Herschel Smith Research Fellow (Fixed Term)

About the role

The managers of the Herchel Smith Postdoctoral Research Fellowships Fund are inviting applications for a fixed-term fellowship to carry out research in pure mathematics. Fellows work full time in Cambridge, focusing exclusively on research at an early stage of their career, developing academic potential and producing work of international standard. The fellowship runs from 1 October 2027 or by agreement with the Head of Department, lasts up to three years, and is usually undertaken in close collaboration with an established research group.

Required profile

• PhD or equivalent obtained within the last three years at any university, normally excluding Cambridge and Harvard.
• Less than three years of postdoctoral experience by the time the fellowship is taken up.
• Evidence of outstanding academic excellence, a high-quality and original research proposal, and the ability to work as an independent researcher.

Application requirements

• Curriculum Vitae (maximum two pages, outlining academic career, qualifications and publications, excluding papers in preparation).
• One-page project summary stating the research area(s) of interest.
• Detailed project description, aligned with the department's research interests.
• Publication list linking to up to four strongest papers or preprints.
• Contact details for two referees, including email; at least one should know your work in your primary field. Referees must receive the project description and submit their reference before 14 December 2026.

Online interviews are expected in mid-January. The stipend is on the University's Postdoctoral Research Associate scale, with an annual research allowance of up to £13,000. Applications are made online through the University's recruitment system, quoting reference LF51564.