Departments / Extreme-Scale, Nano & Fundamental Engineering / D01

Ultra-Fundamental & Mathematical Physics

Mathematical and theoretical work on the structure of spacetime, quantum foundations and the frameworks that attempt to describe physics below the Planck length. Entirely theory, mathematics and computation.

Mathematical Speculative frontier research 10^-100 m to 10^-35 m 13 open

What this work is, and what it is not

Nothing in this division is experimentally accessible. The Planck length is roughly 10^-35 m; the smallest distance any experiment has probed is around 10^-19 m, sixteen orders of magnitude larger. The frameworks worked on here are mathematically serious and experimentally undecided, and no result produced here should be described, by us or by you, as a demonstrated physical fact or an available technology.

Speculative frontier research. An open question that no current experiment can decide. Nothing in this area should be described, by us or by you, as a validated or available technology.

No part of this division's declared range is reachable by any apparatus that exists. The work here is mathematics, theory and computation, and it is worth doing on those terms — but nothing produced in it is a demonstrated physical fact or an available technology.

Scale bands are a research classification, not a claim of experimental reach. Most of this span cannot be probed by any apparatus that exists: nothing below about 10^-19 m has been measured directly, and anything at 10^26 m or beyond is inferred from observation rather than engineered. Every opportunity states the kind of work it actually is.

Where this division sits

Scale range 10^-100 m to 10^-35 m

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

11

10^-100 m 10⁰ m 10¹⁰⁰ m

Experiments reach here 3 bands no experiment reaches This role

B01

Ultra-fundamental and theoretical (10^-100 to 10^-35)
Below the Planck length. No experiment reaches here and none is proposed; work in this band is mathematics and theory about what a physical theory would have to look like at all.

Charter

This division asks what a physical theory would have to look like at scales no instrument reaches. It produces derivations, consistency results and reproducible computations, and it states in every result which parts are established, which are inferred, and which are conjecture. It builds no apparatus and it makes no engineering claim.

Domains

Mathematical physicsQuantum gravityFundamental spacetime theoryQuantum foundationsString-inspired mathematical researchLoop quantum gravityQuantum cosmologyHigh-energy theoryDifferential geometryTopologyInformation-theoretic physicsExtreme-scale mathematical modelling

Disciplines

Mathematics Physics Scientific computing Computer science

Works with

Divisions this one collaborates with routinely.

D02D09D15

13 open opportunities

Grouped by career rung. Every posting states its own classification, its scale range and what it expects you to have already done.

Level 1 3

Mathematical Physics Intern

Reconstructing a published derivation in full, including the steps the paper omitted, and writing up where it becomes ambiguous.

Mathematical Speculative frontier research L1 · Research and Engineering Intern Internship On-site / Hybrid — Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Scale 10^-100 m to 10^-35 m

Can derive the Euler-Lagrange equations for a field theory from its action and state the symmetries that follow. · Fluent with tensor calculus in index and index-free notation, including covariant differentiation and curvature. · Has taken a graduate course in general relativity or quantum field theory and can reproduce its central derivations. · Can implement a numerical calculation in Python, Julia or C++ and state its convergence behaviour. + 5 more

Quantum Gravity Research Intern

A literature-grounded comparison of how two quantum-gravity programmes treat the same limiting case.

Mathematical Speculative frontier research L1 · Research and Engineering Intern Internship On-site / Hybrid — Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Scale 10^-100 m to 10^-35 m

Can derive the Euler-Lagrange equations for a field theory from its action and state the symmetries that follow. · Fluent with tensor calculus in index and index-free notation, including covariant differentiation and curvature. · Has taken a graduate course in general relativity or quantum field theory and can reproduce its central derivations. · Can implement a numerical calculation in Python, Julia or C++ and state its convergence behaviour. + 5 more

Ultra-Fundamental Physics Research Intern

One scoped calculation inside a chosen quantum-gravity framework, carried through to a written result with its assumptions listed.

Mathematical Speculative frontier research L1 · Research and Engineering Intern Internship On-site / Hybrid — Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Scale 10^-100 m to 10^-35 m

Can derive the Euler-Lagrange equations for a field theory from its action and state the symmetries that follow. · Fluent with tensor calculus in index and index-free notation, including covariant differentiation and curvature. · Has taken a graduate course in general relativity or quantum field theory and can reproduce its central derivations. · Can implement a numerical calculation in Python, Julia or C++ and state its convergence behaviour. + 5 more

Level 2 1

Theoretical Physics Research Associate

Independent responsibility for one component of a larger derivation, and for checking it against its classical limit.

Mathematical Speculative frontier research L2 · Junior and Associate Full-Time On-site — Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Scale 10^-100 m to 10^-35 m

Can derive the Euler-Lagrange equations for a field theory from its action and state the symmetries that follow. · Fluent with tensor calculus in index and index-free notation, including covariant differentiation and curvature. · Has taken a graduate course in general relativity or quantum field theory and can reproduce its central derivations. · Can implement a numerical calculation in Python, Julia or C++ and state its convergence behaviour. + 5 more

Level 3 3

Computational Fundamental Physics Engineer

Turning the division's derivations into numerical codes that converge, are seeded, and reproduce on another machine.

Computational Speculative frontier research L3 · Engineer and Scientist Full-Time On-site — Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Scale 10^-100 m to 10^-35 m

Can derive the Euler-Lagrange equations for a field theory from its action and state the symmetries that follow. · Fluent with tensor calculus in index and index-free notation, including covariant differentiation and curvature. · Has taken a graduate course in general relativity or quantum field theory and can reproduce its central derivations. · Can implement a numerical calculation in Python, Julia or C++ and state its convergence behaviour. + 8 more

Mathematical Physics Research Scientist

Framing and answering a whole mathematical question in the division's programme, and reporting its limits.

