## Background

Mathematical insight is arguably humanity’s greatest creative achievement—and one of its most resistant to automation. Unlike text prediction or image recognition, mathematics has seen only modest technological improvements. Today’s mathematical insights still rely on the same tools used by Newton, paper and pencil—guided by hard-earned skill and intuition.

Irix aims to change that. Created by researchers at the [London Institute for Mathematical Sciences](http://lims.ac.uk), the company is building an automated platform for general mathematical insight. It combines exact mathematical data, machine learning, complex optimisation and metamathematics to help users discover structure, raise conjectures and connect disparate problems across science and industry.
## Job

The position starts as soon as we find a suitable candidate—there is no application deadline. The salary will be considerably higher than what would be paid in academia at a similar career stage. Irix employees live in London and work full-time in our rooms in the Royal Institution—we do not work from home.

## Candidate

Candidates will have completed a PhD in theoretical physics or mathematics. They will have strong analytic skills, meaning they are adept at solving equations, and they will be proficient at coding. They will be passionate about creating new theorems and theories in mathematics and physics. We especially welcome academic researchers who are looking for a new career, but do not want to leave research altogether by working at a typical tech firm.

We do not assess candidates on intellectual merit alone. We also consider culture fit—the extent to which candidates align with our values. In particular, we are on the lookout for people who are sociable, relentless, team players, detail-oriented, curious about others, capable of leadership, committed to showing up for work, and willing to act as Irix ambassadors.

## Activities

The successful candidate will: • Help build a self-learning relational database of mathematical patterns, encapsulated for example as integer sequences or functions. • Help build an automated engine for discovering relations between attributes of mathematical objects, such as graphs, groups or special functions. • Take an interest in the research and goals of other members of Irix and the London Institute, who all work together at the same site. • Socialise with our scientists, staff and visitors at our weekly drinks and regular events.

## Irix

Irix is a [spinoff company](https://lims.ac.uk/perspectives/irix-uses-machines-to-speed-up-discovery/) of the London Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Britain’s only independent research organisation in physics and mathematics. Irix is located on the third floor of the Royal Institution in Mayfair, right above the London Institute, which occupies the second floor. Because Irix is partly owned by LIMS Ventures, the London Institute’s trading arm, members of the Institute can spend time advancing Irix. One such advancement was the subject of a feature in [*Quanta Magazine*](https://www.quantamagazine.org/elliptic-curve-murmurations-found-with-ai-take-flight-20240305/).

## Applying

To apply, send a CV to smc@lims.ac.uk with the subject heading “Irix scientist”. Strong applicants will be invited to visit us.



Irix is hiring a theorist to help develop an AI platform that is capable of discovering new theorems and theories in mathematics and physics.

Irix scientist

## Background
Whereas the 20th century saw peak progress in reductionist science, the 21st will witness radical advances in our understanding of collective phenomena. Three fields stand out: life, learning and emergence.

Topics of interest for these positions include, but are not limited to: AI-assisted discovery in theoretical physics. • Statistical physics of evolutionary dynamics. • Exactly solvable models of genetic computation. • Combinatorial design, innovation and evolution. • AI-assisted conjecture formation in mathematics. • Simplicity bias in input-output maps as a basis for AI. • A mathematical understanding of simple models of ageing. • A thermodynamic basis for the origin of life and artificial life.
Funded by Cognia AI, our programme of Cognia Junior Fellows and [Cognia Visitors](http://lims.ac.uk/cognia-visitors/) will be a shared voyage to the frontiers of knowledge to gain new insights into the most pressing problems of our time.

## Job
The positions last for two years, potentially longer for candidates willing to start soon. Salaries begin at £45,000, depending on experience. Cognia Junior Fellows will work in our rooms in the Royal Institution and collaborate with members of the London Institute—we do not work from home.

## Candidate
Candidates should have the potential to become outstanding theorists of global standing. They will have completed their PhD in theoretical physics or mathematics in the last several years, or be in the final year of it. Relevant backgrounds include statistical physics, condensed matter theory, mathematical biology and the foundations of AI.

We do not assess candidates on intellectual merit alone. We also consider culture fit—the extent to which candidates align with our [core values](https://lims.ac.uk/values/). In particular, we are on the lookout for people who are sociable, relentless, team players, detail-oriented, curious about others, capable of leadership, committed to showing up for work, and willing to act as London Institute ambassadors.

## Activities
Conduct research in theoretical aspects of life, learning and emergence, and publish it in leading journals. • Work with our science writers to publicise our discoveries on our website and in the press. • Work with our staff to help organise events, raise funds, recruit members and boost the Institute’s profile. • Take an interest in the research and goals of other members and help to make the Institute superadditive. • Socialise with our scientists, staff and visitors at our weekly drinks and regular events.

## London Institute
The London Institute for Mathematical Sciences is Britain’s only independent research organisation in physics and mathematics. Our focus on peak performance and full-time research, and the level of support we offer our scientists, empower them to make the biggest breakthroughs.

The Institute is based inside the Royal Institution in Mayfair, which lays claim to 15 Nobel prizes and the discovery of 10 chemical elements and the principles of electromagnetism.

You can learn more about us at our [About](https://lims.ac.uk/about/), [Values](https://lims.ac.uk/values/) and [Opinions](https://lims.ac.uk/press/perspectives/) pages.

## Applying
To apply, send a CV to smc@lims.ac.uk with the subject heading “Cognia Junior Fellow”. Strong applicants will be invited for an interview and asked to provide letters of reference.

Unlike universities, we are not tied to the seasonal structure of teaching and recruitment. Instead, we raise money and recruit people fast, especially for rapidly advancing fields like in this programme. Candidates can apply at any time and start as early as the autumn of 2025. To encourage those with ongoing positions to join us sooner rather than later, we will consider increasing the duration of this position to make up for time lost by leaving their current position early.

The London Institute is hiring theorists to join us as Junior Fellows and work on theoretical aspects of life, learning and emergence.

Cognia Junior Fellows

The London Institute is a unique environment in which researchers, writers, coders, designers, fundraisers and others work together to speed up discovery. It’s a cohesive team that celebrates imagination, drive, simplicity, collegiality, irreverence and working on-site.

OPEN9 Sep 2025

Irix scientist

OPEN1 Aug 2025

Cognia Junior Fellows