Research Associate in Number Theory

Job id: 162487 . Salary: £45,829 – £53,462 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance .

Posted: 27 October 2026 . Closing date: 01 November 2026 .

Business unit: Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sci . Department: Mathematics .

Contact details: Rachel Newton . rachel.newton@kcl.ac.uk

Location: Strand Campus . Category: Research .

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About us

The number theory group at King’s currently consists of David Burns, Lassina Dembélé, Fred Diamond, Netan Dogra, Andrea Dotto, Natalie Evans, Peter Jossen, Asuka Kumon, Payman L Kassaei, Steve Lester, Rachel Newton, Owen Patashnick, Beth Romano and Igor Wigman, as well as several postdoctoral researchers and PhD students. We benefit from being part of the wider London number theory community, with the London Number Theory Seminar and associated study groups hosted by Imperial, King’s and UCL, and also take part in the biannual London–Paris Number Theory Seminar.

About the role

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral research associate to work with Rachel Newton as part of the EPSRC-funded project ‘Unifying Arithmetic Statistics’.

The project spans several topics including arithmetic statistics in a broad sense, rational points on varieties and stacks, local-global principles and arithmetic of global fields. The postdoctoral research associate will contribute to appropriate strands of the project according to their background and interests.

The successful candidate will become part of a wider team led by Daniel Loughran (Bath, Project Lead), Alex Bartel (Glasgow, Project Co-Lead), Rachel Newton (King’s College London, Project Co-Lead) and Adam Morgan (Cambridge, Project Co-Lead). The post will involve participation in (and contributions to the organisation of) team activities such as study groups, conferences, team retreats, hosting visiting researchers, etc.

When applying, candidates should include a CV with a list of publications, a research statement, and the names of two academic referees who are best placed to comment on the candidate’s research. Usually, these two academic referees would include the PhD supervisor and would not necessarily include the current or most recent employer.

This is a full time post (35 hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract for 36 months. The planned start date is 1st October 2027 but some flexibility may be possible.

Research staff at King’s are entitled to at least 10 days per year (pro-rata) for professional development. This entitlement, from the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers , applies to Postdocs, Research Assistants, Research and Teaching Technicians, Teaching Fellows and AEP equivalent up to and including grade 7. Visit the Centre for Research Staff Development for more information.

About you

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

• PhD awarded in relevant subject area or PhD in in relevant subject area near completion*

• Excellence in research and publications, commensurate with career stage

• Excellent written communication skills

• Excellent verbal communication skills

• Specialist knowledge in one of the areas of the research programme outlined above

• An interest in at least one of arithmetic statistics, rational points and local-global principles

Desirable criteria

• Strong background in one of the following areas: arithmetic statistics, geometry/arithmetic of stacks, analytic number theory

• Experience of working independently

• Experience of working in collaboration

• Experience organising seminars/study groups or similar

Downloading a copy of our Job Description

Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the page. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.

Applications must include a CV with a list of publications, a research statement, and the names of two academic referees who are best placed to comment on the candidate’s research. Usually, these two academic referees would include the PhD supervisor and would not necessarily include the current or most recent employer.

• Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.

Further Information

At King’s, we believe that the diversity of our community and a culture that is welcoming, open, inclusive and collaborative, are great strengths of the university.

The Equality Act of 2010 protects the rights of our students and staff and provides a framework to fulfil our duties to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and in addition, to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between those who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. At times, this will include balancing rights and beliefs that can feel in tension.

We are committed to free speech and to academic freedom, believing that our foundational purpose as a university, is to create spaces where a wide range of ideas, including ideas that are controversial, can be discussed and debated, and where members of our community can express lawful views without fear of intimidation, harassment or discrimination.

When engaging in the robust exchange of ideas, we ask that our community is mindful of our Dignity at King’s guidance.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the person specification section of the job description. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is evolving rapidly, and we recognise its growing role in professional work. Applicants may use AI tools to support preparation of their application, for example to research the role or structure written responses. However, applications must reflect the applicant’s own work and experience. AI tools should not be used during interviews or assessment activities unless this has been agreed in advance as a reasonable adjustment. Further guidance on the use of AI in recruitment can be found here .

We reserve the right to close adverts early due to the volume of applications we receive. While the closing date may change, all adverts will close at 23:59 to allow sufficient time for applications to be submitted on that day.

We encourage you to apply at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment as once we have closed a vacancy you will be unable to submit your application.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘ How we Recruit ’ pages.

Interviews are due to be held in January 2027.