Postdoctoral Research Position Available at NYU
(group of Alan Sokal)

A postdoctoral research position will be available starting September 2007 at New York University, Physics Department, in the research group of Alan Sokal. The position will be for an initial period of 1 year, normally renewable for a second year.

Our research concerns the statistical mechanics of critical phenomena, using a combination of analytical and numerical methods. One big part of this research will involve developing, testing, and applying collective-mode Monte Carlo algorithms (notably cluster and multigrid algorithms) to a variety of spin models (Ising and Potts models, sigma-models, etc.). We are interested both in studying the performance of the algorithms (quantitative studies of the dynamic critical behavior) and in applying the algorithms to extract new physics (phase diagrams, static critical exponents, testing asymptotic freedom, etc.). The project will also involve developing, testing, and applying new Monte Carlo algorithms for the self-avoiding walk (SAW) and related models in polymer physics. Finally, we are interested in new analytical/mathematical ideas concerning these models.

I am looking for someone who will not just be a "research assistant", but who has innovative ideas of his/her own for new problems to be investigated, and new analytical and/or numerical methods.

Examples of the type of research we will be doing can be found in hep-lat/9112002, hep-lat/9409003, hep-lat/9604015, hep-lat/9605018, hep-lat/9610021, cond-mat/9801079, cond-mat/9811345, hep-lat/0402019, cond-mat/0409355, cond-mat/0608447, cond-mat/0610193.

For the broader theoretical context in which this work is situated, see hep-lat/9305009, hep-lat/9405016, cond-mat/9910503, cond-mat/0004330, cond-mat/0101197, cond-mat/0401026, cond-mat/0403271.

Prerequisites:

• A solid knowledge of the statistical mechanics of phase transitions and critical phenomena, and of quantum field theory. I am looking for someone who is not merely a "computational physicist", but is a broadly trained theoretical physicist who moreover has expertise in computational methods. Interest in/knowledge of rigorous mathematical physics is also a plus. Please do not apply unless your background conforms to these prerequisites -- otherwise you are just wasting both your time and mine.

• Several years experience in scientific computation, including a solid knowledge of Fortran. Experience with Fortran 90 is a plus, as is knowledge of Mathematica, Perl, C, etc.

To apply:

• a brief cover letter describing your background and interests,
• a Curriculum Vitae, and
• a Research Proposal describing your research ideas for the next few years.

For more information: Contact Alan Sokal, Dept. of Physics, New York University, 4 Washington Place, New York, NY 10003, USA.
E-mail: sokal@nyu.edu.

NYU is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

physics.web@nyu.edu / Physics / GSAS / NYU

-- last modified 12 November 2006