The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) is a private not-for-profit research institute.  It is a catalyst for discovery, incubating ideas that revolutionize the international research community. CIFAR identifies emerging fundamental research questions concerning society, technology and the very nature of humanity and the universe, and creates interdisciplinary networks of leading scholars from around the world to explore them in a way that is unparalleled elsewhere. 

CIFAR’s Quantum Materials Program invites applications for two Postdoctoral Fellowships to begin in the summer or fall of 2009.  We expect to appoint one postdoctoral fellow in experiment and one in theory.

The Quantum Materials Program focuses on the discovery and understanding of novel quantum materials. Principal areas of interest include superconductivity, quantum magnetism, strongly correlated electron systems, cold atom gases and novel materials.  It brings together over 50 researchers from eight institutions across Canada and six other countries.  The list of program members in Canada and their scientific interests is attached below.

The successful candidates will have an outstanding record of accomplishment in one of the areas of interest of the program members, excellent communication skills, strong potential to collaborate with program members and ability to contribute to the mission of the program.  The ideal candidates will also be interested in exploring the contributions of research to society in collaboration with their peers from other CIFAR programs.

The positions are tenable at any of the program members’ Canadian institutions and are normally for two years.  Fellows will be able to move from one university to another and retain their CIFAR funding, as long as they remain under the supervision of a CIFAR program member.  During their tenure, postdoctoral fellows will be formally identified with CIFAR and treated as full program members, with the expectation that they will attend all program meetings.  Participation in the CIFAR Academy of Junior Fellows (see below) is a condition of hiring.

Interested candidates should contact directly the program member(s) they wish to work with.  The application should include a CV and a brief statement of research interests and plans, in PDF format.  Materials should be sent electronically to the member’s e-mail address.  Applicants should also arrange for three letters of reference to be sent to the same address.

To receive full consideration, applications must be received by December 1st, 2008.

Background – The CIFAR Academy of Junior Fellows

In a new initiative designed to build capacity in the next generation of gifted young researchers, CIFAR is launching an Academy of 30+ national and international Post-Doctoral Fellows.  The purpose of the Academy is to develop a community of broad thinking young scientists and scholars who are open to interdisciplinary collaboration, outstanding in their quality of research, and poised for future leadership in research institutions both in Canada and around the world.  Members of the Academy will be fully integrated into an appropriate CIFAR research program, and will also be expected to participate in special Academy-wide activities, such as scientific symposia, public outreach, knowledge transfer, etc., that will provide opportunities for peer networking, mentorship, and career development.