Professor in Statistical Physics at Coventry University

Our Mission

Coventry University is a global Education Group that empowers students and communities to transform their lives and society through teaching, learning, research, and enterprise. An ambitious and innovative university, our research is designed to have real-world impact on society and tackle global challenges through our 16 challenge-led, interdisciplinary research centres.

The Research Centre for Fluid and Complex Systems (FCS) specialises in fundamental and applied fluid mechanics and statistical physics, tackling problems in applied mathematics, theoretical and experimental sciences with applications to natural, industrial but also societal processes.

The Role

Applications are invited for a Professor in statistical physics in the Centre for Fluid and Complex Systems, Coventry University. As a Professor (Research) you will be actively contributing to the research strategy and activities within the Research Centre with the aim of providing strategic direction, academic leadership and management of research.

The post is aimed at expanding the Statistical Physics group that is, alongside Fluid Mechanics, one of the two pillars on which FCS has built its success. The Statistical Physics group is interdisciplinary in nature and has developed a reputation in network science, cultural complexity, biophysics, sociophysics, computational physics, scientometrics, stochastic dynamics, information theory, and other areas. Recently, the group has expanded its portfolio to include dynamics of many-body quantum systems, quantum information and applications to quantum computation. You will be in a position to grow and expand upon one or several directions of research within this remit, reinforcing the group’s world-wide network of collaborators, securing funding to empower the group and the centre at large, widening its long-term strands of impact.

The centre operates at the core of a large network of international collaborators with the specificity of blending theoretical with in-house experimental approaches (led by the fluids group). The centre maps to REF Unit of Assessment 10 (mathematics) and 95% of its output was deemed internationally excellent or world-leading during the 2021 REF exercise. The centre’s research is supported by UK and European funding bodies (UKRI, ERC and others), as well as industry.

As a Professor within FCS you will be responsible for commissioning and leading impactful research, providing leadership to the statistical physics in terms of research activity. You will take the lead in promoting and disseminating research outputs in a range of field specific media, attend and present research at relevant conferences, give invited lectures, sit on conference organising committees, panels for funding bodies, national and international bodies such as REF or relevant organisations in mathematics or physics, and in your specific field. You will lead major funding bids and secure external research funding.

The role will allow you to take an active lead in the research centre’s strategy and agenda, producing research with a demonstrable contribution to society and the economy through developing relationships and partnerships externally. You will also play a key part in leading the research culture and environment of the university group while supervising research fellows/assistants, doctoral students, masters’ students, technical and other support staff.

Qualifications Required

A PhD in either engineering, physics, mathematics or equivalent.

Our Successful Candidate

The ideal candidate will demonstrate international leadership in their field, as evidenced by their track-record in publications, research awards and awarded research funding, but also through evidence of esteem consistent with the level of seniority of the role.

The School of Computing, Mathematics and Data Science offers undergraduate degrees in mathematics, mathematics and statistics, physics and mathematics, physics, and data science; our postgraduate courses include data science & computational intelligence and data science. The successful candidate will be able to contribute to academic modules on these courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

You will work closely with the course teams to help provide the high-quality academic environment our students expect. Within the centre the successful applicant will be expected to lead research within the remit of REF UoA 10 (mathematics), to deliver internationally excellent or world-leading outputs, industrial or societal impact, and to attract sufficient funding to help grow the centre’s research portfolio. As a senior member of FCS, the candidate will be expected to lead on strategic activities of the centre including impact generation, outreach and industrial collaborations.

The Benefits

As a staff member of Coventry University, you will have a access to a wide range of industry leading rewards and benefits which include

• Excellent Employers Pension Contribution
• 38 days Annual leave plus Bank Holidays
• New Holiday Purchase Scheme up to 5 additional days
• Life Assurance 4 x Salary
• BUPA Cash Plan
• 50% off Tuition Fee’s for staff dependants
• CU Reward Scheme – Discounts across a range of High Street/ Online Retailers
• New Electric Car Scheme
• Cycle To work scheme

Our Culture

As a global Education Group, equality, diversity, and inclusion are embedded within the fabric of our organisation and are a key focus of our core values. We harness the power and potential of the diverse cultures, backgrounds, abilities, and experiences of our students, colleagues, and partners to create opportunities for all.

Job Description and Person Specification available on our website.

For informal enquiries about the position, please contact: Prof. Alban Potherat aa4111@coventry.ac.uk (Centre Director) or Prof. Eun-Jin Kim ad3116@coventry.ac.uk (Statistical Physics research group)

Please submit a CV, list of publication, and the names of two referees. In addition, we request a statement (maximum 2 pages) of planned research and other activities (such as outreach, impact etc.)  and how these will contribute to the centre’s wider growth plans.

Closing Date: 16^th February 2024