Tenure-track position: Group Leader (k/m/x) in Quantum Algorithms and Machine Learning/Theory of Quantum Computing

Ref. Number: MAB/27/2026

Location: Warsaw, Poland

Salary: 20 750 - 24 250 PLN/month gross (approx. PLN 16,300-18,500 net per month); employment contract: 1 FTE; full social security and health insurance

Number of positions available: 1

Work Arrangement: Hybrid

Start of the position: Negotiable, preferably as soon as possible.

Period of employment: Tenure-track position. Seed funding within C4QEC until the end of 2029. Subsequent funding covered by the EU Teaming for Excellence project until 2031 (under different conditions). Subject to a positive performance evaluation, employment will transition into a permanent position under a standard CTP PAS contract and salary scale. 

Keywords: Quantum information theory, quantum computing, quantum algorithms, quantum simulation, quantum error correction, quantum learning, quantum computational advantage, machine learning for quantum technologies

Important Dates:

Application deadline: November 15, 2026

Candidates will be informed about the results by the end of December 2026.

Source of financing: Center for Quantum-Enabled Computing / Centrum Obliczeń Wspomaganych Kwantowo (FENG.02.01-IP.05-M032/25). The project is carried out within the International Research Agendas programme of the Foundation for Polish Science co-financed by the European Union under the European Funds for Smart Economy 2021-2027 (FENG).

About the project and us

The Center for Quantum-Enabled Computing project’s overarching objective is to address several key challenges in the field of computing by paving the way to a verifiable, energy-efficient, reliable, and scalable computational advantage based on quantum systems.

Project’s website: https://c4qec.cft.edu.pl/

The candidates are welcome to inquire about the project details, research agenda and organizational issues. The questions should be sent by email to R. Augusiak (http://raugusiak.weebly.com): augusiak@cft.edu.pl or to M. Oszmaniec: oszmaniec@cft.edu.pl.

The Center for Theoretical Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences (CFT PAN) is a research institute that conducts research in various fields of physics, including quantum information, research on the cosmos and gravitation, semiconductors, and atomic gases. The Institute’s strategy is to employ the strongest scientists while giving them freedom in conducting research. The result is the high position of CFT PAN in Poland, publications at a world-class level (papers in Nature and Science), a large number of grants (approximately 30 projects), and participation in international consortia.  

The CTP PAS also hosts a number of scientific events, including seminars, workshops, and conferences, which are open to the public. The Institute also creates educational content accessible on its official YouTube channel.

About the role

We invite applications to lead an independent research group in the theory of quantum computing (Quantum Algorithms and Machine Learning Group) at the newly established Center for Quantum-Enabled Computing (within the structures of the Center for Theoretical Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences) — the first scientific unit in Poland dedicated to the application of quantum effects in computing. The successful candidate will shape an independent, coherent research programme addressing fundamental and practically relevant questions in quantum computation, aligned with the Center’s research agenda. We welcome expertise in one or more of the areas below; expertise across all areas is not expected. Machine-learning methods and applications are welcome where relevant to the proposed programme, but are not a requirement for the position. The possible research topics include (but are not limited to):

• Quantum algorithms: Algorithms for optimisation, sampling, linear algebra and scientific computing; provable quantum speedups and rigorous analysis of their resource requirements.
• Quantum software, architectures and compilation: Circuit synthesis and optimisation, hardware-aware compilation, error mitigation and resource estimation for near-term and fault-tolerant computation.
• Quantum and hybrid machine learning: Generative models, classical training with quantum sampling, and analysis of expressivity, trainability and potential quantum advantage.
• Machine learning for quantum experiments: Methods for experimental design, adaptive measurements, control, calibration and data analysis; Hamiltonian and Lindbladian learning; Learning quantum states, processes and many-body models;
• Quantum error correction and fault tolerance: Error-correcting codes, decoding, logical operations, fault-tolerant protocols and architectures, and resource requirements for reliable quantum computation.
• Computational complexity: Quantum complexity theory, hardness of sampling and simulation, and the assumptions, possibilities and limitations underlying quantum computational advantage.
• Characterisation, verification and benchmarking: Characterisation and benchmarking of quantum states, processes, devices and noise; certification of quantum computations and simulators; 
• Classical simulation and dequantisation: Classical and quantum-inspired algorithms, tensor-network methods, and the identification of regimes in which quantum computations can be efficiently simulated.
• Characterization of key resources for quantum computing such as non-stabilizerness etc.
• Any other research topic within the theory of quantum computing. 

Your responsibilities will also include:

• Contributing to the research agenda and leading the research of your group and being responsible for implementation of related milestones, in cooperation with other group leaders. 
• Conducting internationally competitive research in the theory of quantum computing and its connections to quantum technologies and applications.
• Publishing articles in top-tier journals and disseminating results at thematic conferences.   
• Applying for external funding from key national and international agencies, including National Science Center (NCN) or ERC. 

Researcher’s profile according to the European Council’s recommendations: R2 or R3.