Senior Research Associate/Research Fellow in Foundations of Physics

University of Bristol, United Kingdom

Updated: 22 days ago
Location: Bristol, ENGLAND
Job Type: FullTime

This is a four-year postdoctoral research position in foundations of physics. This position is for a post-doctoral researcher with expertise in philosophy of physics or theoretical physics and particular research interests in black hole physics and/or quantum cosmology. The role holder will be based in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Bristol and will work within the research team on the Leverhulme Trust project Explicating Singularity Resolution: From Black Holes to Quantum Cosmology, led by Dr Karim Thebault (https://philosophyofphysicsbristol.org/explicating-singularity-resolution/).

The successful candidate will work collaboratively with the project Principal Investigator (Karim Thébault) and Senior Project Advisor (Juliusz Doboszewski) towards the pursuit of the project objectives and the authorship of single and joint authored research articles.

The project's core objective is to provide a model-based explication of singularity resolution in modern theoretical physics. We will pursue this aim through three further sub-objectives:

  • Explicate the concept of black hole singularity resolution in terms of necessary and sufficient criteria and relate these criteria to the cosmological case that was studied in previous work
  • Use semi-classical analysis to connect quantum singularity resolution to the study of classical singularities in cosmology and black holes within the theorems of Penrose, Hawking and others.
  • Articulate the connections between singularity resolution and heuristic principles relating to the arrow of time and chaotic cosmology.

    • The successful candidate will be expected to author and co-author research articles in theoretical physics, philosophy of physics or philosophy of science with a focus on sub-objectives 2 and 3.

    • You have a PhD in Theoretical Physics or Philosophy of Physics
    • You have at least an undergraduate degree (joint or single honours) in Mathematics or Physics
    • You have advanced knowledge of general relativity
    • You have interests in quantum cosmology and/or black hole physics
    • You have interests in the philosophy and foundations of physics

    As part of your application you are asked to submit the following. Please note that applications without these documents may not be considered for shortlisting.

  • A 200 word motivation statement (to be uploaded in place of a cover letter)
  • A short (max 5 pages) CV
  • A writing sample of no more than 30 pages

    • Contract type: Open-ended with fixed funding from 01/07/2026 to 30/06/2030

    Work pattern: 1 FTE

    Grade: J/K

    Salary: Grade J: £44,746 to £50,253/Grade K: £50,253 to £58,225 per annum

    School/Unit: School of Arts, Faculty of Arts, Law, and Social Sciences

    Shift pattern: Monday - Friday

    This advert will close at23:59 UK timeon Sunday 15th March

    For informal queries please contact: Karim Thebault - karim.thebault@bristol.ac.uk


    We recently launched our strategy  to 2030 tying together our mission, vision and values.

    The University of Bristol aims to be a place where everyone feels able to be themselves and do their best in an inclusive working environment where all colleagues can thrive and reach their full potential. We want to attract, develop, and retain individuals with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives – particularly people of colour, LGBT+ and disabled people - because diversity of people and ideas remains integral to our excellence as a global civic institution.


    Available documents

    This is a four-year postdoctoral research position in foundations of physics. This position is for a post-doctoral researcher with expertise in philosophy of physics or theoretical physics and particular research interests in black hole physics and/or quantum cosmology. The role holder will be based in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Bristol and will work within the research team on the Leverhulme Trust project Explicating Singularity Resolution: From Black Holes to Quantum Cosmology, led by Dr Karim Thebault (https://philosophyofphysicsbristol.org/explicating-singularity-resolution/).

    The successful candidate will work collaboratively with the project Principal Investigator (Karim Thébault) and Senior Project Advisor (Juliusz Doboszewski) towards the pursuit of the project objectives and the authorship of single and joint authored research articles.

    The project's core objective is to provide a model-based explication of singularity resolution in modern theoretical physics. We will pursue this aim through three further sub-objectives:

  • Explicate the concept of black hole singularity resolution in terms of necessary and sufficient criteria and relate these criteria to the cosmological case that was studied in previous work
  • Use semi-classical analysis to connect quantum singularity resolution to the study of classical singularities in cosmology and black holes within the theorems of Penrose, Hawking and others.
  • Articulate the connections between singularity resolution and heuristic principles relating to the arrow of time and chaotic cosmology.

    • The successful candidate will be expected to author and co-author research articles in theoretical physics, philosophy of physics or philosophy of science with a focus on sub-objectives 2 and 3.

    • You have a PhD in Theoretical Physics or Philosophy of Physics
    • You have at least an undergraduate degree (joint or single honours) in Mathematics or Physics
    • You have advanced knowledge of general relativity
    • You have interests in quantum cosmology and/or black hole physics
    • You have interests in the philosophy and foundations of physics

    As part of your application you are asked to submit the following. Please note that applications without these documents may not be considered for shortlisting.

  • A 200 word motivation statement (to be uploaded in place of a cover letter)
  • A short (max 5 pages) CV
  • A writing sample of no more than 30 pages

    • Contract type: Open-ended with fixed funding from 01/07/2026 to 30/06/2030

    Work pattern: 1 FTE

    Grade: J/K

    Salary: Grade J: £44,746 to £50,253/Grade K: £50,253 to £58,225 per annum

    School/Unit: School of Arts, Faculty of Arts, Law, and Social Sciences

    Shift pattern: Monday - Friday

    This advert will close at23:59 UK timeon Sunday 15th March

    For informal queries please contact: Karim Thebault - karim.thebault@bristol.ac.uk


    We recently launched our strategy  to 2030 tying together our mission, vision and values.

    The University of Bristol aims to be a place where everyone feels able to be themselves and do their best in an inclusive working environment where all colleagues can thrive and reach their full potential. We want to attract, develop, and retain individuals with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives – particularly people of colour, LGBT+ and disabled people - because diversity of people and ideas remains integral to our excellence as a global civic institution.


    Available documents

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