Overview_____________________________________________________________________________
The Department of Physics at Maynooth University in Co. Kildare, Ireland is pleased to announce a Ph.D. Scholarship available for a suitably qualified and successful Applicant in the subject of condensed matter theory and quantum information science. This is a 4 year position funded by Taighde Éireann–Research Ireland, with an expected start date of September 1st, 2026. The successful candidate will be supervised by Dr. Joshuah Heath. The newly established Heath Group at Maynooth University will focus on questions in quantum materials, quantum simulatability, and quantum technology. Potential topics the Ph.D. student is expected to conduct research on includes, but is not limited to,
• Many-body signatures of quantum spin liquids in magnonic transport
• Error-correction capabilities of many-body phases of matter
• Stability of topological phases under open system dynamics
• Measurement-induced dynamics in fermionic quantum circuits
Specifics of the research program may be adjusted given the student’s interests and technical capabilities. Maynooth University is an equal opportunities employer. The position is subject to the Statutes of the University.
Details of Position_____________________________________________________________________________
• Location: Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
• Principle Investigator: Dr. Joshuah T. Heath
• Funding Source: Taighde Éireann–Research Ireland
• Research Topic: Condensed matter theory and quantum information science
• Duration: 4 years (start date Sept. 1st, 2026), subject to satisfactory academic progression reviewed bi-annually
• Stipend: €25,000 per year (net)
• Additional funds: €900 per year for residency permit/healthcare (for non-EU residents); €2,500 total for laptop; €4,500 total for travel; €7,500 total for summer school attendance; additional funds available to travel to collaborators in USA, Canada, and Sweden
• Eligibility requirements: The Applicant is required to have completed a B.Sc. in physics by Sept. 2026. The Applicant is also expected to hold an M.Sc. degree by Sept. 1st 2026 in theoretical physics, although this may be waived for exceptionally strong candidates. Applicants with at least one paper on the arXiv in a relevant field of study will be given first priority. Experience in coding in Python, Julia, and/or C/C++ is expected. The Applicant is also expected to meet the minimum English language requirements of Maynooth University.
• Expectations: Please note that this is not a remote position, as the successful Applicant is expected to be physically at Maynooth University during the duration of their Ph.D. (excluding vacations, holidays, and illnesses). The successful Applicant is expected to write papers (with at least 4-5 publications expected), present their work at international conferences, and engage in international collaboration and internal discussion/collaboration in the Maynooth University Physics Department. No teaching duties are expected. Most introductory graduate level classes are expected to have already been taken by the Applicant upon beginning this position.
How to Apply_____________________________________________________________________________
The application deadline is February 27th, 2026 at 23:59 GMT. Late applications will not be accepted. If you are interested, please prepare
i) an academic CV (max 5 pages)
ii) a brief letter explaining your research skills, interests, experience, future plans, why you specifically want to work with Joshuah, why you want to pursue a Ph.D., and why you want to pursue your Ph.D. in Ireland and at Maynooth (max 1 page, 11 pt font Times New Roman, 1.5 cm margins)
iii) names and contact information for two referees (to be included at the bottom of your one page letter).
Applications are to be sent directly to Joshuah Heath at joshuahheath137@gmail.com as one PDF. Please put as the title of your email "Application for Ph.D. Scholarship at Maynooth in Heath Group, by "+ your full name. Shortlisted candidates are expected to give a 30-60 minute Zoom presentation on their previous work to a small panel of experts sometime in March 2026. All shortlisted candidates will be notified of a final decision by April 24th, 2026 at the latest. Acceptance or declination of this position is expected within 48 hours of the initial offer.
About Maynooth_____________________________________________________________________________
Maynooth University (MU) is a constituent University of the National University of Ireland, founded in 1997 from the secular faculties of St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, which was founded in 1795. MU is recognised as one of the leading new universities in the world, ranked in the top 90 global Times Higher Education (THE) Young University Rankings 2024. It is a holder of an Athena SWAN Bronze Institution Award in recognition of progress and activities to accelerate change towards gender equality. Additionally, it holds HR Excellence in Research award (HRS4R). The University has over 18,000 students from more than 120 countries and over 800 Academic and Research Staff. MU is internationally recognised for the quality and value of its research and scholarship. Total research income (EU, national and international) was €62 million in 2024. The University is organised into three faculties: Arts and Humanities; Science and Engineering, and Social Sciences. Services provided by MU for the successful Applicant include the Hamilton Institute for networking and communication opportunities, the Research Development Office for financial and career guidance, the Maynooth Access Programme (MAP) for addressing diversity issues, MaynoothWorks for protecting MU-generated intellectual property and providing training in IP, the Graduate Research Academy for providing transferable skills in research techniques, and the Human Resources Dept. for local integration/onboarding assistance.
The Maynooth University Physics Department is dedicated to research and education excellence, with 8-10 post- doctoral fellows and around 20 postgraduate students. In addition to Joshuah Heath, three tenured faculty (Dr. Graham Kells, Prof. Joost Slingerland, and Prof. Jiri Vala) lead active research groups in condensed matter and quantum information. The successful Applicant will be strongly encouraged to engage in discussion/collaboration with all three faculty and their students/postdocs. Recently secured HEREG (Higher Education Research Equipment Grant) funding for a High-Performance GPU server will provide computational resources needed for the Applicant’s computation. Strong departmental connections to Dublin-area physics groups (DIAS, UCD, TCD, DCU) will lead to new opportunities for collaboration, advising, networking, and potential postdoc opportunities in the future. The Applicant will be fully integrated into the research group and the MU Physics Department with shared office space, journal/library access, and dedicated technical support.
