Cognia Junior Fellows

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 include, but are not limited to: A thermodynamic understanding of self-replicating machines, also known as life. • The bias towards simplicity in input-output maps as a basis for why AI works. • Combinatorial design and recursive functionality as a basis for evolvable systems. • AI-assisted discovery in theoretical physics and mathematics. • A mathematical understanding of the evolutionary theory of ageing.

Funded by Cognia AI, our programme of Cognia Junior Fellows and 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 to three 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 the potential for leadership and willingness to act as London Institute ambassadors. In particular, we are looking for people who are sociable, curious about others, strong in their purpose and aligned with our values.

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 the London Institute at our About, Values and Opinions 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 posts to join us sooner rather than later, we are willing to increase the duration of the post so that they don’t lose out.