Research Fellow in Molecular Quantum Theory

About us

The Chemistry Department at University College London is the oldest in England, and today is one of the best in the UK, ranked 3rd in the UK for research excellence in REF(2021). Our department is situated in Bloomsbury, at the heart of London, and we offer an exciting and vibrant environment in which to study at one of the UK's top universities.

The Chemistry Department has over 50 members of academic staff carrying out world-leading research. We specialize in the areas of organic synthesis, chemical biology, computational chemistry, nanotechnology, inorganic and materials chemistry, physical chemistry, and chemical physics.

The department has an annual research income of around £15 million, derived from many sources including the Research Councils (EPSRC, BBSRC, MRC, and NERC), European Commission and a wide range of charities and industrial partners in the UK, Europe and the USA.

Details about our research can be found on the departmental website Chemistry

About the role

We are looking to appoint a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join a new international project seeking to understand and predict the role of quantum correlation and entanglement in chemistry.

You will join the Molecular Quantum Theory Group led by Dr Hugh Burton in the Department of Chemistry at University College London. You will join our new project “Quantifying Utilizable Entanglement in Chemistry from First Principles” to discover the role of quantum correlations and entanglement in chemical processes.

You will derive and develop new theoretical models to understand fermion-fermion and fermion-boson entanglement in molecules, investigate its stability under realistic chemical conditions, and establish many-body methods to predict these phenomena from first principles. You will develop new computational methods and software to apply these principles in practice to molecular systems.

This project is a new international collaboration with the Evangelista Group at Emory University (USA), and you will have opportunities for research visits to Emory. Within this collaboration, you will assist the supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate research students, support the design of future research projects, and take an active role in disseminating results by preparing publications and presenting at international conferences.

We are looking for an ambitious, enthusiastic, and self-motivated researcher with a passion for molecular quantum chemistry and a strong background in theoretical chemistry, quantum information theory, many-body physics, or a related field.

You can find more details about our research on the group website hughburton.com

A Job Description and Person Specification can be accessed at the bottom of this page.

This appointment is for a fixed term of 36 months and is available to start as soon as possible, ideally January 2027.

Please note, appointment at Grade 7 is dependent upon having been awarded a PhD; if this is not the case, initial appointment will be at Research Assistant Grade 6B (salary £40,603 - £43,749 per annum, including London Allowance of £5,301 p.a.) with payment at Grade 7 being backdated to the date of final submission of the PhD thesis.

To apply for the vacancy, please click on the 'Apply Now' button below. Please include a publication list and a CV, along with a 1-page cover letter outlining why you are interested in this role and our group.

For informal enquiries please contact Dr Hugh Burton h.burton@ucl.ac.uk.

Any queries on the application process can be directed to hr.chem@ucl.ac.uk, as we wish to encourage online applications.

We anticipate that online interviews will be held in the week commencing 7th December 2026.

About you

The successful candidate will have a PhD degree (or be about to be awarded a PhD) in Theoretical Chemistry, Physics, or a related subject.

A knowledge of quantum mechanics and molecular quantum theory is required, as well as prior research experience with quantum chemistry software and scientific programming. Experience with Python and C++ programming, or quantum information theory is highly desirable.

You will be expected to work in an international collaborative team, contributing towards the supervision of research students, the preparation of journal publications, and the development of future funding proposals. You will have effective verbal and written communication skills in English.

What we offer

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

• 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
• Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase scheme
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• Immigration loan
• Relocation scheme for certain posts
• On-Site nursery
• On-site gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
• Discounted medical insurance

Visit Rewards and benefits to find out more.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.

We particularly encourage applications from candidates underrepresented in UCL’s workforce, including those from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds, disabled people, and – for Grade 9 and 10 roles – women.

Read more: UCL Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

Applicants should also familiarise themselves with UCL’s policies on: Prevention of Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy and Personal Relationships Policy.

Our department holds an Athena Swan Silver award in recognition of our commitment and demonstrable impact in advancing gender equality.