Postdoctoral Research Associate

Role: Postdoctoral Research Associate

Grade and Salary: Grade 7 (£38,448 - £46,970) per annum

FTE and working pattern: 1 FTE (full time - 35 hours per week) fixed term until 2030

Holiday Entitlement: 33 days annual leave plus 9 buildings-closed days (and Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday). Use our total rewards calculator:   https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm  to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.

Purpose of Role

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Assistant (PDRA) position, funded through the Leverhulme Trust research grant “Tackling questions and conjectures around Gromov-hyperbolicity,” led by Dr. Alessandro Sisto. The post will be held at the Department of Mathematics of Heriot Watt University and at the Maxwell Institute, Edinburgh, and will be for a fixed term of up to 36 months (3 years). The successful applicant is expected to start on July 1st, 2027.

Geometric group theory is a field that studies groups by realizing them as symmetries of spaces with a rich geometry, and finds itself at the interface between algebra, geometry, topology, and combinatorics.

The overall objective of the project is to tackle the main open questions in geometric group theory that relates to hyperbolicity, and in the process to further our understanding of groups with hyperbolic features. Specifically, the projects focus on hierarchically hyperbolic structures, quasi-isometry invariant random processes on groups, and Dehn fillings and related constructions.

The project leader is happy to be contacted for informal discussions about the position – email at [email protected]

Key Duties & Responsibilities

You will conduct and disseminate research in geometric group theory and related fields (write and submit academic articles, give talks at seminars and conferences). You will work on questions related to the proposed project together with the project leader and his collaborators (more detail on the project below) and develop your own research directions.

You will actively engage with the thriving research community in geometric group theory of Heriot Watt University and the Maxwell Institute by attending seminars, organizing research events, as appropriate.

You will be offered the opportunity to further your professional and personal development skills, and the project leader will support the successful applicant in their academic, scientific, and professional growth.

This position has no teaching load but comes with the possibility of taking on some light teaching duties, should the candidate wish to gain teaching experience.

Essential & Desirable Criteria

Essential

- Applicants should hold (or be about to obtain) a PhD in mathematics.
- Evidence of excellent work in geometric group theory.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a group.

Desirable

- Evidence of work on hyperbolic features of groups.
- Evidence of research on topics that complement the existing expertise of the Heriot Watt geometric group theory team.

How to Apply

Applications can be submitted up to 11:55pm (UK time) on Sunday 29th November

Please submit your CV & covering letter via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment. Applications must contain:

- A CV (max. 5 pages) containing a list of publications. The applicant may add to their CV the contact details (name, institution, email address) of up to two people who may be contacted for recommendation letters.
- A research statement (max. 5 pages) containing a description of past results as well as future research directions.

We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We therefore encourage you to submit your application promptly.

The interviews are anticipated to be conducted mid-January 2027.

We recognise that many candidates use AI tools during the application process and are comfortable with AI being used as a supporting aid. However, we want to hear from you, not AI.

Your application should be an authentic representation of your skills, experience and achievements. Applications that appear to have been fully generated by AI may not accurately reflect your suitability for the role and are therefore discouraged.

At interview, candidates will be expected to discuss and provide evidence of the experience, skills and examples included in their application.

We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g., part-time working and job share options.

Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised, and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.

Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our university community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers https://disc.hw.ac.uk/ .

Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.

About the Team

The PDRA will work closely with the project leader and his network of collaborators. The Geometric Group Theory team at Heriot Watt University consists of five permanent faculty (Laura Ciobanu, Matthew Cordes, Francesco Fournier-Facio, Alexandre Martin, Alessandro Sisto), as well as several PhD students. The team is also a member of the North British Geometric Group Theory research network, which organises regular events bringing together mathematicians from several institutions: Aberdeen, Glasgow, St Andrews, Durham, etc.

The department of mathematics at Heriot Watt is part of the Maxwell Institute for Mathematical Sciences, an institute bringing together the mathematical activities of Heriot Watt University and the University of Edinburgh. The Maxwell Institute coordinates a wide spectrum of activities, including a large graduate school, numerous seminar series, Knowledge Exchange and outreach events, and distinguished lecture series.

Heriot Watt has also a central role in the running of the International Centre for Mathematical Sciences (ICMS), a world-renowned conference centre. The ICMS further enriches the research environment of the Maxwell Institute by attracting a constant flow of national and international research visitors.

About Heriot-Watt University

At Heriot-Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.

Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.