Research Assistant​/Assoc in Quantum

Research Assistant £33,951 to £46,049 per annum

Research Associate £36,636 to £46,049 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits . We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 2 July 2026

We are seeking research associates (or research assistants, for those who have submitted their PhD thesis by the start date of the role) with experience in the broad area of quantum information science and technology, and an interest in quantum foundations more specifically, to work with Dr Jonte R Hance within the Quantum Research Group in the School of Computing.

Positions are funded under Dr Hance’s EPSRC New Investigator Award, titled “Leveraging Quantum Foundations for Metro logical Advantage”. This project involves working theoretically to optimise setups with this counterfactual gain for metrology applications, with a focus on understanding, manipulating, and leveraging quasi probability negativity as a resource for quantum metrological advantage. It also involves building collaborations with experimentalist partners to demonstrate counterfactual gain, and how quasi probability negativity can strengthen it, and how both can be used for metrology.

You will work closely with internal collaborators, external project partners (including at the University of Bristol, Heriot‑Watt University, Northumbria University, the EPSRC Quantum Sensing, Imaging, and Timing Hub, and the National Quantum Computing Centre in the UK, UMass Boston in the US, Linkoping University in Sweden, and Kagawa University and Hiroshima University in Japan), and new and developing external collaborators. These 3-year fixed‑term positions should provide a path to research independence, and Dr Hance will provide support and guidance for applying for independent fellowships and other such opportunities for developing independence throughout the term of the position.

Research directions will be developed collaboratively by you and Dr Hance, commesurate to previous research experience and independence, but will broadly focus on applying quantum foundational ideas, principles, and tools (e.g., quasi probability negativity, post selection, interaction‑free measurement, novel POVMs) to problems in metrology, imaging, sensing, or tomography.

As part of our commitment to career development for research colleagues, the University has developed 3 levels of Research Innovation Role Profiles. These profiles set out firstly the generic competencies and responsibilities expected of role holders at each level and, secondly, the general qualifications and experiences needed for entry at a particular level.

This is a full time post available for the duration of 3 years.

To apply please upload your CV and cover letter evidencing how your skills and experiences align to the person specification as outlined within the job description.

• Conduct research around quantum information science and technologies broadly defined, based on specific research directions set in discussion with Dr Hance
• Build internal and external contacts and participate in networks for the exchange of information and to form relationships for future collaboration
• Help with the supervision of final year undergraduate research projects and postgraduate research students
• Work with support staff, undergraduate and postgraduate students, and interact intellectually with other academic members of the Group
• Contribute to events celebrating the public engagement of science/social sciences/humanities
• Co‑ordinate own work with that of others, use problem solving to affect the achievement of research objectives and contribute to the planning of the project(s)
• Present information on research progress and outcomes to a Principal Investigator or groups overseeing the research project
• Write up results from own research activity and provide input into the research project’s dissemination, in whatever form (report, papers, chapters, books)
• Use research resources (including, where required, laboratories, workshops…