Position Summary

The Faculty of Arts and Science at Queen’s University invites applications for aQueen’s National Scholar (QNS)tenure track appointment at therank ofAssistant Professor in theDepartment of Physics, Engineering Physics, and Astronomy.

Candidates are expected to establish an independent, internationally competitive research program with demonstrated leadership in theoretical quantum optics, complementing existing quantum optics, and nanophotonics research in the department. The position also involves teaching at both undergraduate and graduate levels. We are targeting an outstanding theorist or computational physicist; however, we will also consider exceptional experimentalists whose focus strongly compliments existing quantum optics and nanophotonics research within the department.

This QNS position comes with yearly research funds and a teaching reduction for five years.

The appointment is expected tobeginJuly 1, 2027.This posting is for a new position within the University.

Further information about the Queen’s National Scholars Program is available through the Office of the Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic).

Qualifications

Candidates must have a PhD or equivalent degree in Physics or a related field completed at the start date of the appointment. As a Queen’s National Scholar, the successful candidate will demonstrate excellence and leadership in research and will clearly demonstrate the following attributes:

1. Be an creative researcher whose accomplishments are recognized internationally and who has made a notable impact in their field, as demonstrated through peer-assessed publications and diverse forms of scholarly impact (e.g., invited presentations at international conferences, research awards, a track record of attracting external funding, and scientific collaborations).

2. Have a vision of a clear, original, innovative research program of the highest quality with evidence of strong collaborations and interdisciplinary scholarship.

3. Evidence that the research program aligns with institutional and faculty priorities in quantum optics and nanophotonics. Further information on research priorities at Queen’s is available in the Queen’s Strategy and the Queen’s Strategic Research Plan.

4. Have an ability to attract, develop and retain excellent trainees, students and future researchers.

5. Demonstrated commitment to advancing Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, and accessibility (I-EDIAA) in teaching and research.

The diverse backgrounds of applicants and the type of scholarship appropriate to their research areas, as well as the diverse range of scholarly methodologies and ways of measuring impact will be considered when assessing the quality of the scholarly or creative work. Candidates will be evaluated using the principles of the Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) and with attention to the diverse ways excellence can be demonstrated. The successful candidate will also be expected to make contributions through service to the department, the Faculty, the University, and/or the broader community.

Theannualsalary for this appointment is expected to bebetween $150,000 and $175,000. ActualSalary will becommensuratewith qualifications and experience.

The successful candidate for this position,



an emerging leader in theoretical quantum optics, will join and amplify a thriving optics and photonics cluster at Queen’s. The candidate is expected to have a track record of research excellence, and a vision for future directions in areas related to quantum optics or quantum photonics with a focus on areas that include, but are not limited to, fundamental quantum optics, light-matter interactions, quantum related protocols, artificial intelligence, quantum sensing and quantum computing. This physics-based research position should synergize and complement that of the existing groups at the Department of Physics, Engineering Physics & Astronomy, which already have a strong track record of collaborative work in quantum optics, including waveguide QED, quantum dot photonics, squeezing, photonics for quantum, AI, and related fields.

Photonics and quantum optics is an established area of strength at Queen’s, with current groups leading large national and international. This directly reflects the strategic importance of these fields, which closely align with both the Canada’s National Quantum Strategy (with $360M in funds committed over 7 years) and the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy (with over $440M committed over 10 years). The successful candidate will have the chance to join and lead initiatives in these areas, supported by access to major shared infrastructure at Queen’s.

This includes access to advanced computing facilities through the Centre for Advanced Computing (https://cac.queensu.ca/), access to clean-room facilities through NanoFabrication Kingston (www.nanofabkingston.ca/), and access to a photonic testbed including ultrafast laser sources, a closed-cycle cryostat and detectors (including superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors) and a state of the art quantum optics modelling lab at the Nanophotonics Centre (https://www.queensu.ca/nanophotonics/).

Vaccination Requirements

Prior to May 1, 2022, the University required all students, faculty, staff, and visitors (including contractors) to declare their COVID-19 vaccination status and provide proof that they were fully vaccinated or had an approved accommodation to engage in in-person University activities. These requirements were suspended effective May 1, 2022, but the University may reinstate them at any point.

Institution

From Nobel Prize-winning research exploring the building blocks of the universe to cancer care and treatment to sustainable technologies, Queen’s University is tackling humanity’s most pressing challenges.

A member of the U15 group of Canadian research universities, Queen’s is home to a vibrant research community that includes 46 Canada Research Chairs, two Canada Excellence Research Chairs, and over 20 research institutes who work in partnership with communities, governments, and industry to advance research and innovation,



making a measured impact on Canada and the world.

Queen’s is in the top 200 of the QS World University Rankings. In 2025, for the fifth straight year, Queen’s ranked among the global top 10 in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings. THE Impact Rankings, an international ranking of universities that are advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals within and beyond their local communities. Queen's placed sixth worldwide and first in Canada out of over 2,300 universities in more than 120 countries.

At Queen’s University, we are committed to advancing Indigenization, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Anti‑Racism (I‑EDIAA) as core priorities that shape our workplace and research culture. We recognize that diversity drives innovation, strengthens collaboration, and helps remove barriers so that everyone can thrive. Our eight employee resource groups (ERGs) play a vital role in fostering belonging, amplifying diverse voices, and supporting employees across the university.

Faculty and their dependents are eligible for an extensive benefits package that includes prescription drug coverage, vision care, dental care, long‑term disability insurance, life insurance, and access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program. Employees also participate in a pension plan, and tuition assistance is available for qualifying employees, their spouses, and dependent children. Queen’s values families and provides a “top up” to government parental leave benefits for eligible employees on maternity/parental leave, as well as partial reimbursement for eligible daycare expenses.

Full details are outlined in the Queen’s–QUFA Collective Agreement, and more information on employee benefits can be found through Queen’s Human Resources.

The City

The University is situated on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe, in historic Kingston on the shores of Lake Ontario. Queen’s is an integral part of the Kingston community, with the campus nestled in the core of the city, only a 10-minute walk to downtown. Kingston’s residents enjoy an outstanding quality of life with a wide range of cultural and creative opportunities, with access to many natural areas and proximity to vibrant First Nations Communities including Tyendinaga and Akwesasne. Kingston is a unique Canadian city of 125,000 with a distinct blend of history, recreation, industry, and learning. Kingston offers unique waterfront living with many recreational opportunities. It is within a two-and-a-half-hour drive (two-hour train ride) to the commercial, industrial and political hubs of Toronto, Montreal, and the nation’s capital, Ottawa, and a thirty-minute drive from the international bridge linking Ontario and upstate New York. The city is also the origin of the historic Rideau Canal system – a UNESCO International Heritage site, and is close to Frontenac Provincial Park, the Thousand Islands National Park, and the Frontenac Arch UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. The Queen’s University Biological Station, north of the city, encompasses 34 km2 of diverse lands, affording premier learning and research opportunities. Visit Inclusive Queen’s for information on equity, diversity and inclusion resources and initiatives.

📌 Queen’s National Scholar (QNS) Assistant Professor in Theoretical Quantum Optics (Kingston)
🏢 Physics World
📍 Kingston