Junior Research Group Leader

The Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light (MPL) is inviting applications for a junior research group leader position in theoretical physics, with focus on the interface between machine learning and physics.

Applications should be received electronically until December 17, 2024. The starting date can be negotiated and could be immediate.

The successful candidate should have at least two years of research experience after the PhD by the time of the appointment.

We are looking for young theoretical scientists working at the interface of machine learning and physics. This includes specifically applications of machine learning and concepts of artificial intelligence to areas such as quantum computing, artificial scientific discovery and automated experimental design, photonic systems, topology, quantum many-body systems, nanophysics, foundations of physics, nonequilibrium dynamics and others.

We offer a competitive salary for the group leader (salary level E15), who is expected to lead a scientifically independent research program. Resources will be provided for the group, including one postdoc position and two PhD positions. By default the group runs for five years, with details depending on the stipulations of the German law ("Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz"). Past group leaders in this position have gone on to tenured or tenure-track positions elsewhere in Germany or abroad.

The group will be associated with and located at the theory division of the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light (MPL). The current focus of the theory division, led by Florian Marquardt, is the interface between machine learning and physics. The group will be embedded in a lively collaborative international research environment both at MPL and at the nearby university of Erlangen-Nuremberg, with world-leading groups working on a range of topics. The working language at MPL is English.

MPL is one of the youngest Max Planck institutes in Germany, founded in 2009, in Erlangen (Bavaria). The Max Planck Society is the foremost research organization for fundamental research in Germany.

The application should consist of a short cover letter, a CV, a publication list (including a list of three to five publications considered particularly representative and noteworthy, with comments explaining their impact and the candidate's contribution), and a research statement composed of: a summary of past achievements, set into the context of the research field (max. 2 pages) and a vision for the topics the group will work on (max. 2 pages). Please send all these as one combined PDF document to: Ms Gesine Murphy, marquardt-office@mpl.mpg.de.

In addition, you have to have three letters of reference sent by email to the same address (quoting the candidate name and the "MPL theory group leader position"). For informal inquiries, please contact directly Florian.Marquardt@mpl.mpg.de, cc marquardt-office@mpl.mpg.de.

The Max Planck Society has set itself the goal of employing more severely handicapped people. Applications from the severely handicapped are expressly welcome. The Society wants to increase the proportion of women in areas where they are underrepresented. Women are therefore expressly invited to apply.