Job description

We invite applications for two Postdoctoral Research Associate positions in Probability/Combinatorics to work with Dr Matthew Jenssen at the Department of Mathematics at King’s College London.

The positions are full time, fixed-term for two years, with a start date no later than August 2024.

The successful candidates will join the newly-formed Probability group at King’s and be responsible for conducting research as part of the UKRI-funded project “Statistical Physics Methods in Combinatorics, Algorithms, and Geometry”. They will write up their results for publication, present papers at conferences and contribute ideas for new research projects. They will also contribute to the activities of the group, for instance by participating in internal seminar series and reading groups.

Applicants will have, or be close to completing, a PhD in mathematics or a related discipline. They will possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to work within established research programmes and have excellent communication skills, including the ability to write for publication, present research proposals and results.

The posts are available from 3 January 2024.

Responsibility to: Matthew Jenssen (Principal Investigator)

This post will be offered on an a fixed-term contract for 24 months

This is a full-time  post - 100% full time equivalent

Key responsibilities

• Attend and, as appropriate, present research findings and papers at internal academic meetings and external professional conferences, and contribute to the internal and external visibility of the department.  
• Undertake such specific departmental roles and functions as may be reasonably required e.g. rotation as seminar programme co-ordinator.
• Develop and undertake research of high quality consistent with making a full active research contribution, including establishing a track record of high quality publications.
• Conduct individual and collaborative research projects.
• Write up research work for publication.
• Continually update knowledge and understanding in field of research.
• Translate knowledge of advances in the subject area into research activity.
• Foster inter-disciplinary working within the department.
• Actively follow King’s policies including equality of opportunity, data protection, etc.

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Skills, knowledge, and experience 

Essential criteria  

1.        PhD or equivalent awarded in Mathematics or a related discipline, or PhD/equivalent near completion by the start date of the post.  

2.        Possess sufficient specialist knowledge in one or more of the following fields: Probability, Combinatorics, and Algorithms.  

3.        Ability to work within established research programmes related to the fields in point 2. 

4.        Ability to manage own academic research and associated activities.  

5.        Previous experience of contributing to publications/presentations.  

6.        Excellent communication skills, including the ability to write for publication, present research proposals and results, and represent the research group at meeting. 

Desirable criteria

1.       Possess an underlying vision which motivates their research.  

2.       Good organisational skills (experience in organizing scientific events).