At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative projects in quantum computation and error suppression techniques.
- Company: Join a top-ranked institution, Imperial College, renowned for its vibrant research environment.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, 39 days off, and extensive career development support.
- Other info: Collaborate with industry leaders like IBM and Nvidia while accessing high-performance computing facilities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the cutting-edge field of quantum technology.
- Qualifications: PhD in relevant fields or equivalent experience in quantum computation.
The predicted salary is between 48876 - 48876 £ per year.
Dr Zhenyu Cai’s research group in the Department of Computing seeks a highly motivated and exceptionally talented quantum theorist to lead projects aimed at developing a full-stack approach to suppressing errors in quantum hardware. This research focuses on achieving practical quantum computation by integrating techniques ranging from hardware-level noise suppression, quantum error mitigation, all the way to full fault-tolerant computation.
What You Would Be Doing
- The successful candidate will contribute to cutting-edge theoretical research in topics including (but not limited to):
- Quantum architectures, compilation, and scalable quantum systems
- Quantum error correction
- Quantum error mitigation
- Hardware implementation of quantum error correction/mitigation protocols
This post is primarily funded by the EPSRC Quantum Technologies Fellowship held by Dr Cai. The appointee will benefit from Imperial’s vibrant quantum research environment, with opportunities for close collaboration with researchers across different departments and also under the Imperial Centre for Quantum Engineering, Science and Technology. Although theory-focused, the position encourages engagement with experimental partners, including existing industrial partners of the group like Quantum Motion, QuEra, IBM, Nvidia, etc. The project will support research visits and joint activities with these collaborators. The research will involve both analytical work and numerical computations. The balance between analytical and numerical type work is flexible and can depend on the preferences and skills of the successful applicant. Access to high-performance computing facilities and cloud-based quantum hardware will be provided to support the simulation and verification of theoretical methods.
What We Are Looking For
- A PhD in Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics or a closely related discipline, or equivalent research / industrial experience.
- Practical experience within a research environment and publication in relevant and refereed journals / conferences in the field of quantum computation.
- Experience of working with research funders and industrial partners.
- Experience of error correction simulation using packages like Stim and/or conducting large quantum circuit simulation and experience of scientific programming involving HPC or GPU systems; experience of participating in collaborative software projects; use of GitHub or similar are desirable.
What we can offer you
You will have the opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution. Imperial College is currently ranked #2 in the QS world university rankings with the Department of Computing ranked top of the 2021 UK REF assessment. You will receive a sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 39 days off a year) and a comprehensive early career development support package including 10 training and development days.
Further Information
Candidates who have not been awarded a PhD you will be appointed at Research Assistant level within the salary range: £45,399 - £48,876 per annum. Full-time, Fixed term to start as soon as possible for 36 months. If you require any further details on the role, please contact Dr Zhenyu Cai. For Queries Regarding The Application Process Contact Jamie Perrins. Closing Date: 18th October 2026 (midnight).
Research Associate in Quantum Computation employer: Quantum Computing Jobs UK
At Universal Quantum, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. With a strong focus on professional development, our employees benefit from a generous budget for growth opportunities, alongside a comprehensive benefits package that includes private healthcare and a pension scheme. Located in a hybrid work environment, we empower our team to contribute to groundbreaking quantum technologies that have the potential to transform industries and improve lives.
