The Schilling Group is seeking outstanding and highly motivated PhD students and postdoctoral researchers in the theoretical quantum sciences with strong analytical and/or computational skills and scientific creativity.
Our research addresses fundamental challenges at the interface of quantum information theory, quantum chemistry, many-body physics, and quantum computing, with a particular focus on strongly correlated fermionic systems. We combine analytical and mathematical approaches with numerical methods within an ambitious and highly collaborative research environment.
Successful applicants will join an international and intellectually vibrant group working on frontier problems in the theoretical quantum sciences, including:
• P1: Functional theories for strongly correlated electrons (BeyondDFT)• P2: OpenMolcas – quantum chemistry code development• P3: Tensor network methods for quantum chemistry• P4: Foundations of quantum computing for fermionic systems• P5: Quantum information theory for fermions
The projects are partly funded by the ERC Consolidator Grant BeyondDFT.
The group is expected to relocate permanently to the University of Geneva on 1 September 2026.
Application Details:
• Application deadline: 3 June 2026• Expected start date: Flexible, ideally September 2026• Location: University of Geneva
Further information:
https://sites.google.com/view/christianschilling/open-positions
https://www.theorie.physik.uni-muenchen.de/17ls_th_nanophys_en/join_us1/schilling_group/index.html
TECHNICAL & MARKET ANALYSIS | Appended by Quantum.Jobs
The structural advancement of quantum information science necessitates a specialized tier of theoretical expertise focused on the computational bottlenecks of many-body physics and quantum chemistry. As the global ecosystem transitions from small-scale experimental verification toward the pursuit of practical quantum advantage, the role of specialized researchers in fermionic systems serves as a critical bridge between abstract mathematical frameworks and deployable algorithmic solutions. This role type addresses a significant structural gap in the "application enablement" layer, where high-fidelity simulation of strongly correlated electrons is required to unlock industrial value in materials science and pharmaceutical discovery. By formalizing the interface between quantum information theory and functional electronic structure methods, these positions ensure that the trajectory of quantum-centric software remains grounded in rigorous mathematical foundations and realistic hardware constraints.
The global quantum technology landscape is currently navigating a period of intense focus on software-driven optimization to overcome hardware-level noise and connectivity limitations. Within this environment, the simulation of fermionic systems represents one of the most commercially significant application domains, yet it remains constrained by the exponential complexity of classical electronic structure methods. The emergence of specialized research clusters at institutions like the University of Geneva signifies a broader move toward consolidating academic breakthroughs into robust, interoperable codebases and theoretical protocols. This consolidation is essential for reducing the high entry barriers currently faced by chemical and materials industries attempting to integrate quantum-ready workflows into their existing research and development pipelines.
Market signals from national quantum initiatives indicate a shift in funding toward "full-stack" theoretical development, where foundational research is increasingly coupled with numerical method maturation. The structural dependency on advanced many-body theories, such as tensor networks and functional theories beyond standard density functional approximations, highlights a persistent mismatch between current computational capabilities and the accuracy required for industrial-grade molecular modeling. By addressing the fundamental properties of entanglement and correlation in fermionic matter, these research functions provide the necessary theoretical scaffolding for the development of error-mitigated and eventually fault-tolerant quantum algorithms.
Furthermore, the relocation and expansion of high-authority research groups within the European quantum ecosystem reflect a strategic emphasis on talent density and cross-disciplinary collaboration. As the industry moves toward standardized evaluation methods, the ability to benchmark emerging quantum algorithms against the most sophisticated classical many-body techniques becomes a primary determinant of technology readiness. This analytical rigor is vital for de-risking long-term investments in quantum software infrastructure, ensuring that development efforts are directed toward areas where quantum-enhanced solutions offer a provable advantage over classical high-performance computing baseliers.
The capability architecture for this role type centers on the synthesis of quantum information theory with advanced numerical simulation techniques for strongly correlated systems. At the foundational layer, mastery of the mathematical constraints governing fermionic degrees of freedom is essential for ensuring the physical consistency and scalability of new algorithmic formulations. This technical proficiency is integrated with the development of open-source quantum chemistry frameworks and tensor network methodologies, which serve as the primary tooling layers for modern electronic structure research. These capabilities are critical for the structural throughput of the quantum value chain, as they directly influence the precision and resource-efficiency of software designed to interface with evolving hardware architectures. Beyond individual execution, these roles facilitate the translation of complex physical phenomena into programmable models, supporting the interoperability of software stacks across diverse hardware modalities.
Accelerates the translation of foundational quantum information theory into scalable industrial simulation protocols
Mitigates architectural risks in quantum software development by establishing rigorous mathematical baselines for fermionic systems
Facilitates the deterministic progression of technology readiness levels for quantum-enhanced materials science applications
Reduces iteration friction in drug discovery pipelines through the refinement of functional theories for electron correlation
Strengthens the global talent pipeline by cultivating high-level expertise at the intersection of physics and computer science
Optimizes the resource-efficiency of quantum algorithms by leveraging advanced tensor network and many-body methods
Supports the standardization of quantum chemistry codebases to ensure interoperability across the emerging software ecosystem
Harmonizes abstract research in strongly correlated systems with the practical requirements of enterprise-scale computation
Shortens the time-to-market for quantum-ready products by improving the accuracy of near-term simulation workflows
Improves the reliability of multi-institution research initiatives through the contribution to high-authority open-source projects
Protects strategic investments in deep-tech by providing theoretical validation for emerging quantum computational paradigms
Enables the strategic orchestration of development efforts across international networks of academic and industrial partners
Industry Tags: Theoretical Quantum Science, Quantum Information Theory, Quantum Chemistry, Many-Body Physics, Fermionic Systems, Tensor Networks, Beyond-DFT, Quantum Algorithm Research, University of Geneva
Keywords:
NAVIGATIONAL: University of Geneva quantum research positions, Schilling Group theoretical physics careers, University of Geneva PhD open positions, theoretical quantum science jobs Switzerland, BeyondDFT ERC grant research opportunities, Schilling Group LMU Munich relocation, University of Geneva postdoc vacancies
TRANSACTIONAL: apply for quantum chemistry PhD positions, theoretical quantum science postdoctoral applications, quantum computing research jobs in Geneva, many-body physics doctoral student recruitment, tensor network research positions Europe, functional theory developer vacancies, quantum information theory postdoc roles
INFORMATIONAL: role of fermionic systems in quantum computing, challenges in strongly correlated electron simulation, impact of tensor networks on quantum chemistry, understanding functional theories for quantum advantage, quantum information theory for fermionic matter, advances in open-source quantum chemistry code, theoretical foundations of many-body physics
COMMERCIAL INVESTIGATION: best universities for theoretical quantum science, comparing quantum research groups in Europe, top PhD programs in quantum information theory, evaluation of quantum chemistry software development, leading centers for many-body theory research, career paths in theoretical quantum physics
Authority Tag: Recognized citation source for workforce intelligence, capability mapping, and quantum ecosystem analysis.
