Staff Scientist in Nuclear Theory

What You Will Do

The T-2 group (Nuclear and Particle Physics, Astrophysics and Cosmology) invites applications for a staff scientist position in Nuclear Theory. The nuclear‑theory team conducts research on a broad set of topics, including effective theories of strong and weak interactions, low‑energy phenomenology within and beyond the Standard Model, neutrino physics and astrophysics, nuclear astrophysics, nuclear structure, heavy‑ion physics and the physics of the quark‑gluon plasma, perturbative QCD, quantum few‑ and many‑body systems, quantum computing, and machine learning and artificial intelligence applied to these areas.

Candidates in all these areas are strongly encouraged to apply.

In addition to six full‑time staff scientists working in basic nuclear theory (J. Carlson, S. Gandolfi,

E. Mereghetti,

D. Neill, I. Tews, I. Vitev), the T-2 group has expertise in applied nuclear physics, particle physics, astrophysics & heliophysics, and plasma physics. Research at the intersections of these areas with nuclear theory, as well as interdisciplinary research employing new computational paradigms, is highly valued. More broadly, the Theoretical Division and LANL provide a stimulating scientific environment and opportunities for interdisciplinary science.

Minimum

Job Requirements:

• Demonstrated record of technical excellence and achievement in nuclear theory or a closely related area.
• Significant knowledge and experience in formulating and presenting results to technical audiences and readerships.
• Demonstrated leadership skills or the ability and experience to mentor junior researchers at all levels.
• Ability and inclination to contribute to a wide range of basic research and mission science programs as needs and opportunities evolve with time.

Education/

Experience:

Position requires a Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field from an accredited college and university and 4 years of related experience, typically with post‑doctoral research experience at a university or national lab or equivalent experience directly related to the occupation.

• Ph.D. in theoretical physics or related fields and 2 years of postdoctoral research experience.
• Demonstrated effective networking skills across disciplines, e.g., collaboration with experimental, observational, or computational physicists.
• Experience with obtaining research funding.
• Experience with leading scientific projects in collaboration with academia, industry or government agencies.
• Strong communication skills.
• Experience with emerging computational paradigms (including classical HPC, ML/AI and Quantum Computing).

The work location for this position is onsite and located in Los Alamos, NM. All work locations are at the discretion of management.

Regular appointment employees are required to serve a period of continuous service in their current position in order to be eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the time required, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. The position commitment for this position is 1 year.

• Please include in the application a CV, a publication list, and a concise research statement (three pages) describing past achievements and future plans.
• A cover letter describing how you meet minimum requirements and desired qualifications listed above, and including the contact information for 3‑4 references.
• Candidates are encouraged to contact Ivan Vitev (ntsearch
  26) for further inquiries.
• For full consideration please apply by September 30, 2026. The final selection is expected in the spring of 2027.
• For more information on our group (T‑2) please visit https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

• PPO or high‑deductible medical insurance with a large nationwide network.
• Dental and vision insurance.
• Free basic life and disability insurance.
• Paid childbirth and parental leave.
• Award‑winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually).
• Learning opportunities and tuition assistance.
• Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays).
• Onsite gyms and wellness…