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Rensselaer faculty and alumni include more than 145 National Academy members, six members of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, six National Medal of Technology winners, five National Medal of Science winners, three astronauts, and a Nobel Prize winner in Physics. With nearly 200 years of experience advancing scientific and technological knowledge, Rensselaer remains focused on addressing global challenges with a spirit of ingenuity and collaboration. To learn more, please visit www.rpi.edu.

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Job Summary

The Department of Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in the field of Quantum Computing, Quantum Information, and Quantum Technology, with focus on the fundamental aspects or applications of quantum computation, scalability, and error correction on current and future quantum computing devices. Research areas can include but not limited to quantum entanglement, decoherence, and noise in quantum networks, with applications to quantum cryptography, quantum encryption, and secure quantum communications in noisy environments. Possible related areas would also include studying and exploiting the fundamental connections between Quantum Monte Carlo and Quantum Computing, simulating quantum field theory and many-body theory with a quantum computer (in particular, simulating systems with a “sign” problem), quantum communication networks, exotic quantum dynamics, quantum sensing protocols, exotic quantum phases of matter, and theory on the nature of information at the quantum level.

With the anticipated of arrival of the IBM Quantum System One on our campus, this hire will have access to explore and implement some of these challenging problems. This hire would be part of a bold effort at RPI to strengthen and extend our current faculty cluster in Quantum Information, and would interact with our current faculty on quantum optics and photon entanglement, quantum field-theory, quantum fluctuations in networks, as well as with researchers from Computer Science, ECSE, Future of Computing Institute, and with the future hires of the recently announced Quantum Constellation. The position also represents a response to federal priorities expressed in the National Quantum Initiative Act.

The successful candidate will establish/maintain and externally funded research program, participate in collaborative, multi-investigator research and research training initiatives, and contribute to the high impact teaching program in the Department of Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy.

Postdoctoral research experience and a strong early record of publication in leading journals is preferred. The candidate is expected to work in an interdisciplinary and collaborative research environment.

Starting Salary/Rate

Expected hiring range: Assistant Professor: $110,000 to $115,000

Pay transparency disclosure: The selected candidate’s salary will be determined based on factors that include the available budget, internal equity, and the final candidate’s qualifications, experience, education and other job-related credentials. This hiring range is provided as Rensselaer’s good faith estimate of the expected hiring range at the time of posting.

Application instructions

Follow the on-screen prompts to create a brief application with contact information for three (3) references. Be prepared to upload the following:

(1) a cover letter
(2) a curriculum vitae (including full list of publications)
(3) a research statement including future research plans
(3) a statement of teaching activities and interests
(4) a diversity statement

If you need assistance with the online application process, please contact careers@rpi.edu.

Questions about this position may be directed to Prof. Gyorgy Korniss (korniss@rpi.edu), Department Head, or to Prof. Joel Giedt (giedtj@rpi.edu), Chair of the Faculty Search Committee.

Full consideration will be given to applications received by January 8, 2024.

Rensselaer is committed to providing a safe and healthy living, learning, and working environment for its faculty, staff and students.  As such, we strongly recommend that faculty, staff and students obtain a COVID-19 vaccination and remain current with available boosters to protect themselves, as well as to protect vulnerable members of the community.

Total Compensation and Benefits Information

Rensselaer’s Total Compensation Program is designed to provide stable pay growth, a comprehensive and affordable benefits package, and a comprehensive and affordable retiree medical and prescription plan. Rensselaer is recognized locally and nationally for the depth and breadth of its compensation and benefits program. Our goal is to provide you and your family with a comprehensive health and welfare program as an umbrella of financial security and protection during your employment. For more information, please visit Benefits | Human Resources (rpi.edu).

We welcome candidates who will bring diverse cultural, ethnic, national and international perspectives to Rensselaer’s work and campus communities.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity, Race/Gender/Veterans/Disability Employer.