Cornell University's Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics is soliciting applications for the Bethe/Wilkins/KIC Postdoctoral Fellowship in Theoretical Condensed-Matter Physics. This prize fellowship is designed to attract the best and brightest theoretical physicists within three years of PhD attainment to work with theorists and experimentalists in the Department of Physics and the larger Cornell community. Our group has broad interests in hard and soft condensed-matter physics, including (but not limited to): biophysics, cold atom physics, electronic structure theory, hydrodynamics, machine learning, materials science, statistical physics, strongly correlated electrons, and quantum information.
Theorists who wish to be considered for sponsorship as a Klarman Fellowship applicant must first apply for the Bethe/Wilkins/KIC Fellowship. In the first stage, applications will be considered by the theory group. Leading candidates will then be nominated for consideration by a college-wide selection committee. The Klarman Fellowship is a distinguished postdoctoral program in the College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell. (Please note: the Klarman Fellowship is administrated separately, and a further application will be required.)
Kavli Fellowships are made as 12-month appointments with an anticipated total duration of two years. Fellowships pay $80,000 annually and carry a discretionary research expense account. All Fellows agree to put the KIC byline on all publications and presentations during their appointment.
Criteria for Selection
Applications will be judged on candidate qualifications, the quality and originality of the proposed research, and its suitability to the KIC mission. Applicants should hold a PhD in one of the listed fields of theoretical physics by the time of appointment and be no further than three years past their PhD completion date.
How to Apply
Applications should be submitted via our Academic Jobs Online posting: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/32454.
A complete application includes the following materials:
The submission deadline is October 1, 2026, which will allow us to nominate the strongest candidates to Klarman. However, we will continue to search for the Bethe-KIC and Wilkins-KIC postdoctoral fellows until the positions are filled. Moreover, applicants will be automatically considered for any project-funded postdoctoral positions.
This position is supported in part by the Hans Bethe Postdoctoral Fellowship, the John Wilkins Postdoctoral Fellowship, and by the Kavli Institute at Cornell.
Pay Range:
$62,232.00 - $88,745.00
Pay Ranges:
The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:
Employment Assistance:
For general questions about the position or the application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting or email mycareer@cornell.edu.
If you require an accommodation for a disability in order to complete an employment application or to participate in the recruiting process, you are encouraged to contact Cornell Office of Civil Rights at voice (607) 255-2242, or email at accommodations@cornell.edu.
Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library, or local Department of Labor. You may also request an appointment to use a dedicated workstation in the Office of Talent Attraction and Recruitment, at the Ithaca campus, by emailing mycareer@cornell.edu.
Notice to Applicants:
Please read the required Notice to Applicants statement by clicking here. This notice contains important information about applying for a position at Cornell as well as some of your rights and responsibilities as an applicant.
EEO Statement:
Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of “... any person ... any study.” No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeks job candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We hire based on merit, and encourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.
2026-09-01Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery and engagement. With our main campus located in Ithaca, NY, Cornell's far-flung global presence includes the medical college's campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, as well as the Cornell Tech campus located on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City.
We offer a rich array of services, programs and benefits to help employees advance in their career and enhance the quality of personal life, including: employee wellness, workshops, childcare and adoption assistance, parental leave, flexible work options.