The Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics (RPC) at the University of Oxford is pleased to invite applications for the Oxford-Peierls Fellows. These prestigious, three-year postdoctoral fellowships were created in conjunction with the appointment of Prof Shivaji Sondhi to the Wykeham and Leverhulme Professorship of Physics, and are intended both to support the most talented theoretical physicists worldwide at an early stage of their careers and to enrich the intellectual environment of the Centre.

 

Fellows will receive active mentoring from members of the RPC but will be encouraged and expected to set an independent research agenda in one or more of the research areas of the Centre, broadly construed. To that end, they will have access to substantial travel and research funds and participate fully in the Centre’s vibrant programme of visitors and seminars.  In conjunction with their appointment, the Fellows will be associated with a college.

 

Candidates must hold a PhD/DPhil (or close to completion) in Theoretical Physics, or a closely related discipline (it is acceptable to be in the final stages of a PhD/DPhil program but they must have submitted their thesis and defended it successfully in advance of the start of the position, and with sufficient lead time to enable any visa application, if applicable).

 

Applications must be made online. Candidates will be asked to complete an Application Form, upload a CV and a two-page statement of their research plans, and are encouraged, where appropriate, to identify members of the RPC with overlapping research interests. Candidates must also arrange for one nomination letter  and two supporting reference letters to be sent by email to  tp-recruitment@physics.ox.ac.uk. The nomination letter should make specific reference to the candidate’s potential as an independent researcher and be accessible to a general theoretical physics audience. The name of the nominator and the referees should be provided on the Cover Sheet. Nominations and references can be received from any institution.  

  

 

All application materials including nomination and reference letters must be received by 12pm, UK time, on Thursday, 1 October 2026. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a remote visit and interview, to take place in early November 2026.