Postdoctoral Research Associate - Physics

Washington University in St. Louis • Compton, CA

38d

About The Position

The Center for Quantum Leaps and the Department of Physics at WashU in St. Louis invites applications for a postdoctoral position with a start date of around August 15, 2026. The appointment will be for 1 year, with a subsequent extension to a second year depending on performance. The postdoc will work primarily with Shaffique Adam on the theory of electronic properties of twisted 2D materials looking at properties like superconductivity and strongly correlated physics. The postdoc will be part of a stimulating environment for quantum condensed matter, quantum information, and atomic, molecular, and optical physics with ample opportunity to collaborate with other theorists (Zohar Nussinov, Alexander Seidel, Li Yang, and Chuanwei Zhang) and experimentalists (Erik Henriksen, Sheng Ren, Xi Wang, and Chong Zu) at the Department of Physics. Exceptional candidates should simultaneously apply for the Jaynes Prize Fellowship that will provide more research independence. Job Description Primary Duties & Responsibilities: Information on being a postdoc at WashU in St. Louis can be found at https://postdoc.wustl.edu/prospective-postdocs-2/. Related Links: The Center for Quantum Leaps: https://quantumleaps.wustl.edu/. Department of Physics: https://physics.wustl.edu/. Jaynes Prize Fellowship: https://physics.wustl.edu/jaynes-fellowship. Shaffique Adam: https://physics.wustl.edu/people/shaffique-adam. Trains under the supervision of a faculty mentor including (but not limited to): The postdoc will work primarily with Shaffique Adam on the theory of electronic properties of twisted 2D materials looking at properties like superconductivity and strongly correlated physics. Salary Range: Base pay is commensurate with experience. Applicant Special Instructions: Interested candidates should submit an application that includes as a single PDF file: (i) a short cover letter, (ii) a curriculum vitae with a complete list of publications, (iii) a short statement of research accomplishments and interests, and (iv) the names and contact information of three senior colleagues who have agreed to provide letters of recommendation. For full consideration, applications should be received prior to January 31, 2026. Late applications will be considered until the position is filled. Only short-listed candidates will be notified. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.

Requirements

• Candidates must have a Ph.D. in theoretical physics (or closely related field) prior to starting.
• Interested candidates should submit an application that includes as a single PDF file: (i) a short cover letter, (ii) a curriculum vitae with a complete list of publications, (iii) a short statement of research accomplishments and interests, and (iv) the names and contact information of three senior colleagues who have agreed to provide letters of recommendation.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with techniques like diagrammatic perturbation theory and/or building effective continuum models for moiré systems is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• The postdoc will work primarily with Shaffique Adam on the theory of electronic properties of twisted 2D materials looking at properties like superconductivity and strongly correlated physics.

Benefits

• Washington University in St. Louis is committed to providing a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to our employees.
• Benefits eligibility is subject to employment status, full-time equivalent (FTE) workload, and weekly standard hours.
• Please visit our website at https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/ to view a summary of benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees