Reference: 448_26_CASE_Q_R1

Job title: PhD Student in Quantum algorithms (R1)

About BSC

The Barcelona Supercomputing Center - Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS) is the leading supercomputing center in Spain. It houses MareNostrum, one of the most powerful supercomputers in Europe, was a founding and hosting member of the former European HPC infrastructure PRACE (Partnership for Advanced Computing in Europe), and is now hosting entity for EuroHPC JU, the Joint Undertaking that leads large-scale investments and HPC provision in Europe. The mission of BSC is to research, develop and manage information technologies in order to facilitate scientific progress. BSC combines HPC service provision and R&D into both computer and computational science (life, earth and engineering sciences) under one roof, and currently has over 1000 staff from 60 countries.

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We are particularly interested for this role in the strengths and lived experiences of women and underrepresented groups to help us avoid perpetuating biases and oversights in science and IT research. In instances of equal merit, the incorporation of the under-represented sex will be favoured.

We promote Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, fostering an environment where each and every one of us is appreciated for who we are, regardless of our differences.

If you consider that you do not meet all the requirements, we encourage you to continue applying for the job offer. We value diversity of experiences and skills, and you could bring unique perspectives to our team.

Context And Mission

The BSC Quantic team aims to develop and apply advanced analytical and numerical methods to investigate quantum field theories and strongly correlated quantum many-body systems. In this project, particular emphasis will be placed on Hamiltonian formulations of lattice field theories, their quantum simulation, and the characterization of their complexity and quantum-information properties. The research will address fundamental questions related to continuum limits, phase structure, real-time dynamics, entanglement, non-Gaussianity, and ergodicity, while exploring alternative lattice formulations that may enable more efficient classical and quantum simulations.

Key Duties

• Numerical and analytical investigation of quantum field theories and strongly correlated quantum many-body systems.

• Development and application of numerical methods for the classical and quantum simulation of lattice field theories.

• Investigation of quantum complexity, entanglement, non-Gaussianity, ergodicity, and related quantum-information properties of quantum field theories.

• Contribution to ongoing research on alternative Hamiltonian formulations of lattice gauge theories, including orbifold lattice approaches, continuum limits, phase structure, and real-time dynamics.

• Analysis of numerical and analytical results and preparation of scientific publications.

• Presentation of research results at international conferences and workshops.

Requirements

• Education

  • Master's degree in Physics, Theoretical Physics, Mathematical Physics, or a closely related discipline.

• Essential Knowledge and Professional Experience

  • Strong background in quantum mechanics and quantum field theory at graduate level.
  • Good knowledge of analytical methods in theoretical physics.
  • Experience with numerical methods and scientific programming, preferably in Julia, Python, or comparable scientific programming environments.

• Additional Knowledge and Professional Experience

  • Knowledge of lattice field theory, quantum many-body physics, statistical mechanics, or quantum information will be considered an advantage.
  • Experience with numerical techniques such as tensor networks, exact diagonalization, Monte Carlo methods, or related computational approaches will be a plus.
  • Familiarity with high-performance computing environments will be a plus.
  • Previous research experience demonstrated by a Master's thesis, publications, preprints, conference contributions, or research reports will be positively considered.
  • Good communication skills and a good command of written and spoken English.

• Competences

  • Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work independently on analytical and computational problems.
  • Pro-active, rigorous, and result-oriented work attitude.
  • Capacity to interact effectively and build strong scientific collaborations within an international research team.

Conditions

• The position will be located at BSC within the CASE Department

• We offer a full-time contract (35h/week), a good working environment, a highly stimulating environment with state-of-the-art infrastructure, flexible working hours, extensive training plan, restaurant tickets, private health insurance, support to the relocation procedures

• Duration: predoctoral contract

• Holidays: 22 days of holidays + 6 personal days + 24th and 31st of December per our collective agreement

• Salary: we offer a competitive salary commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the candidate and according to the cost of living in Barcelona

• Starting date: 16/11/2025

Applications procedure and process

All applications must be submitted via the BSC website and contain:

• A full CV in English including contact details

• A cover/motivation letter with a statement of interest in English, clearly specifying for which specific area and topics the applicant wishes to be considered. Additionally, two references for further contacts must be included. Applications without this document will not be considered.

Development of the recruitment process

The selection will be carried out through a competitive examination system ("Concurso-Oposición"). The recruitment process consists of two phases:

• Curriculum Analysis: Evaluation of previous experience and/or scientific history, degree, training, and other professional information relevant to the position. - 40 points
• Interview phase: The highest-rated candidates at the curriculum level will be invited to the interview phase, conducted by the corresponding department and Human Resources. In this phase, technical competencies, knowledge, skills, and professional experience related to the position, as well as the required personal competencies, will be evaluated. - 60 points. A minimum of 30 points out of 60 must be obtained to be eligible for the position.

The recruitment panel will be composed of at least three people, ensuring at least 25% representation of women.

In accordance with OTM-R principles, a gender-balanced recruitment panel is formed for each vacancy at the beginning of the process. After reviewing the content of the applications, the panel will begin the interviews, with at least one technical and one administrative interview. At a minimum, a personality questionnaire as well as a technical exercise will be conducted during the process.

The panel will make a final decision, and all individuals who participated in the interview phase will receive feedback with details on the acceptance or rejection of their profile.

At BSC, we seek continuous improvement in our recruitment processes. For any suggestions or comments/complaints about our recruitment processes, please contact recruitment [at] bsc [dot] es. For more information, please follow this link.

Deadline

The vacancy will remain open until a suitable candidate has been hired. Applications will be regularly reviewed and potential candidates will be contacted.

OTM-R principles for selection processes

BSC-CNS is committed to the principles of the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers of the European Commission and the Open, Transparent and Merit-based Recruitment principles (OTM-R). This is applied for any potential candidate in all our processes, for example by creating gender-balanced recruitment panels and recognizing career breaks etc. BSC-CNS is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We are pleased to consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or any other basis protected by applicable state or local law. For more information follow this link