Caltech IQIM Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027: Salary, Eligibility & Deadline

Research scope and appointment

IQIM’s experimental and theoretical work spans quantum information, many-body physics, topological matter, quantum optics, light–matter interactions, cavity optomechanics and quantum metrology. It connects several Caltech departments, including physics, computing, engineering, materials science and chemistry.

Confirm the individual employment and benefit terms when reviewing an offer. Do not infer later-year pay or additional allowances from the first-year figure.

Eligibility and collaborator choice

The AJO notice specifies a Physics PhD or related field, completed or expected by the start. Current postdocs are eligible. Applicants name at least one Caltech faculty member they would like to work with; that person need not be an IQIM affiliate.

Assess fit by reading relevant recent work and identifying a concrete connection to your methods or research question. Naming a collaborator should follow from the proposed science, rather than reputation alone.

Required application documents

• Curriculum vitae.
• Research-interest statement: maximum five pages, excluding references.
• Publication list, with refereed papers first.
• At least three reference letters.

AJO states that reference writers submit their letters online. Ask permission before listing writers and give them enough time to review your work.

Keep publication status clear. Distinguish published papers, accepted work and preprints in a consistent format. Check that dates and research descriptions agree across the application.

Application route and timeline

Apply through AcademicJobsOnline listing 32775, linked from the official IQIM page below. Review begins on 15 November 2026, and the published process timeline calls that date the deadline, including letters. Submit the complete package by then.

AJO displays 23:59:59 beside the date without a time-zone label in the retrieved notice. Submit early or confirm the portal’s time convention rather than assuming a local time. Offers are expected from mid-December 2026 through February 2027. AJO lists 1 September 2027 as the start date.

1. Open the official IQIM application page at the end.
2. Follow its AcademicJobsOnline link.
3. Complete the application and upload the required files.
4. Request reference submissions and monitor their status.
5. Check the final package before submitting.
6. Retain confirmation and use the portal’s status function for updates.

Prepare a clear research statement

The following suggestions are CareerAidHub guidance, not additional application requirements.

• Define a question: identify the uncertainty your proposed work addresses.
• Explain your contribution: distinguish your results from those of collaborators.
• Describe the approach: connect methods, resources and expected evidence.
• Show fit: explain how working with the named faculty could support the research.
• Address limitations: identify dependencies and alternatives if an approach fails.

Ask a colleague to read the statement for clarity. They should be able to explain the question, your preparation and the next research steps without relying on promotional claims.

Career Accelerator support

CareerAidHub’s Career Accelerator Program offers profile review, career mapping, tailored CVs, cover letters and research statements, professor outreach, targeted opportunity mapping and 1:1 mentorship.

CareerAidHub is independent of Caltech and IQIM. Support does not guarantee an interview or appointment.