Mathematical Speculative frontier research L3 · Engineer and Scientist Full-Time On-site — Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Scale 10^-100 m to 10^-35 m

Can derive the Euler-Lagrange equations for a field theory from its action and state the symmetries that follow. · Fluent with tensor calculus in index and index-free notation, including covariant differentiation and curvature. · Has taken a graduate course in general relativity or quantum field theory and can reproduce its central derivations. · Can implement a numerical calculation in Python, Julia or C++ and state its convergence behaviour. + 5 more

Quantum Gravity Research Scientist

Sustained work inside one quantum-gravity framework, including the parts of it that do not work.

Mathematical Speculative frontier research L3 · Engineer and Scientist Full-Time On-site — Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Scale 10^-100 m to 10^-35 m

Can derive the Euler-Lagrange equations for a field theory from its action and state the symmetries that follow. · Fluent with tensor calculus in index and index-free notation, including covariant differentiation and curvature. · Has taken a graduate course in general relativity or quantum field theory and can reproduce its central derivations. · Can implement a numerical calculation in Python, Julia or C++ and state its convergence behaviour. + 5 more

Level 4 2

Quantum Cosmology Scientist

The regime where quantum theory and cosmology have to be written in the same equations, and what that costs.

Theoretical Theoretical research L4 · Specialist Full-Time On-site — Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Scale 10^-100 m to 10^26 m

Can derive the Euler-Lagrange equations for a field theory from its action and state the symmetries that follow. · Fluent with tensor calculus in index and index-free notation, including covariant differentiation and curvature. · Has taken a graduate course in general relativity or quantum field theory and can reproduce its central derivations. · Can implement a numerical calculation in Python, Julia or C++ and state its convergence behaviour. + 5 more

Spacetime Theory Researcher

The technical authority on how the division treats causal structure, horizons and background independence.

Mathematical Speculative frontier research L4 · Specialist Full-Time On-site — Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Scale 10^-100 m to 10^-35 m

Can derive the Euler-Lagrange equations for a field theory from its action and state the symmetries that follow. · Fluent with tensor calculus in index and index-free notation, including covariant differentiation and curvature. · Has taken a graduate course in general relativity or quantum field theory and can reproduce its central derivations. · Can implement a numerical calculation in Python, Julia or C++ and state its convergence behaviour. + 5 more

Level 5 1

Senior Theoretical Physicist

Several related theoretical problems at once, and the technical judgement of the researchers working on them.

Mathematical Speculative frontier research L5 · Senior Full-Time On-site — Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Scale 10^-100 m to 10^-35 m

Can derive the Euler-Lagrange equations for a field theory from its action and state the symmetries that follow. · Fluent with tensor calculus in index and index-free notation, including covariant differentiation and curvature. · Has taken a graduate course in general relativity or quantum field theory and can reproduce its central derivations. · Can implement a numerical calculation in Python, Julia or C++ and state its convergence behaviour. + 5 more

Level 6 2

Extreme-Scale Theory Lead

The theoretical thread that runs across the department's whole declared span, and keeping its claims honest at both ends.

Mathematical Theoretical research L6 · Lead Full-Time On-site — Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Scale 10^-100 m to 10^100 m

Can derive the Euler-Lagrange equations for a field theory from its action and state the symmetries that follow. · Fluent with tensor calculus in index and index-free notation, including covariant differentiation and curvature. · Has taken a graduate course in general relativity or quantum field theory and can reproduce its central derivations. · Can implement a numerical calculation in Python, Julia or C++ and state its convergence behaviour. + 5 more

Fundamental Physics Lead

What this division works on, who works on it, and the written standard every result meets before it leaves.

Mathematical Speculative frontier research L6 · Lead Full-Time On-site — Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Scale 10^-100 m to 10^-35 m

Can derive the Euler-Lagrange equations for a field theory from its action and state the symmetries that follow. · Fluent with tensor calculus in index and index-free notation, including covariant differentiation and curvature. · Has taken a graduate course in general relativity or quantum field theory and can reproduce its central derivations. · Can implement a numerical calculation in Python, Julia or C++ and state its convergence behaviour. + 5 more

Level 7 1

Principal Mathematical Physicist

The hardest open problems the division holds, and the standard its derivations are held to.

Mathematical Speculative frontier research L7 · Principal Full-Time On-site — Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Scale 10^-100 m to 10^-35 m

Can derive the Euler-Lagrange equations for a field theory from its action and state the symmetries that follow. · Fluent with tensor calculus in index and index-free notation, including covariant differentiation and curvature. · Has taken a graduate course in general relativity or quantum field theory and can reproduce its central derivations. · Can implement a numerical calculation in Python, Julia or C++ and state its convergence behaviour. + 5 more

Other divisions in this department

Particle, High-Energy & Nuclear Systems Quantum, Atomic & Precision Systems Molecular Engineering & Computational Chemistry Nano Engineering & Nanotechnology Materials & Advanced Matter Semiconductors, Electronics & Micro/Nano Systems Computer Science, AI & Scientific Computing Mathematics & Computational Foundations Mechanical, Robotics & Multi-Scale Systems Civil, Structural & Macro-Scale Systems Biology, Biotechnology & Bio-Nano Systems Energy, Environment & Climate Materials Aerospace, Space & Extreme Environment Engineering Astrophysics, Cosmology & Extreme-Scale Modelling