Edwin Thompson Jaynes Postdoctoral Fellow in Physics

Position Summary

The Department of Physics at WashU in St. Louis invites applications for the Edwin T. Jaynes Fellowship. We welcome applicants with interests in the research areas of the Department of Physics (Nuclear and Particle Physics, Condensed Matter Physics, Quantum Information, Biophysics, and Astrophysics and Cosmology). The Fellowship is a prize postdoctoral fellowship managed by the Department of Physics. Successful candidates are expected to propose a tentative research program, and to further develop and refine that program during their fellowship  aim of the fellowship is to prepare the candidate(s) in the best possible way for faculty positions at research institutions or staff scientist positions at national laboratories.

The awardees will pursue an independent research program, collaborating with one or several faculty members from the Department of Physics, as well as with other postdoctoral and graduate researchers in the department. Jaynes Fellowships are anticipated to continue for three years, conditional to satisfactory yearly performance evaluations. Fellows will be assigned a faculty mentor or mentoring committee, as appropriate, to facilitate their scientific growth.

Residence at the Department of Physics at WashU in St. Louis is required. The anticipated start date for this position is July 1, 2027.

ST. LOUIS, MO 63130

Information on being a postdoc at WashU in St. Louis can be found at (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). Trains under the supervision of a faculty mentor including (but not limited to):
Successful candidates are expected to propose a tentative research program, and to further develop and refine that program during their fellowship  aim of the fellowship is to prepare the candidate(s) in the best possible way for faculty positions at research institutions or staff scientist positions at national laboratories. The awardees will pursue an independent research program, collaborating with one or several faculty members from the Department of Physics, as well as with other postdoctoral and graduate researchers in the department.

The starting salary for this position is $70,000 with an additional annual allotment of $10,000 to be utilized for research purposes.

Ph.D., M.D. Or Equivalent Terminal Or Doctoral Degree.

No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.

No specific work experience is required for this position.

Not Applicable

A driver's license is not required for this position.

WashU seeks highly motivated individuals who are able to perform duties in a manner consistent with our core mission and guiding principles.

No additional education unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

No additional certification/professional licenses unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

No additional work experience unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

Not Applicable

For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.

All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to providing a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to our employees. Benefits eligibility is subject to employment status, full-time equivalent (FTE) workload, and weekly standard hours. Please visit our website at  to view a summary of benefits.

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, citizenship (where prohibited by federal law), age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender…