KU is seeking an experienced & highly motivated Research Scientist or Postdoc Associate to work on a funded project to investigate and develop quantum-inspired type algorithms, for Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) in view of applications to nuclear reactor simulations. The specific class of quantum-inspired methods on which we will focus is tensor networks.
The successful Research Scientist (or Postdoc Associate) will join a collaborative project with Technology Innovation Institute (TII) to develop and implement novel methods and solvers which will be adapted toward the use of full-scale thermohydraulic applications to nuclear technology relevant to the APR14000 at the Barakah power plant.
As part of the project, the researcher will have access to state-of-the-art research equipment and facilities at the Emirates Nuclear Technology Center (https://www.ku.ac.ae/entc) and will get an opportunity to work alongside researchers and graduate students from various backgrounds as part of a wider team.
This is a 3-year project (with possible extension), and the successful candidate will have the opportunity to work with leading research institutions in the UAE and contribute to the advancement of the nuclear-energy industry through the application the developed solvers to thermohydraulic.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit your CV and a cover letter to Dr. Mohamed K. Riahi at [email protected]
We are an equal-opportunity employer and we encourage all qualified candidates to apply.

Position Requirements

• Ph.D. in Computational Mathematics, Theoretical Physics, Computational Mechanics, or a related field, (previous Postdoctoral experience is a plus).
• Strong background in partial differential equations (PDE) and their numerical approximation techniques.
• Strong programming skills in Python.
• Experience with high-performance computing and parallel processing (optional).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience in the field of Tensor Train (Tensor Network), including related publications in peer-reviewed journals, is an asset.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work in a collaborative environment.
• Knowledge and experience in quantum computing are a plus
• Knowledge and experience in computational fluid dynamics are appreciated
• Write technical reports and publish research in peer-reviewed journals

Candidate Profile
Essential Criteria
• Ph.D. in Computational Mathematics, Theoretical Physics, Computational Mechanics, or a related field.
• At least four (4+) years of post-doctoral research experience (For Research Scientist position)
• Expert-level knowledge project subject area as evidenced by relevant publications and or patents (RS position)
• Strong programming skills in at least one programming language such as Python, (C/C++ optional)
• Experience in the field of Tensor Train (Tensor Network), including related publications in peer-reviewed journals, is an asset.
• Excellent English language communication skills (verbal and written)
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• The proven ability to lead work on multiple tasks with competing demands and deadlines.
• Ability to train and mentor students and support fellow researchers
• Highly developed reasoning and problem-solving skills
Desired Criteria
• Ph.D. from and/or experience working in a top 200 QS or THE ranked University
• High impact first-author publications in top 10% journals in the relevant field
• Experience leading competitive research grants as principal investigator or named co-investigator in the project team