Arnold & Landau Fellows

Background

In May 2022, we began recruiting theorists affected by the war in Ukraine. Our Arnold and Landau Fellowship programme, which has become the largest of its kind in the world, is open to scientists who have lived in Russia, Ukraine or Belarus. We named it after the Ukrainian mathematician Vladimir Arnold and the Russian physicist Lev Landau. The programme has been written about in Nature, The Times and Troitsky Variant, and it has recruited a dozen scientists to date.

Job

The positions last for four years and salaries are comparable to equivalent posts at the University of London. Fellows work in our rooms in the Royal Institution—we do not work from home. ❧ Unlike universities, we are not tied to the seasonal structure of teaching, so we operate our programme on a rolling basis. Candidates can apply at any time and start at their earliest convenience, so long as they start before 1 October 2025. Every two months we will review the pool of applicants to date and make decisions.

Candidate

Candidates should be outstanding theorists with a background in theoretical physics or mathematics and working in any of our research themes. We seek a balance of research interests, and are currently encouraging applications in our “Life, learning and emergence” theme. Candidates should have lived in Russia, Ukraine or Belarus, but need not reside there when applying. ❧ We do not assess candidates on intellectual merit alone. We also consider the potential for leadership and willingness to act as London Institute ambassadors. In particular, we are looking for candidates who are sociable, curious about others, strong in their purpose, and aligned with our values.

Activities

Conduct theoretical research in physics, mathematics, or the mathematical foundations of AI and life, and publish it in leading journals. ❧ Work with our science writers to publicise our discoveries in the press and on our website. ❧ Work with our staff to help organise events, raise funds, recruit members and boost the Institute’s profile. ❧ Take an interest in the research and goals of other members and help to make the Institute more than the sum of its parts. ❧ Socialise with our scientists, staff and visitors at our weekly drinks and regular events.

London Institute

The London Institute for Mathematical Sciences is a new kind of research organisation that is dedicated to speeding up discovery. Our focus on peak performance and full-time research, and the level of support we offer our scientists, empower them to make the biggest breakthroughs. ❧ The Institute is based inside the Royal Institution in Mayfair, which lays claim to 15 Nobel prizes and the discovery of 10 chemical elements and the principles of electromagnetism. ❧ You can learn more about the London Institute at our About, Values and Opinions pages.

Applying

To apply, send or have sent a CV, cover letter, and two or three letters of recommendation to Justine Crean, jc@lims.ac.uk, with the subject heading “Arnold and Landau Fellow”. Strong applicants will be invited for an interview. ❧ Candidates can apply and start at any time, so long as it is before 1 October 2025. We encourage early starters, because the London Institute and the funders of this programme like to move fast.