Applications are welcomed for postdoctoral positions funded by the theory group and for fellowships funded externally but held at the theory group. Find out more below.

The research interests of the group include cosmology, quantum field theory, string theory, quantum gravity, supersymmetry and quantum foundations. Find out more about our work via our research and people webpages.

The Physics Department is committed to being a welcoming and supportive environment for everyone and has put in place a number of measures to promote a collaborative and stimulating culture. Individuals who identify as female and those who consider themselves as underrepresented are particularly encouraged to apply.

We are committed to equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We therefore encourage candidates to apply irrespective of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion and belief, gender reassignment, sex or sexual orientation. Further information about how the College strives to create and support an equitable workplace can be found here.

Postdoctoral and fellowship opportunities

Postdoctoral positions

Internal Postdoctoral Positions for Autumn 2026

Applications are welcomed for postdoctoral positions and Fellowships in the theory group/Abdus Salam Centre. The research interests of the group include cosmology, quantum field theory, string theory, quantum gravity, supersymmetry and quantum foundations.

We have an opening for a Research Associate working in String Theory and Quantum Field Theory starting in October 2026. Please go to Academic Jobs Online to apply. The deadline for applications is 15 December 2025.  

We also have an opening for up to two Research Associates working in Cosmology, Gravity and Quantum Field Theory starting in October 2026. Please go to Academic Jobs Online to apply. The deadline for applications is 5 December  2025 .

Finally, we also have an opening for a Research Associate working in Gravitational Waves starting in October 2026. Please go to Academic Jobs Online to apply. The deadline for applications is 5 December  2025  (position to focus on Gravitational Waves searches -- with an emphasis on pulsar timing arrays observations-- and physics beyond the Standard Model).

 

Applicants for external fellowships to be held in the Theory group at Imperial should see the separate fellowships tab on this page.

 

Fellowships

 

Applications are welcomed for fellowships sponsored by research councils and other bodies. Details of the many available schemes are shown on the departmental Research Fellowships page. Note that in several cases there is a departmental quota for the number of applications, and the department ultimately decides which applicants will be put forward. 

If you are selected to go forward we will then work with you to prepare the full application.

Several of these fellowships, notably URF, ERF, FLF and ERC Starting Grant, are multi-year and come with significant research funds. They are widely regarded as excellent stepping stones to permanent positions. 

If you have any particular questions that are not covered here please contact Prof Daniel Waldram.

How to apply

DEADLINES: The Salam Centre will consider prospective applicants in two rounds with deadlines

  • 10 June 2025: consideration for ERF and URF
  • for all other fellowships see the relevant deadline at Research Fellowships

If you are interested in multiple fellowships including ERF or URF, we encourage you to submit your materials for all of them prior to the first deadline. 

SUBMITTED MATERIAL: For all fellowships please submit by email to Graziela de Nadai (g.denadai@imperial.ac.uk)

  • CV
  • publication list
  • a brief summary of past research and future plans
  • the relevant "Imperial Expression of Interest (EOI)" form (where appropriate; also sometimes called a "Request for Support" form)

If you are applying for several fellowships, one application email is fine, but note that unfortunately you may need to complete several different "Request for Support" forms (although these will in many cases be essentially identical). 

Note that in some cases you also need to submit the same documents directly to the department. 

If you do not receive any confirmation of your application please contact Graziela de Nadai at g.denadai@imperial.ac.uk.

REFERENCES: Please also ask three referees to send letters of recommendation by email to Graziela de Nadai (g.denadai@imperial.ac.uk)  by the appropriate deadline. 

SPONSORS: For some fellowships you are asked to identify a suitable sponsor. In most cases, rather than contact specific members of staff, please simply specify which members of staff might be suitable sponsors in your application email. 

Note: we previously requested applications be submitted to the address "theory-fellowships@imperial.ac.uk".  However, it is unfortunately not clear if all emails are being correctly delivered to that account. Thus if you have submitted to that address but have not received confirmation of your application please contact Graziela de Nadai directly at g.denadai@imperial.ac.uk.  

Possible fellowships

For details on available fellowships see the departmental Research Fellowships page. Please do look at the details of each and see which are most appropriate for you. Relevant fellowships include the following. 

  • Royal Society
    Royal Society University Research Fellowship (URF)
    Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship
    Newton International Fellowship
  • STFC
    Ernest Rutherford Fellowship (ERF)
  • EPSRC 
    Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowship
    Mathematical Sciences Open and Open Plus Fellowship
    (These both need to be more mathematics focussed: either new mathematics for theoretical physics or new mathematics inspired by theoretical physics.)
  • UKRI
    Future Leaderships Fellowship
  • European Union
    ERC Starting Grant
    Marie Skłodowska-Curie European Postdoctoral Fellowship (but not Global Postdoctoral Fellowships)
  • Imperial led
    Imperial College Research Fellowships (ICRF) (must be in "AI for Science" theme)
    Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship
  • Others
    Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Research Fellowships
    Daphne Jackson Fellowships 

Reasons to work with us

As a Group, we are committed to supporting postdoctoral researchers and fellows in advancing their careers through mentoring, training and help in applying for grants and research positions. In addition, at a Departmental and College-wide level there is support though

  • Health and Wellbeing: Information about how the College promotes mental and physical health and wellbeing

Our working philosophy

We aim to make the Group and Department a welcoming and supportive environment for everyone. As well as helping you realise your potential and advance your career, we recognise and value the need to maintain a healthy work/life balance.