Postdoctoral Fellow in Quantum Physics

Position Summary

The Department of Physics at Indiana University Bloomington invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow position. This position is designed for a researcher who sits at the intersection of theoretical and experimental physics. The successful candidate will lead the architectural design/modeling/simulation of a groundbreaking experiment: the direct harvesting and extraction of quantum entanglement from the electromagnetic vacuum states. This is a design-phase experiment of the project, which requires simulations, modeling, calculation based on experimentally feasible and practical constraints and conditions to deliver an experiment-ready blueprint and architecture.

Key Research Responsibilities

• Theoretical Modeling: Develop and refine models for entanglement harvesting using continuous-variable quantum information theory and Gaussian quantum states steering.
• Experimental Simulation: Simulate the detection of vacuum fluctuations via electro-optic sampling, incorporating realistic parameters for femtosecond few-cycle laser pulses, terahertz bandwidths, and detector electronics.
• System Architecture: Define the critical engineering requirements (optical pulse duration, terahertz crystal materials in cryogenetic environments, signal-to-noise ratio optimization, entanglement witnesses and verification) necessary to resolve the entangled vacuum variance.

Relevant Keywords

• Electro-optic sampling
• Terahertz pulses
• Femtosecond laser pulses
• Ultrafast optics
• Carrier-envelope phase/offset
• Balanced homodyne detection
• Relativistic quantum information science
• Quantum field theory
• Quantum optics
• Quantum fluctuations of the vacuum
• Unruh-DeWitt detector model
• Entanglement harvesting
• Entanglement witness

Basic Qualifications

• Eligibility according to the project sponsor: U.S. citizenship, U.S. Permanent Resident/Green Card holder, or in the application process to become a U.S. Permanent Resident/Green Card holder.
• Ph.D. in Physics, Chemistry, Quantum Information Science, Optics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field at the time of appointment (ABD candidates will be considered).
• Demonstrated ability to bridge theoretical concepts with physical realizability.
• Strong track record of scientific research and peer-reviewed publications.
• Excellent written and spoken English communication skills.
• High degree of independence and ability to work in a collaborative team environment.

Additional Qualifications

• Theory: Expertise in quantum optics, quantum information science, or quantum field theory.
• Simulation: Proficiency in MATLAB or Python for simulation/modeling and data analysis. Experience with COMSOL Multiphysics and/or Lumerical is a plus.
• Experiment: Familiarity with ultrafast optics, terahertz generation, or balanced homodyne detection is highly desirable.
• Design: Some experience using CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks) for experimental layouts is advantageous.

Required Documents

• Curriculum Vitae (including completed degrees, list of publications, research experience, and expertise)
• Letter of Application (cover letter)
• Contact information of at least two references.

Department Contact for Questions

Questions regarding the position or application process can be directed to Prof. Chen-Ting Liao (Liao3[at]IU.edu)

Expected Start Date

Summer 2026

Special Instructions For Best Consideration

Date 02/15/2026

Posting Number

IU-101463-2026

Salary and Rank

$54-59K/yr, Postdoctoral Fellow. The initial appointment for this position will be for 2 years. Additional 1 year extension will be available based on performance, mutual agreement, and funding availability of the phase II of the project. A competitive benefits package will be offered by the University.