Postdoctoral Researcher

Postdoctoral Associate in Mathematical Quantum Materials

We seek a postdoctoral associate to work at the interface of spectral theory and quantum materials, with potential applications to quantum information. The work will be based at the Center for Computation & Technology (CCT) at Louisiana State University. The position is jointly mentored by Stephen Shipman (Mathematics) and Justin Wilson (Physics & Astronomy) and is embedded in a collaboration of mathematicians and physicists at multiple institutions.

The postdoctoral associate will contribute to the development of the mathematics of emergent quantum states in layered media, such as bound states in the continuum (BICs), with applications to quantum materials and technology.

Research activities may involve the following.

• Developing analytical tools and theorems to inform physics and realistic material design;
• Momentum-space and real-space analyses and algebra;
• Building numerical spectral methods informed by rigorous theorems;
• Connections between spectral structure, topology, and quantum degrees of freedom;
• Collaborations aimed at applications in quantum materials and technologies.

Research directions will be shaped jointly by the postdoc and mentors, allowing for initiative and alignment with the postdoc's strengths.

The postdoc will be part of an interdisciplinary research effort linking mathematics and physics, with regular interaction among collaborators at LSU and partner institutions. The position offers the opportunity to:

• Build a distinct interdisciplinary research profile;
• Contribute to collaborative publications and emerging research programs;
• Gain experience shaping ideas that underpin future large-scale research initiatives.

This position is well-suited for mathematically inclined physicists or physics-oriented mathematicians seeking to work on foundational problems in quantum materials.