Postdoctoral Researcher in Nuclear and Particle Physics, Astrophysics and Cosmology in , us

Job Title

Postdoctoral Researcher in Nuclear and Particle Physics, Astrophysics and Cosmology

Location

Los Alamos, NM, US

Organization Name

T-2/ Nuc & Particle Phys, Astrophys & Cosmol

What You Will Do

The T-2 group (Nuclear and Particle Physics, Astrophysics and Cosmology) in the Theoretical Division at Los Alamos Laboratory invites applications for two-year postdoctoral positions in Nuclear Theory to begin in Fall 2026. Candidates are expected to have a Ph.D. in nuclear theory or a closely related field by the beginning of the postdoctoral, obtained no earlier than 5 years before the due date below (i.e., Oct or Dec 2019). We conduct research on a broad set of topics, including effective theories of strong and weak interactions, heavy-ion physics and physics of the quark‑gluon plasma, low‑energy phenomenology within and beyond the Standard Model, neutrino physics and astrophysics, nuclear astrophysics, nuclear structure, perturbative QCD, and quantum few‑and many‑body systems, and quantum computing. Candidates in all these areas are strongly encouraged to apply. Scientists in the group working in these areas include Joe Carlson, Stefano Gandolfi, Christopher Lee, Emanuele Mereghetti, Duff Neill, Ingo Tews, and Ivan Vitev.

LANL offers Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowships (Curie, Feynman, Hoffman, Oppenheimer) and Director’s funded postdoc positions through a lab‑wide competitive selection process. Exceptional candidates wishing to be considered for these fellowships must submit all application materials by Monday, September 1, 2025. Applications for regular group postings should be submitted by Friday, December 7, 2025, for full consideration.

What You Need

• Record of peer‑reviewed publications in the above or related research areas.
• Experience in a scientific research collaboration.
• Experience giving scientific talks in professional environments.

Education: Ph.D. in theoretical nuclear/particle physics or closely related field obtained before the start of the appointment.

Work Location: The work location is onsite in Los Alamos, NM.

Salary

Starting salary for a new graduate is currently $97,000.00 and increases with years of experience post‑Ph.D. For more information, see LANL's Postdoctoral Research page:

Benefits

• PPO or high deductible medical insurance with a large nationwide network.
• Dental and vision insurance.
• Free basic life 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 programs.
• Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50 mile radius).

Additional Details

Directive 206.2 requires a favorable decision by NNSA. This requirement applies only to U.S. citizens. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A. Position does not require a security clearance; selected candidates will be subject to drug testing and other pre‑employment background checks.

New‑Employment Drug Test: Successful applicants must complete a new‑employment drug test. Random drug testing is required. Marijuana remains illegal under federal law; a positive test may result in termination.

Equal Opportunity: Los Alamos Laboratory is an equal‑opportunity employer. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to protected categories such as race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, ancestry, age, marital status, citizenship, disability, pregnancy, pregnancy status, medical condition, status as a protected veteran, or genetic information. The Laboratory is committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations upon request. To request an accommodation, please email or call , opt. 3.

Contact: Ingo Tews –