Postdoc positions

Study protein dynamics using advanced single-molecule fluorescence methods.

Quantum Theory of Magnetic Processes

A four-year Postdoctoral Research Associate position is available in the research group of Prof Ilya Kuprov at the Weizmann Institute of Science, starting on 1 October 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Project description

Textbooks claim that computational complexity of quantum dynamics on classical computers is exponential, but recent research has called this into question: the inevitable presence of decoherence makes much of the Hilbert space of large quantum systems dynamically unreachable; simulations in reachable subsets have polynomial complexity scaling. This is particularly visible for spin systems that occur in magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging: time-domain simulations of protein NMR experiments involving hundreds of interacting spins are now routine.

Using powerful GPUs and tensor methods, quantum spin dynamics can also be modelled in the presence of classical processes: diffusion, hydrodynamics, non-linear chemical kinetics, etc. This is particularly important in magnetic resonance imaging, toxicology, and metabolomics. This project is about creating theory and software infrastructure that would be able to handle that level of multi-physics complexity. Applications range from magnetic resonance imaging of metabolic processes to geomagnetic navigation of migratory birds.

Further particulars

The Weizmann Institute of Science is, by most research rankings, the top academic institution in Israel and among the top in the world. It is located in a leafy and picturesque suburb of Tel Aviv at the feet of the Judean hills, 15 miles away from the Ben Gurion International Airport. The official language of the Institute is English; it provides furnished apartments for postdocs either on campus or across a shopping street from the campus.

Magnetic Resonance is a significant institutional priority at Weizmann. The Institute has plenty of magnetic resonance instruments at its various departments, including 800 MHz and 1 GHz NMR spectrometers with cryoprobes, pulsed EPR spectrometers, and DNP setups.

The Institute is home to over a dozen magnetic resonance spectroscopy, imaging, and spin physics research groups. This creates a uniquely vibrant atmosphere; many leading magnetic resonance researchers have either started or spent some time working at the Weizmann Institute.

Postdoctoral researchers in Israel pay no income tax; the health insurance is subsidised by Weizmann Institute. This essentially means that the salary of $43,000 per year has no deductions.

Postdocs are being sought for developing new experiments in the area of electron-enhanced nuclear magnetic resonance. This so-called dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) NMR experiment subjects electrons in the sample to microwave irradiation, and then uses the ensuing nuclear polarization enhancement to open new analytical and metabolic frontiers in NMR. Topics involved in this research will focus in the area of solution-state biomolecular hyperpolarized NMR. The research, to be carried out in collaboration with experts in protein and nucleic acids folding, and will use new multidimensional NMR experiments targeting sidechain and backbone sites in proteins as well as imino and amino sites in nucleic acids, while exploiting the transfer of magnetization from hyperpolarized water. The aim of this research is to exploit hyperpolarized solution-state NMR as a new tool to evaluate dynamic binding and folding processes of biomolecules under physiological conditions. Previous experience with magnetic resonance (NMR, EPR, MRI) highly preferable. Please contact lucio.frydman@weizmann.ac.il with transcripts, CV and name of two references if interested 

Following the award of long-term support from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the Frydman and Finkler groups at the Weizmann Institute of Science are embarking on an extraordinary journey: Bridging low-field MRI with Quantum Sensing. The project includes additional collaborators and exchanges with Europe and South America, and for its realization we are on the hire for two passionate and exceptional post-doctoral research associates to work together in:

1. Combining low-field MRI with optical hyperpolarization;

2. Development new forms of MRI contrasts that can be remotely activated –e.g., by optical means;

3. Applications of the above in biomedical research: microstructure, cancer, neurodegeneration.

The Weizmann Institute of Science is, by most research rankings, the top academic institution in Israel and among the top in the world (placed #6 in 2025 according to the Leiden CWTS world ranking). Located in a leafy and picturesque suburb of Tel Aviv at the feet of the Judean hills, it is a 30 minute train ride away from Tel Aviv and 15 miles away from the Ben Gurion International Airport. The official language of the Institute is English, and postdocs are looked after by a dedicated Grad School. The Institute provides furnished apartments either on campus or across a shopping street from the campus; housing aid for Israeli students is also available.

Magnetic Resonance is a significant institutional priority at Weizmann. The Institute has plenty of magnetic resonance instruments at its various departments, including a 1 GHz NMR spectrometer with cryoprobes, pulsed EPR spectrometers, multinuclear animal scanners at 7, 9.4, and 15.2T equipped with cryocoils, 3T and 7T whole-body Prisma and Terra human MRI scanners with massively parallel transmit and receive technologies and multinuclear options, a number of DNP hyperpolarizers, and numerous (dozens) of other scanners and instruments placed in various magnetic resonance buildings.

The Institute is home to over a dozen magnetic resonance spectroscopy, imaging, and spin physics research groups. This creates a uniquely vibrant atmosphere; many leading magnetic resonance researchers have either started or spent some time working at the Weizmann Institute.

The postdoctoral fellowships will be fully funded (all fees and a stipend for 4 years, renewable by mutual agreement on an annual basis) and open to candidates from anywhere in the world. For further information, see https://www.weizmann.ac.il/wsos/postdoctoral-training-weizmann-institute. If interested in these positions please contact us with a CV and two potential references by email: lucio.frydman@weizmann.ac.il; amit.finkler@weizmann.ac.il