Reference: 108744-0224

Location: University of Warwick Campus, Coventry

Department: Mathematics

Full Time, Fixed-term until 31 May 2026. Two positions – 1 x 24 months and 1 x 10 months. The starting date for either post can be between 1 June 2024 and 1 January 2025

Salary: £33,966 - £44,263 per annum.

About the Role Applications are invited from highly motivated postdoctoral researchers to work under the supervision of Prof. Oleg Pikhurko on the ERC Advanced Grant “Finite and Descriptive Combinatorics”. The broad project focuses on the interplay between combinatorics and some other areas of pure mathematics. The hired researchers will concentrate on limits of discrete structures (flag algebras, graphons, graphings, permutons etc).

There is flexibility in possible directions of research.

One possible direction within this broad area is to write a customisable computer package for flag algebra calculations dealing with various limit objects. For this, strong computational skills are required (but no previous knowledge of flag algebras is needed).

A further potential direction is to concentrate on analytic and descriptive aspects of limit structures (such as, for example, Borel/measurable combinatorics or spectral properties of graphings). An ideal candidate will have a strong analytic background.

The grant will provide an allowance for travel for the hired researchers.

We will consider applications for employment on a part-time or other flexible working basis, even where a position is advertised as full-time, unless there are operational or other objective reasons why it is not possible to do so. 

About You For either position, no previous research experience in combinatorics is required however, you should show great interest and potential to master new areas and techniques.

This position is suitable for a finishing PhD student, provided you will have submitted your thesis before the start of this position. If you are near submission or have recently submitted your PhD but have not yet had it conferred, any offers of employment will be made as Research Assistant at the top of level 5 of the University grade structure. Upon receipt of evidence of the successful award of your PhD, you will be promoted to Research Fellow on the first point of level 6 of the University grade structure.

For further information regarding the skills required for this role please see the personal specification section of the attached job description.

About the Department Warwick Mathematics Institute is internationally recognised for its research and our best undergraduates are a match for those at any other UK university. Our historical strengths in pure mathematics are now complemented by increasingly broad coverage of applied subjects. We run a wide range of weekly seminar series, and many workshops and conferences, for which our Mathematics Research Centre provides organisational support.

A list of our staff and their research interests can be found at https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/maths/research/researchers and you can see our undergraduate module pages at https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/maths/currentstudents/ughandbook

For further information about the Mathematics Institute, please visit our website https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/maths/.

The Department of Mathematics and the University of Warwick are proud of their diverse community of staff, students, and visitors, and are committed to maintaining an excellent record in teaching and research by ensuring that there is equality of opportunity for all, fostered in an environment of mutual respect and dignity.

About the University Born in the 60s with a mindset of boldness, imagination and collaboration, the University of Warwick is a world-leading research-intensive university with the highest academic and research standards. We’re one of the world’s top universities, ranked 67th in the world and 10th in the UK*, with 92% of our research assessed to be ‘world leading or internationally excellent’**.

You'll be joining a diverse, innovative and globally connected community committed to igniting real world progress. Here at Warwick, we offer you opportunities to follow your ambitions as long as you bring the energy and determination to succeed.

*QS World University Rankings 2024

** Research Excellence Framework 2021

How to Apply For informal enquiries, please contact Prof. Oleg Pikhurko via email: O.Pikhurko@warwick.ac.uk. To apply please complete your essential personal details and attach a CV, including a list of publications, and a research statement by the closing date: 18th March 2023 - 23:55.

All applicants should also ensure that their three referees send their references by email to Alison Glendinning, Senior Administrative Assistant, Mathematics Institute, University of Warwick at MathematicsPA@warwick.ac.uk.

The interviews will be held shortly after the closing date for the post.