The Centre de Physique Théorique (CPT) in Marseille invites applications for the CNRS Junior Professor Chair "New Precision and New Frontiers in Theoretical Particle Physics" (NouvPaTh). This is a CNRS position, and CPT is among the eligible host laboratories. The chair runs for three to six years, depending on the successful candidate's experience, and is designed to lead to a senior tenured position as CNRS Research Director. It comes with €200,000 in start-up funds.
Application deadline is September 2, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. CEST.
Teaching duties will total approximately 40 hours per year for the duration of the tenure-track period and will be arranged with the local Physics Department upon appointment.
About the candidate
CPT’s Particle Theory group is seeking outstanding candidates working in lattice QCD and, more broadly, in lattice gauge theory, with applications to particle, hadronic, and nuclear physics phenomenology relevant to the search for new fundamental physics in current and future experiments. Expertise in innovative approaches to overcoming the limitations of current methods, such as machine learning, quantum computing, or tensor networks, is an asset. Candidates working in closely related areas of phenomenology, using complementary techniques such as low-energy effective field theories, are also welcome. In all cases, we seek a theorist able to build an independent research program that strengthens and complements existing particle theory activities at CPT.
Candidates interested in joining CPT’s Particle Theory group are warmly encouraged to contact Laurent Lellouch (laurent.lellouch@cnrs.fr).
About the Particle Theory group and CPT
The group comprises six permanent researchers (Aoife Bharucha, Jérôme Charles, Antoine Gérardin, Marc Knecht, Laurent Lellouch, and Savvas Zafeiropoulos), three postdoctoral fellows, and one PhD student. It focuses on particle and hadronic physics phenomenology, with and without lattice QCD.
CPT is a research institute on the campus of Aix-Marseille University. Its roughly 50 permanent staff and 40 PhD students and postdoctoral fellows carry out theoretical research across a wide range of fields, including quantum gravity and cosmology. The university is also home to strong research institutes in experimental particle physics, cosmology, astroparticle physics, and astrophysics (CPPM, LAM).
Applying
Instructions for applying, further information, and the official description of the position are available at the link below. The deadline is September 2, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. CEST.
Our team is committed to equal opportunity and diversity. Women and members of underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged to apply.
Inquiries
Laurent Lellouch (laurent.lellouch(at)cnrs.fr)
Link to application: https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CPJ/CPJ-2026-003/Default.aspx?lang=EN