliver new tools to solve complex problems.

About the role

The Department of Mathematics at King’s College London invites applications for two postdoctoral research associate positions, for durations of 24 months and 36 months, starting in October 2026.

The successful candidates will work on several projects related to many-body systems, with particular interest in the regime when they are inhomogeneous and out-of-equilibrium, and they are well described via hydrodynamics theories. They will be supported by EPSRC under grant UNIHYPE: Universal hydrodynamic principles and emergent physics, EP/Z534304/1 (assessed under the ERC Advanced Grant scheme).

The ideal candidates will hold a PhD in theoretical/condensed matter physics, with knowledge of non-equilibrium many-body physics and methods of (quantum and classical) integrability, one position emphasising the former and the other the latter. Some numerical skills is also expected.

The post is offered at a competitive salary (spine points 31-35 on KCL salary scale depending on experience, currently £45,031-£49,871), and includes provisions for travel money, computing equipment, and academic and leadership training.

This is a full time post (35 Hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract until 30 September 2028 / 2029.

Research staff at King’s are entitled to at least 10 days per year (pro-rata) for professional development. This entitlement, from the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, applies to Postdocs, Research Assistants, Research and Teaching Technicians, Teaching Fellows and AEP equivalent up to and including grade 7. Visit the Centre for Research Staff Development for more information.

About you

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

• PhD qualified in relevant subject area (or pending results) (theoretical physics, statistical/condensed matter physics or related areas)
• Knowledge and analytical skills in: aspects of non-equilibrium behaviours in many-body physics, such as thermalisation and the hydrodynamic framework, and / or quantum entanglement and its dynamics
• Knowledge and analytical skills in: methods of integrability such as Bethe ansatz, form factors, conformal field theory, classical inverse scattering theory, tau functions
• Solid track record of publications
• Robust presentation skills
• Competence in spoken and written English
• Ability to work in a team
• Numerical skills, such as: Monte Carlo methods, Density Matrix Renormalisation Group or Truncated Conformal Space Approach
• Knowledge of quantum field theory

Downloading a copy of our Job Description

Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the page. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.

*Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.

Further Information

We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community.

We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King’s.

As part of this commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and through this appointment process, it is our aim to develop candidate pools that include applicants from all backgrounds and communities.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘How we Recruit ’ pages.

Interviews are due to be held in December 2025 or January 2026

Grade and Salary: £45,031- £49,871 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance

Job ID: 128545

Close Date: 25-Nov-2025

Contact Person: Benjamin Doyon

Contact Details: [e-mail]