Postdoctoral Research Associate - Physics

Position Summary

The Astrophysics, Particle Astrophysics, and Space Sciences group of the Department of Physics at WashU in St. Louis invites applications for a postdoctoral position, for a negotiable start around September 6, 2026. The appointment is expected to be up to 2 years with subsequent year-to-year extension depending on performance and funding.

The postdoc will work in the group of Prof. Karthik Ramanathan, primarily on the development of novel superconducting detectors for particle physics applications. These include qubit-based detectors (QPDs/SQUATs) and Kinetic Inductance Detectors (KIDs). The project scope is expected to run the gamut from design to on-site nano-fabrication to device testing in the group’s dilution refrigerator, along with analyzing collected data. There is scope for the postdoc to define their own additional sub-projects – e.g., developing new sub-eV energy calibration techniques – and also interface with a larger experimental collaboration.

Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

Information on being a postdoc at WashU in St. Louis can be found at https://postdoc.wustl.edu/prospective-postdocs-2/.

Salary Range:

Base pay is commensurate with experience.

Applicant Special Instructions:

Interested candidates should submit an application that includes a cover letter, a curriculum vitae with a complete list of publications, a statement of research interests, and three letters of recommendation to. For full consideration, applications should be received prior to June 15th 2026.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.

Required Qualifications

Education:

Ph.D., M.D. Or Equivalent Terminal Or Doctoral Degree.
Certifications/Professional Licenses:

No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.

Work Experience:

No specific work experience is required for this position.
Skills:

Not Applicable
Driver's License:

A driver's license is not required for this position.

More About This Job

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in physics (or related field) prior to start date.
• Previous experience with superconducting device design, cryogenics, and nanofabrication is strongly preferred.
• Candidates with QIS backgrounds (e.g., working with superconducting transmons) are highly encouraged to apply given an expected transferable skillset.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

No additional education unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.
Certifications/Professional Licenses:

No additional certification/professional licenses unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.
Work Experience:

No additional work experience unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.
Skills:

Not Applicable

Questions

For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.

Accommodation

If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email [email protected] or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.

All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

Pre-Employment Screening

All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.

Benefits Statement

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to providing a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to our employees. Benefits eligibility is subject to employment status, full-time equivalent (FTE) workload, and weekly standard hours. Please visit our website at https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/ to view a summary of benefits.

EEO Statement

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, citizenship (where prohibited by federal law), age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.