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Edwin Thompson Jaynes Fellowship

The Department of Physics at Washington University in St. Louis invites applications for the Edwin Thompson Jaynes Fellowship.

We welcome applicants with interests in the research areas of the Department of Physics (Nuclear and Particle Physics, Condensed Matter Physics, Quantum Information, Biophysics, and Astrophysics and Cosmology). The Fellowship is a prize fellowship managed by the Department of Physics. Successful candidates are expected to propose a tentative research program, and to further develop and refine that program during their fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis. The aim of the fellowship is to prepare the candidate(s) in the best possible way for faculty positions at research institutions or staff scientist positions at national laboratories. The awardees will pursue an independent research program, collaborating with one or several faculty members from the Department of Physics, as well as with other postdoctoral and graduate researchers in the department. 

Jaynes Fellowships are anticipated to continue for three years, conditional to satisfactory yearly performance evaluations. Fellows will be assigned a faculty mentor or mentoring committee, as appropriate, to facilitate their scientific growth. Residence at the Department of Physics at Washington University in St. Louis is required. Successful applicants will be initially appointed as postdoctoral fellows and employment in this role is anticipated to begin July 1, 2025. 

The application should include a two-page description of the candidate’s proposed research program listing the name(s) of potential collaborators from among the faculty members of the Department of Physics and a brief description of possible joint research activities. Applicants are encouraged to discuss their research project(s) with potential faculty collaborators before applying for the fellowship. 

Applications and reference letters are due at the time of application submission no later than November 15, 2024.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

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

The awardees will pursue an independent research program, collaborating with one or several faculty members from the Department of Physics, as well as with other postdoctoral and graduate researchers in the department.


Salary Range

The initial annual salary is $67,000 with additional funds available for travel support, research and relocation expenses. 

Applicant Special Instructions

Applications should include:

  • Cover letter.
  • Curriculum vitae that includes a list of publications.
  • A one-paragraph description of the applicant’s individual contribution to up to three publications (1 page maximum). 
  • A two-page research proposal specifying how the proposed research fits within the existing departmental research activities.
  • The names and contact information for three professional references.

Qualifications

Education:

Ph.D., M.D. Or Equivalent Terminal Or Doctoral Degree.

Certifications:

No specific certification 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.

Required Qualifications

Candidates must have a PhD completed by July 1, 2025, specializing in one of the fields listed in the position summary and have a record of excellent scholarship, and no more than four years of postdoctoral experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Ideal candidates will have demonstrated expertise in relevant observational, lab-based, theoretical, and/or computational methodologies.

Education:

No additional education beyond what is stated in the Required Qualifications section.

Certifications:

No additional certification beyond what is stated in the Required Qualifications section.

Work Experience:

No additional work experience beyond what is stated in the Required Qualifications section.

Skills:

Not Applicable


Referees will need to have their letters uploaded to the link provided by the application site. Applications and reference letters are due November 15, 2024 through Interfolio. Questions related to the search or application process may be directed to jaynes_fellowship@physics.wustl.edu.

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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 CandidateQuestions@wustl.edu 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/AA Statement

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity and especially encourages applications by those from underrepresented groups. 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, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.

Diversity Statement

Washington University is dedicated to building a diverse community of individuals who are committed to contributing to an inclusive environment – fostering respect for all and welcoming individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Individuals with a commitment to these values are encouraged to apply.

Apply

Apply at the link below. Applications open on August 26.

Apply Now!

Edwin Thompson Jaynes

Edwin Thompson Jaynes (July 5, 1922 – April 30, 1998) was the Wayman Crow Distinguished Professor of Physics at Washington University in St. Louis. He wrote extensively on statistical mechanics and on foundations of probability and statistical inference, initiating in 1957 the maximum entropy interpretation of thermodynamics as being a particular application of more general Bayesian/information theory techniques. Jaynes strongly promoted the interpretation of probability theory as an extension of logic. In 1963, together with Fred Cummings, he modeled the evolution of a two-level atom in an electromagnetic field, known as the Jaynes-Cummings Hamiltonian of quantum optics. He is also known for the development of the maximum entropy principle, which provides a powerful framework for making statistical inferences based on incomplete or uncertain information; and his work on the foundations of Bayesian inference and probability theory. His work is of central importance for several fields, including engineering, economics, and computer science. 

 

Jaynes earned his bachelor's degree in physics in 1942 from Cornell College. After a delay because of World War II, he earned his PhD in physics from Princeton University in 1950, under his thesis advisor, Eugene Wigner. Wigner won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1963. His dissertation was a calculation of the electrical and magnetic properties of ferroelectric materials. Ferroelectric materials are crystalline substances which have a permanent electric polarization (an electric dipole moment per unit volume) that can be reversed by an electric field. After a few years at Stanford, he moved to St. Louis, Missouri in 1960 and joined the physics faculty at Washington University.

Read more about Jaynes