Applications are welcomed for postdoctoral positions funded by the Salam Centre and for fellowships funded externally but hosted within the Centre. Please see InSpire - Imperial for ongoing opportunities or find out more below.

The research interests of the Centre 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 Salam Centre is committed to providing a welcoming, supportive and inclusive environment for everyone and has implemented a range of initiatives to foster a collaborative and stimulating research culture.

For more information about the inclusive vision and mission of the Salam Centre at Imperial, please see our Brochure. 

Postdoctoral and fellowship opportunities

Postdoctoral positions

Internal Postdoctoral Positions for Autumn 2026

The Abdus Salam Centre for Theoretical Physics regular offers positions for Research Associates in String Theory, Quantum Field Theory, Quantum Gravity, Cosmology, Gravity and Gravitational Waves.

At present, all postdoctoral positions starting in Autumn 2026 have been filled. Should new funding opportunities become available, we may reopen applications and will consider all candidates who have already applied. 

Applicants for external fellowships to be held in the Abdus Salam Centre for Theoretical Physics at Imperial should refer to the dedicated Fellowships tab below.

Fellowships

Applications are welcomed for fellowships sponsored by research councils and other bodies.

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. 

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. 

Unlike in the past, the Salam Centre for Theoretical Physics and Research Communities will no longer coordinate the applications. All fellowship applications must be submitted directly to the Department by the indicated deadlines. If you are interested in being hosted in the Salam Centre, and please simply indicate Salam Centre as potential sponsor in the Expression of Interest Form.

This applies to URF/ERF/Dorothy Hodgkin/RS career development fellowship, 1851, MSCA, with exception of EPSRC Mathematical Sciences Fellowships (see below).

The department will be responsible for drawing the shortlist and coordinating with the Salam Centre when appropriate.

If you are selected to go forward we will then work with you to identify a dedicated sponsor with the Salam Centre and prepare the full application.

If you have any particular questions that are not covered here please contact Prof Claudia de Rham.

DEADLINES: 

  • June 1st 2026: department application for ERF and URF
  • EPSRC Mathematical Sciences Fellowships: Open -  no closing date
  • 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. 

SPONSORS: For some fellowships you are asked to identify a suitable sponsor. In all cases aside from EPSRC Mathematical Sciences Fellowships, rather than contacting specific members of staff, please simply specify Salam Centre as the host and sponsor in you Expression of interest form and we will identify a suitable sponsor if your application is selected by the department.  

HOW TO APPLY & SUBMITTED MATERIAL: 

 

Submit by email to theory-fellowships@imperial.ac.uk

The EPSRC Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowship offers up to three years of support for early-career researchers to develop independent research within the mathematical sciences. It is designed for those who have recently completed their PhD. The fellowship focuses on research where the majority of the novelty lies within the mathematical sciences remit.
The EPSRC Mathematical Sciences Open and Open Plus Fellowships supports researchers at all career stages beyond postdoctoral level. The Open Fellowship allows for up to five years of research funding, while the Open Plus Fellowship includes additional responsibilities aimed at enhancing the research environment and culture. Applicants are expected to demonstrate leadership potential and a commitment to advancing the mathematical sciences.

Reasons to work with us

As a Centre, 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.

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. We particularly encourage applications from individuals who identify as female and from those who consider themselves underrepresented in theoretical physics. Further information about how the College strives to create and support an equitable workplace can be found here.

Our working philosophy

We aim to make the Salam Centre 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.

To hear more about what's going in the Salam Centre please join as a Friend of Salam Centre.