Postdoctoral Research Associate

Grade UE07: £41,064 to £48,822 per annum

College of Science and Engineering/ School of Physics and Astronomy

Full Time: 35 hour per week

Fixed Term: 2 years October 1, 2027 – September 30, 2029

The Opportunity:

We are looking for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Higgs Centre for Theoretical Physics to work on numerical calculations and formal developments in the context of lattice field theory applied to theoretical particle physics.

This position will contribute to the STFC Consolidated Grant UKRI4228 ‘Particle Theory at the Higgs Centre’. Research activities will be oriented towards formal developments and precision lattice QCD calculations, e.g. the determination of multi-hadron scattering and decay amplitudes, the extraction of long-distance matrix elements involving flavour-changing neutral currents, and the constraint of spectral quantities related to (semi-)inclusive rates, amplitudes and distribution functions. The position is fixed-term for two years, with a possible extension contingent on additional funding. The calculations are to be performed, in part, using resources from the national supercomputing facility DiRAC.

Your skills and attributes for success:

• PhD (awarded or near completion) in Physics, including Theoretical or Mathematical Physics
• Strong knowledge of the lattice formulation of quantum field theories and the Standard Model of particle physics
• Experience in C++ programming in UNIX environments
• Experience in delivering research results in an academic context; e.g. a record of peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations
• Capability to work independently, exercising a high degree of initiative and demonstrating a proactive and flexible approach to work

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How to apply

Applications should be submitted by 5pm 1st December 2026. Please upload a CV and a brief research statement (fewer than three pages) and provide the names and contact details of at least three referees. The referees will be approached for letters after the long-listing process. Direct enquiries about the position to Maxwell Hansen (maxwell.hansen@ed.ac.uk).

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

• A competitive salary.
• An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
• To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
• Comprehensive Staff Benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, a wide range of staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives, and flexible work options. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page (opens in a new tab) and use our reward calculator to discover the value of your pay and benefits.

Championing equality, diversity, and inclusion

The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter, and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.

Prior to any employment commencing with the University, you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages (opens new browser tab)

The University may be able to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. This will depend on a number of factors specific to the successful applicant.

Key dates to note

The closing date for applications is 27 November 2026.

Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm UK time. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browsers local time zone.

Interview dates to be confirmed.

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