Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Thermodynamics at the Nanoscale

Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Thermodynamics at the Nanoscale

Central Oxford

We are seeking a motivated and Talented experimentalist for a full-time Research Assistant in Quantum Thermodynamics within Professor Ares’ research group at the Department of Engineering Science (Central Oxford). The post is externally funded and is fixed-term appointment for 1 year.

Little is known about the thermodynamics of quantum devices evolving, fluctuating, and coupling to each other and to the environment. Classical thermodynamics has been established since the 19th century, while quantum thermodynamics is now a blossoming new field which could advance energy harvesting, the design of efficient on-chip nanomachines and refrigerators, as well as sensing techniques or innovative means of storing energy. Harnessing nanoscale circuits in the solid-state, my group is building platforms to study the efficiency and power of quantum engines and clocks, and the thermodynamic cost of quantum information processing, in an analogous way to how Landauer’s bound was found for classical bit erasures. The appointed researcher will develop and characterize quantum devices, perform cryogenic experiments on quantum systems, and design novel experiments to investigate quantum thermodynamic processes.

Reporting to the Principal Investigator, you will help ensure a healthy and vibrant research environment within Natalia Ares’s Research Group. You should possess a PhD/DPhil. You should possess the ability to develop new research projects and raise research funds through making grant applications. Excellent communication skills, including the ability to write for publication, present research proposals and results, and represent the research group at meetings is essential.

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Dr Natalia Ares (email: natalia.ares@eng.ox.ac.uk)

For more information about working at the Department, see www.eng.ox.ac.uk/about/work-with-us/ 

Only applications received before midday on the 31 July 2026 can be considered. You will be required to upload a covering letter/supporting statement, (describing how past experience fit with the advertised position), CV and the details of two referees as part of your online application.

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