Position Type......	Project Based (Fixed Term)
Position Duration....	01/02/2023 to 31/12/2026
Position Title.......	Research Scientist or Postdoc Associate
Project Title....	Quantum-inspired algorithms for computational fluid 
                        dynamics: the nuclear-industry use case
Project Supervisor	Dr. Mohamed Kamel RIAHI, Assistant Professor of 
                         Mathematics 
email                   mohamed.riahi@ku.ac.ae

Academic Department	Mathematics Department
Relevant Research Center	Emirates Nuclear Technology center
Technical Keywords	Scientific computing, Tensor Train, PDEs, CFD, 
Thermohydraulic

About Khalifa University
Khalifa University is ranked 181st in the QS World University Rankings 2023, and 
the top University in the UAE, with a range of research and academic programs 
designed to address the entire range of strategic, scientific, and industrial 
challenges facing our rapidly evolving world.

Its world-class faculty and state-of-the-art research facilities provide an 
unparalleled learning experience to students from the UAE and around the world. 
Our research and academic activities cover a broad range of disciplines in 
engineering, science, and medicine through our three colleges.

Khalifa University’s research relates to key focus sectors of relevance to the 
UAE’s strategic economic growth and the technology platforms that serve as 
foundations for these sectors. The University’s research priorities are addressed 
in two categories — “verticals” and “horizontals” — which jointly cover specific 
industry and sector needs, technical platforms, and expertise.

KU’s focus sectors are Clean and Renewable Energy, Hydrocarbon Exploration and 
Production, Water and Environment, Healthcare, Aerospace, and Supply Chain and 
Logistics. Research in these sectors is enhanced by our research platforms of 
Robotics, AI and Data Science, Information and Communication Technologies, 
Advanced Materials and Manufacturing as well as Fundamental Sciences.

Position Overview
KU is seeking an experienced & highly motivated Research Scientist or Postdoc 
Associate to work on a funded project to investigate and develop quantum-inspired 
type algorithms, for Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) in view of applications 
to nuclear reactor simulations. The specific class of quantum-inspired methods on 
which we will focus is tensor networks.
The successful Research Scientist (or Postdoc Associate) will join a collaborative 
project with Technology Innovation Institute (TII) to develop and implement novel 
methods and solvers which will be adapted toward the use of full-scale 
thermohydraulic applications to nuclear technology relevant to the APR14000 at the 
Barakah power plant. 
As part of the project, the researcher will have access to state-of-the-art 
research equipment and facilities at the Emirates Nuclear Technology Center 
(https://www.ku.ac.ae/entc) and will get an opportunity to work alongside 
researchers and graduate students from various backgrounds as part of a wider 
team.
This is a 3-year project (with possible extension), and the successful candidate 
will have the opportunity to work with leading research institutions in the UAE 
and contribute to the advancement of the nuclear-energy industry through the 
application the developed solvers to thermohydraulic.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit your CV and a cover 
letter to Dr. Mohamed K. Riahi at mohamed.riahi@ku.ac.ae
We are an equal opportunity employer and we encourage all qualified candidates to 
apply.

Position Requirements

•	Ph.D. in Computational Mathematics, Theoretical Physics, Computational 
Mechanics, or a related field, (previous Postdoctoral experience is a plus).
•	Strong background in partial differential equations (PDE) and their 
numerical approximation techniques.
•	Strong programming skills in Python.
•	Experience with high-performance computing and parallel processing 
(optional).
•	Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
•	Experience in the field of Tensor Train (Tensor Network), including 
related publications in peer-reviewed journals, is an asset.
•	Strong communication skills and ability to work in a collaborative 
environment.
•	Knowledge and experience in quantum computing are a plus
•	Knowledge and experience in computational fluid dynamics are appreciated
•	Write technical reports and publish research in peer-reviewed journals


Candidate Profile
Essential Criteria
•	Ph.D. in Computational Mathematics, Theoretical Physics, Computational 
Mechanics, or a related field. 
•	At least four (4+) years of post-doctoral research experience (For 
Research Scientist position)
•	Expert-level knowledge project subject area as evidenced by relevant 
publications and or patents (RS position)
•	Strong programming skills in at least one programming language such as 
Python, (C/C++ optional)
•	Experience in the field of Tensor Train (Tensor Network), including 
related publications in peer-reviewed journals, is an asset.
•	Excellent English language communication skills (verbal and written)
•	Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
•	The proven ability to lead work on multiple tasks with competing demands 
and deadlines.
•	Ability to train and mentor students and support fellow researchers
•	Highly developed reasoning and problem-solving skills
Desired Criteria
•	Ph.D. from and/or experience working in a top 200 QS or THE ranked 
University
•	High impact first-author publications in top 10% journals in the relevant 
field
•	Experience leading competitive research grants as principal investigator 
or named co-investigator in the project team