Postdoctoral Appointee - Nuclear Theory

Position Overview

The Theory Group in the Physics Division at Argonne National Laboratory is seeking candidates for postdoctoral positions in nuclear theory, beginning as early as Spring
2026. The positions are for two years, with the possibility of an 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 Mc Coy , 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 accesses 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.

• Recent or soon‑to‑be completed Ph.D. (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.

Postdoctoral

Postdoctoral Appointee

Long‑Term (Fixed Term)

Full time

Expected hiring range: $70,758.00–$. 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. Comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package.

Argonne National Laboratory is an equal employment opportunity employer and, in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity, and teamwork, is committed to a safe and welcoming workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. Argonne encourages everyone to apply for employment. Argonne is committed to nondiscrimination and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law.

Argonne employees, guest researchers, and contractors are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined by United States Department of Energy Order
486.1A. Applicants will be asked to disclose any such participation in the application phase for review by Argonne’s Legal Department. All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes an assessment of criminal conviction history conducted on an individualized and case‑by‑case basis. Future obligations may require the individual to obtain a government access authorization that involves additional background check requirements.

Failure to obtain or maintain such authorization could result in the withdrawal of a job offer or future termination of employment.