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0202 J.W. Nicholson Hall, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
Onsite
The Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Cain Department of Chemical Engineering at Louisiana State University (LSU) invite applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in computational condensed matter and materials physics, with a focus on quantum information science. The successful candidate will be a joint hire between the College of Science and the College of Engineering, joining a strong and growing Condensed Matter and Materials Physics group in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and active research in materials, catalysis, energy, and advanced computations in the Cain Department of Chemical Engineering. The successful candidate will help build on LSU's expanding efforts in quantum information science, which span condensed matter theory, materials physics, and atomic, molecular, and optical physics. Primary activities include research, teaching, and supervising undergraduate and graduate MS/PhD students.
This position is part of a broader cluster hiring initiative in Quantum Information Science and Engineering (QISE) at LSU, spanning the College of Science (the Department of Physics and Astronomy and Department of Chemistry) and the College of Engineering (Electrical & Computer Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, and Chemical Engineering). In addition to this position, the cluster includes searches in quantum device fabrication and production (Electrical & Computer Engineering), quantum AI/ML and algorithms (Computer Science and Engineering), experimental quantum and energy devices (Physics), experimental quantum and energy materials (Physics), and quantum computational chemistry (Chemistry), reflecting LSU's strategic investment in building an interdisciplinary quantum research community spanning device fabrication, materials, algorithms, and theory
Responsibilities: The successful candidate will be expected to establish a vibrant and externally-funded cutting-edge computational and/or theoretical research program addressing quantum materials, quantum many-body phenomena, or the physics underlying quantum information processing, in addition to fostering collaborations within the Department of Physics and Astronomy, Cain Department of Chemical Engineering, and across related units at LSU. The candidate will also be expected to provide effective teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels in the Physics and Astronomy Department with the possibility of teaching cross-disciplinary course with the Cain Department of Chemical Engineering. In addition, the successful candidate will provide service to the departments, and mentor students at all levels. As part of this cluster hire, the successful candidate will join a growing cohort of new faculty across LSU working across the full spectrum of quantum information science and engineering from device fabrication and materials to algorithms and theory, with opportunities to build shared infrastructure, co-mentor students, and pursue joint proposals for center-scale funding.
The candidate will have access to outstanding resources including the LSU High-Performance Computing Center, the Center for Computation and Technology (CCT), a generous startup package, and a collaborative research environment spanning theory and experiment. The Physics and Astronomy Department's quantum information science community includes the Hearne Institute of Theoretical Physics, which is closely linked to the DOE's Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center. Opportunities exist for close collaboration with experimental condensed matter and materials physics colleagues to connect computational and theoretical work with materials synthesis, characterization, and device-scale realizations of quantum information platforms.
The Condensed Matter and Materials Physics group in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at LSU is currently supported by 14 faculty, with established strengths in materials synthesis and characterization (bulk and nanoscale), novel superconductors, magnetic compounds, semiconductors, and correlated materials, alongside a growing computational and theoretical effort in many-body methods and their applications to quantum information science. On-campus facilities include capabilities for ultra-low-temperature and high-magnetic-field measurements, and spin- and charge-sensitive spectroscopic probes (photoemission, neutron scattering, scanning tunneling spectroscopy). The Institute for Advanced Materials coordinates interdisciplinary materials research across departmental and college boundaries.
The Cain Department of Chemical Engineering has complementary strengths in advanced computation and materials research that provide a natural foundation for this joint hire. Departmental expertise spans first-principles and molecular-scale modeling, multiscale simulation, machine learning for materials design, heterogeneous and electrocatalysis, electrochemical and energy materials, polymers and soft materials, nanoparticle assembly, and process systems engineering. These activities create opportunities for the successful candidate to synergize computational quantum information and quantum materials research with frontier topics in materials and chemical sciences including plasmonic and photonic materials and topological catalysis.
The Department of Physics and Astronomy is one of LSU's premier research departments, with more than 50 faculty members, 19 postdoctoral researchers, 130 graduate students, and 18 staff, and annual grant and contract support exceeding $10 million. Faculty work across a broad range of disciplines, including AMO physics, quantum information science, condensed matter physics and materials science, astronomy & astrophysics, space physics, neutrino physics, high energy and nuclear physics, theoretical general relativity & quantum gravity, gravitational wave detection, and medical physics. The department is housed in Nicholson Hall at the academic heart of campus. Major research facilities available to faculty include the LSU High-Performance Computing Center with excellent access to supercomputing resources and support, the interdisciplinary Center for Computation and Technology (CCT), the Louisiana Light Source, LSU's synchrotron facility, and the NSF's Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO). See https://www.lsu.edu/physics/ for complete information.
The Cain Department of Chemical Engineering is a research-intensive department in the LSU College of Engineering with 16 tenure/tenure-track faculty and approximately 67 graduate students. Research expenditures are approximately $4.5 million annually, with active programs in advanced computations, biochemical engineering, catalysis, energy, environmental engineering, materials, and process systems engineering. Chemical Engineering faculty and students benefit from extensive interdisciplinary collaborations across LSU and access to major LSU research infrastructure, including the High-Performance Computing Center, the CCT, the Shared Instrumentation Facility (SIF) for advanced materials characterization, and the Louisiana Light Source for synchrotron-based characterization, micro/nanofabrication, and related capabilities. The department is housed in Patrick F. Taylor Hall, a major engineering teaching and research complex that supports close interaction across the College of Engineering. See https://www.lsu.edu/eng/che/ for complete information.
LSU is the flagship institution of the Louisiana State University System. It is a Research I University with an enrollment of 37,825 students, including 4,704 at the graduate level. For more information visit: http://www.lsu.edu.
Required Qualifications: Ph.D. in physics, materials science, chemical engineering or a closely related field, with demonstrated research engagement in computational or theoretical condensed matter and materials physics with relevance to quantum information science (e.g., quantum materials, quantum many-body theory, electronic structure methods, or quantum simulation/computation). Candidates who have completed all requirements for the doctorate except the dissertation will be considered, provided the degree is conferred by the employment start date, and must clearly demonstrate potential for excellence in research, teaching, and other scholarly activity.
Skills Needed:
Preferred Skills:
Background Check - An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check.
Benefits - LSU offers outstanding benefits to eligible employees and their dependents including health, life, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement options; various leave options; paid holidays; wellness benefits; tuition exemption for qualified positions; training and development opportunities; employee discounts; and more!
Positions approved to work outside the State of Louisiana shall be employed through Louisiana State University’s partner, nextSource Workforce Solutions, for Employer of Record Services including but not limited to employment, benefits, payroll, and tax compliance. Positions employed through Employer of Record Services will be offered benefits and retirement as applicable through their provider and will not be eligible for State of Louisiana benefits and retirement.
All candidates must have valid U.S. work authorization at the time of hire and maintain that valid work authorization throughout employment. Changes in laws, regulations, or government policies may impact the university’s ability to employ individuals in certain positions.
For questions or concerns related to updating your application with attachments (e.g., resumes, RS:17 documents), date of birth, or reactivating applications, please contact the LSU Human Resources Management Office at 225-578-8200 or email HR@lsu.edu. For questions or concerns regarding the status of your application or salary ranges, please contact the department using the information provided in the Special Instructions section of this job posting.