Postdoctoral Fellow in Nuclear Theory, Physics Division, Argonne National Laboratory

Argonne; Illinois; On-site; USD 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Argonne National Laboratory’s Theory Group in the Physics Division invites applications for postdoctoral positions in nuclear theory, to begin as early as Spring 2026. These two‑year appointments (with a possible one‑year extension contingent on funding and performance) support research in QCD, hadron physics, and nuclear structure/reactions.

Applicants must have a PhD completed before the start date and no more than five years of postdoctoral experience.

Qualifications

• PhD in theoretical physics completed before start date.
• No more than five years of postdoctoral experience.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research in nuclear theory, QCD, hadron physics, and nuclear structure/reactions.
• Collaborate with other divisions and national facilities.
• Apply AI and quantum information approaches to nuclear physics problems.

Skills

Nuclear theory

Education

PhD in theoretical physics

Job description

The Theory Group in the Physics Division at Argonne National Laboratory is seeking candidates for postdoctoral positions in nuclear theory, to begin as early as Spring 2026.

The positions are for two years, with the possibility of one additional year contingent upon funding and performance. Applications received by 20 November 2026 will receive our fullest consideration.

The Theory Group has four staff members [Ian Cloët, Alessandro Lovato, Anna McCoy, and Yong Zhao] and several postdocs and students. The group has a broad research program in QCD/hadron physics and nuclear structure/reactions, with an emphasis on using artificial intelligence and quantum information science. The group has access to extensive laboratory and national computational resources and collaborates closely with computational scientists in other divisions, including Mathematics and Computer Science (MCS) and the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility (ALCF). The group has significant involvement in three SciDAC-5 projects: 1) Femtoscale Imaging of Nuclei using Exascale Platforms, 2) Fundamental nuclear physics at exascale and beyond, and 3) Nuclear Computational Low Energy Initiative (NUCLEI); two Genesis Mission projects: 1) Lattice QCD at the Intelligence Frontier (Phase II), and 2) AI-Enabled Optimization of Quantum Circuit Design for Realistic Nuclear Problems (Phase I); and two Topical Collaborations: 1) 3D quark-gluon structure of hadrons: mass, spin, and tomography, and 2) Nuclear Theory for New Physics.

Further information on our group and its research activities can be found at www.anl.gov/phy/theory.

Any questions about the position may be sent to Ian Cloët ([e-mail]).

Applicants must have a PhD in theoretical physics or a related field completed prior to the start date of the postdoctoral position and no more than 5 years of postdoctoral experience. The selected candidates will be expected to model Argonne's core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity, and teamwork. We are seeking a wide candidate pool so welcome applications from all those interested that broadly meet these criteria.

About Argonne and the Physics Division:

Argonne is a multidisciplinary science and engineering research center, where talented scientists and engineers work together to answer the biggest questions facing humanity. The laboratory works in concert with universities, industry, and other national laboratories on questions and experiments too large for any one institution to do by itself. Surrounded by the highest concentration of top-tier research organizations in the world, Argonne leverages its Chicago-area location to lead discovery and to drive innovation in a wide range of core scientific capabilities, from nuclear physics and materials science to biology and advanced computer science. The Physics Division (PHY) at Argonne has a long and distinguished history in nuclear physics and currently has a staff of around 110, including more than 30 Ph.D.'s and 20 postdoctoral scholars. PHY research focuses on developing a fundamental understanding of the constituents of matter, and has major programs in nuclear theory, low-energy nuclear physics, medium-energy nuclear physics, fundamental interactions, and accelerator technology, with additional smaller-scale programs in optical trapping of atoms, quantum simulation, and applications of nuclear science. A primary mission of PHY is to operate the Argonne Tandem Linac Accelerator System (ATLAS) as a national user facility for low-energy nuclear physics.

As an equal employment opportunity employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a safe and welcoming workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. Argonne encourages everyone to apply for employment. Argonne is committed to nondiscrimination and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law.

Argonne employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation in the application phase for review by Argonne's Legal Department.

All Argonne offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes an assessment of criminal conviction history conducted on an individualized and case-by-case basis. Please be advised that Argonne positions require upon hire (or may require in the future) for the individual be to obtain a government access authorization that involves additional background check requirements. Failure to obtain or maintain such government access authorization could result in the withdrawal of a job offer or future termination of employment.