Heilbronn Institute for Mathematical Research

Are you interested in using your skills in pure mathematics, data science or quantum information as part of a team working on exciting real world problems that help to keep the UK safe?

Our 3 year Heilbronn Postdoctoral Research Fellowships provide the opportunity to continue your own personal research alongside working on varied and classified projects, collaborating with colleagues in a supportive and encouraging environment that puts an emphasis on teamwork. Research areas of interest include, but are not restricted to, Algebra, Algebraic Geometry, Combinatorics, Data Science, Number Theory, Probability, and Quantum Information. Fellows have previously been appointed with backgrounds in most areas of Pure Mathematics, Data Science and Statistics, Quantum Information and Mathematical/Theoretical Physics. You will also be offered training and development opportunities that fit your career ambitions, research needs and personal development requirements. 

We expect to make up to 10 appointments at the University of Bristol, Imperial College London, King's College London, UCL, The University of Manchester for October 2027. 

These appointments will mainly be in Pure Mathematics with up to 2 of the appointments at the University of Bristol in Data Science or Quantum Computing. 

Salary
The salary range is £46,874 - £52,517* (or local equivalent) depending on previous experience, with London weighting where appropriate.

This includes a salary supplement of £3.5K pa, in recognition of the distinctive nature of these Fellowships. Payment of this supplement is conditional on a PhD thesis having been accepted in final form. In addition, a fund of £3k pa to pay for research expenses will be available to each Fellow.

Our Fellowships are 3 years fixed term with a preferred start date of 1st October 2027.

Heilbronn Fellows divide their time equally between their own research and the classified research programme of the Heilbronn Institute.

*Salary figures are shown as full-time equivalent values

Equal Opportunities - Diversity and inclusion are critical to the vision and mission of the Heilbronn Institute. We seek a truly diverse workforce which includes diversity in every sense of the word: those with different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking and those with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from those groups that are currently under-represented in mathematics.  

Due to the nature of the Heilbronn Institute’s work, Fellows must be willing to apply for a national security clearance at an appropriate level. Applications are open only to UK residents who are UK or dual UK nationals. Applicants are welcome to contact the Heilbronn Manager, himr-recruitment@bristol.ac.uk to discuss eligibility. 

Interview Process - As part of the application process, shortlisted applicants will be invited to a pre-vetting meeting conducted over the phone. Therefore shortlisted applicants must be in the UK during 26th November 2026 - 8th December 2026 to take part in the pre-vetting call. We are unable to reimburse any travel costs incurred as a result of taking part in the pre-vetting meeting.

Applications will be made through the apply button above. Applicants will need to submit a cover letter, indicating the institutions where they prefer to hold their Fellowship from the above list of partner universities. In addition, we require a CV and a one-page statement of proposed external research objectives over the 3 year Fellowship term. Applicants must arrange for three letters of reference to be uploaded to the mathjobs.org website, prior to the closing date. 

We anticipate holding interviews online over the 11th - 13th of January 2027. 

The application deadline is 11.59pm GMT, 8th November 2026.

Anything else requested in the fellowship description.

Heilbronn Institute, School of Mathematics
University of Bristol
2.85, Fry Building
Woodland Road
Bristol, BS8 1UG
United Kingdom