Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Quantum Machine Learning for Multimode Mechanics

Universitetet I Oslo; Oslo; On-site; NOK 595,000 - 690,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Oslo (UiO) invites applications for a three-year Postdoctoral Research Fellow position in Quantum Machine Learning for Multimode Mechanics in the Department of Physics. Supervisors are Prof. Massel and Prof.

Hjorth-Jensen; starting by 1 January 2027, eligible candidates must have a doctoral degree or submission by date. The project spans theory, algorithms, and experiments with partners across Europe.

Qualifications

• A degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree in physics, applied mathematics, computer science, or closely related area.
• Doctoral dissertation must be submitted by the application date if not yet defended.
• Strong background in at least two of the listed areas.
• Proven programming skills (e.g., Python/Julia/C++), including scientific computing tools.
• Ability to communicate research results clearly in English.

Responsibilities

• Develop ML-assisted Hamiltonian discovery/engineering methods for multimode quantum systems.
• Design noise-resilient control and optimization strategies using RL and optimal control.
• Develop open-source software and benchmarks.
• Co-author publications and participate in consortium deliverables and visits.

Skills

quantum optics

quantum information

open quantum systems

quantum control

machine learning

reinforcement learning

programming

english communication

Education

Norwegian doctoral degree (physics/ math/ CS)

Tools

Python

Julia

C++

Job description

Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Quantum Machine Learning for Multimode Mechanics

A three-year position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Quantum Machine Learning for Multimode Mechanics (QM3L / QuantERA 2025) is available at the Department of Physics.

Supervisors are Prof. Francesco Massel and Prof. Morten Hjorth-Jensen.

Starting date no later than January 1, 2027.

No one can be appointed for more than one Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the University of Oslo.

Project description and work tasks

The postdoctoral position is part of the QuantERA project ‘QM3L - Quantum protocols for Multimode Mechanics advanced by Machine Learning’, a European consortium combining theory, algorithms, and experiments on multimode mechanical quantum platforms (circuit quantum acoustodynamics with transmon–HBAR devices; HBAR arrays; microwave optomechanics).

The postdoc will work at UiO with Massel and Hjorth-Jensen, focusing on theoretical and algorithmic developments that enable machine-learning-assisted discovery, control, and certification of complex multimode quantum states. The work will interface closely with experimental partners (ETH Zürich, Aalto University) and theory partners (TU Darmstadt, Palacký University).

Main work tasks may include (depending on profile and project needs):

• Develop ML-assisted Hamiltonian discovery/engineering methods for multimode bosonic and hybrid quantum systems (including open-system and non-Hermitian effects).
• Design noise-resilient control and optimization strategies, including reinforcement learning (RL) and optimal control approaches for state preparation and measurement protocol design under hardware constraints.
• Develop open-source software and documented benchmarks.
• Co-author high-quality publications and contribute to consortium deliverables and reporting; participate in partner visits, workshops, and training activities.

The main purpose of a postdoctoral fellowship is to provide the candidates with enhanced skills to pursue a scientific top position within or beyond academia. To promote a strategic career path, all postdoctoral research fellows are required to submit a professional development plan no later than one month after commencement of the postdoctoral period.

What skills are important in this role?

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has a strategic ambition to be among Europe’s leading communities for research, education and innovation. Candidates for these fellowships will be selected in accordance with this, and expected to be in the upper segment of their class with respect to academic credentials.

Required qualifications:

• A degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree in physics, applied mathematics, computer science, or a closely related area. If the degree is not yet formally received, the doctoral dissertation must be submitted for evaluation by the application date. Only applicants with an approved doctoral thesis and public defence are eligible for appointment.
• Strong background in at least two of the following:

• quantum optics / quantum information / open quantum systems
• quantum control / optimal control
• machine learning (including deep learning and/or reinforcement learning)
• numerical simulation of quantum dynamics

• Proven programming skills (e.g., Python/Julia/C++), including experience with scientific computing tools.
• Ability to communicate research results clearly in written and oral English.

Desired qualifications:

• Experience with reinforcement learning for physical control problems and/or sample-efficient optimization.
• Familiarity with continuous-variable/bosonic systems, non-Gaussian states, multimode entanglement, or Wigner-function methods.
• Experience with HPC workflows (cluster computing, GPU computing, reproducible pipelines).
• Track record of collaborative work across theory/experiment or interdisciplinary teams.

All candidates and projects will have to undergo a check versus national export, sanctions and security regulations. Candidates may be excluded based on these checks. Primary checkpoints are the Export Control regulation, the Sanctions regulation, and the national security regulation.

What are we looking for in you?

Personal skills:

• Strong collaboration skills and willingness to work in an international consortium with frequent interactions across sites and disciplines.
• Ability to mentor students (informally or formally) and contribute to an inclusive working environment.

Employment in the position is based on a comprehensive assessment of all qualification requirements applicable to the position, including personal skills.

We can offer you

• Exciting and meaningful tasks in an organization with an important societal mission, contributing to knowledge development, education, and enlightenment that promote sustainable, fair, and knowledge-based societal development.
• Committed colleagues in a good working environment.
• A workplace with good development and career opportunities.
• Membership in the Statens Pensjonskasse, which is one of Norway's best pension schemes with beneficial mortgages and good insurance schemes.
• Salary in position as Postdoctoral Fellow, position code 1352 in salary range NOK595 000 – 690 000, depending on competence and experience. From the salary, 2 percent is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund.

We need different perspectives in our work

UiO is an open and internationally oriented comprehensive university that strives to be an inclusive and diverse workplace and academic environment. You can read more about UiO’s work on equality, inclusion, and diversity at uio.no.

We fulfill our mission most effectively when we draw upon our variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives. We are looking for great colleagues, could you be the next one?

We will do our best to accommodate your needs. Relevant adjustments may include modifications to working hours, task adaptations, digital, technical, or physical adjustments, or other practical measures.

If you have an immigrant background, a disability, or CV gaps (Norwegian), we encourage you to indicate this in the job application portal. We always invite at least one qualified candidate from each group for an interview. In this context, disability is defined as an applicant who identifies as having a disability that requires workplace or employment-related accommodations. For more details about the requirements, please refer to the Employer portal (Norwegian).

We especially encourage women to apply. More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here. We hope you will apply for the position with us.

How to apply

The application must include:

• Cover letter (statement of motivation, summarizing scientific work and research interests)
• CV (summarizing education, positions, and other qualifying activity)
• Copies of educational certificates, academic transcript of records
• A complete list of publications and up to 5 academic works that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee
• Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)

Application with attachments must be submitted via our recruitment system Jobbnorge, click "Apply for this job".

When applying for the position, we ask you to retrieve your education results from Vitnemålsportalen.no. If your education results are not available through Vitnemålsportalen, we ask you to upload copies of your transcripts or grades. Please note that all documentation must be in English or a Scandinavian language.

General information

The best qualified candidates will be invited for interviews.

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Oslo.

If an applicant has applied for and been granted funding for a fulltime research stay abroad while being employed as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, the employment will be prolonged with the equivalent time as the research stay, but for no longer than of twelve months (thus extending the employment to a maximum of four years).

Questions about the position

Professor

[e-mail]

Professor

For questions regarding the recruitment system, please contact Karoline Hanssen