Postdoctoral Appointee - Nuclear Theory

Location: Lemont

The Theory Group in the Physics Division at Argonne National Laboratory is now seeking candidates for postdoctoral positions in nuclear theory, to begin as early as Spring 2026.

The positions are for two years, with the possibility of one additional year contingent upon funding and performance. Applications received by 28 November 2025 will receive our fullest consideration.

The Theory Group has four staff members [Ian Cloët, Alessandro Lovato, Anna McCoy, and Yong Zhao] and several postdocs and students. The group has a broad research program in QCD/hadron physics and nuclear structure/reactions, with increasing emphasis on using artificial intelligence and quantum information science. The group has access to extensive laboratory and national computational resources and has significant involvement in three SciDAC-5 projects:
1) Femtoscale Imaging of Nuclei using Exascale Platforms,
2) Fundamental nuclear physics at exascale and beyond, and
3) Nuclear Computational Low Energy Initiative (NUCLEI); and two Topical Collaborations:
1) 3D quark-gluon structure of hadrons: mass, spin, and tomography, and
2) Nuclear Theory for New Physics.

Further information on our group and its research activities can be found .gov/phy/theory. Interested applicants should complete the following three steps:

1. Complete the application herein.

2. Email a curriculum vitae and a one-page statement of research interests to Ian Cloët (icloet).

3. Arrange for three letters of recommendation to be emailed to the same address.

Any questions about the position may be sent to Ian Cloët (icloet).

About Argonne and the Physics Division:
Argonne is a multidisciplinary science and engineering research center, where talented scientists and engineers work together to answer the biggest questions facing humanity. The laboratory works in concert with universities, industry, and other national laboratories on questions and experiments too large for any one institution to do by itself. Surrounded by the highest concentration of top-tier research organizations in the world, Argonne leverages its Chicago-area location to lead discovery and to drive innovation in a wide range of core scientific capabilities, from nuclear physics and materials science to biology and advanced computer science.

The Physics Division (PHY) at Argonne has a long and distinguished history in nuclear physics and currently has a staff of around 110, including more than 30 Ph.D.'s and 20 postdoctoral scholars. PHY research focuses on developing a fundamental understanding of the constituents of matter, and has major programs in nuclear theory, low-energy nuclear physics, medium-energy nuclear physics, fundamental interactions, and accelerator technology, with additional smaller-scale programs in optical trapping of atoms, quantum simulation, and applications of nuclear science.

A primary mission of PHY is to operate the Argonne Tandem Linac Accelerator System (ATLAS) as a national user facility for low-energy nuclear physics.

Position Requirements

* Recent or soon-to-be-completed PhD (within the last 0-5 years) in theoretical physics or a related field (Completed prior to the start date of the postdoctoral position and no more than 5 years of postdoctoral experience)

* Ability to model Argonne's core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity, and teamwork

We are seeking a wide candidate pool so welcome applications from all those interested that broadly meet these criteria.

Job Family

Postdoctoral

Job Profile

Postdoctoral Appointee

Worker Type

Long-Term (Fixed Term)

Time Type

Full time

The expected hiring range for this position is $70,758.00-$.

Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as, but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs. Additionally, comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package.

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