W2 Professorship (W3 Tenure Track) in Quantum+AI:
Artificial Intelligence in Quantum Physics and Technology
Institution: Saarland University, Department of Physics, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology — Saarbrücken Campus
In cooperation with: German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI)
Start date: April 2027
Application deadline: May 28
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About the Position
This is a fixed-term public sector appointment (Beamtenverhältnis auf Zeit) for a maximum of six years, combined with the role of departmental head at DFKI. Upon successful tenure evaluation — comprising a teaching appraisal and external assessment of research — the appointee will be promoted to a permanent W3 professorship (lifetime tenure), again combined with the departmental head role at DFKI.
Research Profile
The successful candidate will have an outstanding scientific record and a demonstrated ability to drive interdisciplinary research at the interface of quantum physics, quantum technologies, and Artificial Intelligence.
The principal research focus should be in Quantum AI, broadly defined to encompass:
- Quantum methods for AI
- AI-driven approaches to quantum technologies and their applications
Research activities are expected to strengthen existing efforts in quantum information science across:
- Saarland University and the Quantum Technology Center (QuTe)
- The German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI)
Particular emphasis is placed on developing research and applications at the intersection of physics, AI, and computer science. The appointee will be expected to:
- Establish a new research group at DFKI
- Secure significant external funding
- Collaborate within the Department of Physics, neighbouring departments, and non-university research institutions on campus
- Be co-opted to the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science
Teaching Responsibilities
The appointee will contribute to teaching in theoretical physics and to the following programmes:
- Bachelor's and Master's in Quantum Engineering
- Bachelor's and Master's in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
- Saarbrücken–Jülich Graduate School of Quantum Information and Computation
Candidate Requirements
Essential qualifications:
- PhD or doctorate in a relevant subject
- Demonstrated capacity for independent academic research, evidenced by one of the following:
- Advanced post-doctoral research degree (Habilitation)
- Equivalent volume of peer-reviewed publications
- Successful interim evaluation of a junior professorship or equivalent position
- Strong track record of sustained, high-quality research with high international visibility
- Experience with externally funded national and international research projects
- Aptitude and experience in university-level teaching, including at Bachelor's, Master's, and doctoral levels
- Ability to teach in English
Desirable attributes:
- Experience collaborating with industrial partners
- Ability to engage in interdisciplinary research programmes
- Commitment to innovative teaching and the dedicated supervision and mentoring of early-career researchers
