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2 Postdoctoral positions at Université de Namur (UNamur) and the Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain) within the ARC research project EMOTIONS – Emergent Motifs in Interconnected Systems

The Université de Namur (UNamur) and the Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain) invite applications for two postdoctoral positions within the ARC research project EMOTIONS – Emergent Motifs in Interconnected Systems. Each position is for 2 years, with flexible starting date anytime from Oct 1st 2026. The project is led by Timoteo Carletti (UNamur), Philippe Ruelle (UCLouvain), and Christian Walmsley Hagendorf (UCLouvain). It aims to develop a deeper understanding of pattern formation, universality, and emergent structures in interacting stochastic systems, complex networks, random walks, tiling models and integrable models of statistical physics. We seek outstanding candidates with either (1) a strong background in computational and numerical physics, including Monte Carlo methods, stochastic simulations, complex networks and scientific computing, or (2) a strong background in theoretical and mathematical physics, including statistical physics, probability theory, integrable models, and combinatorics. Applicants must hold a PhD in Physics or Mathematics at the start date of the position. The successful candidates will join an interdisciplinary research environment and work closely with the project investigators and the PhD students. The positions offer the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research at the interface of statistical physics, probability, complex systems, and mathematical physics. Applications including a CV and a research statement should be sent by email in a single PDF file to: emotions_arc@unamur.be More information on the project can be found here https://arc-projects.unamur.be/emotions

Deadline

Dec 2026

Starts On

Oct 2026

Location: Namur and Louvain-la-Neuve , Belgium

Position: Postdoctoral researcher

Duration: 2 years

Contact Email: emotions_arc@unamur.be

Application Link: https://arc-projects.unamur.be/emotions

Monte Carlo methods integrable models statistical physics combinatorics complex networks probability theory scientific computing stochastic simulations

The project

The spontaneous formation of regular spatial patterns in complex systems is an outstanding feature of many systems found in Nature. This project aims to contribute to understanding the emergence of such motifs in complex or random systems whose microscopic rules are described by simple rules yet resulting in rich mathematical models. A key aspect of our proposal is characterizing the emerging motifs’ geometric shapes and their fluctuations. We intend to tackle these themes by combining our expertise in the fields of statistical mechanics, integrability, complex networks and dynamical systems, reinforcing thus the burgeoning collaboration between the UNamur Institute for complex systems (naXys) and the UCLouvain Institute for Research in Mathematics and Physics (IRMP) and setting it into a solid and durable ground. By using analytical and numerical methods, we intend to pursue three research axes.

The artic curve phenomenon

The first research axis addresses the so-called arctic curve phenomenon in random tiling and vertex models of planar statistical mechanics. The phenomenon refers to the emergence of deterministic patterns known as arctic curves in a particular scaling limit of these models. The curves spatially separate the models’ solid, liquid, or even gaseous phases. Finding and characterizing these arctic curves, in particular by exploiting integrability properties, is an active research field with yet a great deal of open problems. We intend to contribute to it by investigating so-called surface-on-surface models or higher-spin vertex models, for which characterizations of the arctic phenomenon remain to be found, benefiting from both the analytical expertise of the UCLouvain team and the numerical know-how of the UNamur team.

The universality of fluctuations in the vicinity of arctic curves

The second research axis focuses on the universality of the fluctuations in the vicinity of arctic curves. Universality refers to the appearance of identical features in totally unrelated problems or models. A paradigmatic example is the characterization of the fluctuations around arctic curves in some tiling models by the celebrated Tracy-Widom distribution, which governs the (unrelated) statistics of the largest eigenvalue of certain random matrices. Such observations hint at deep properties of the fluctuations in arctic phenomena, which we intend to investigate.

Random walks in complex networks

The third research axis concerns patterns and universality related to random walks in complex networks. A focus will be the study of the so-called loop-erased random walks resulting from a chronological loop erasure applied to simple random walks. Loop-erased random walks have been thoroughly investigated in regular structures and are connected to a host of models of statistical mechanics, such as spanning trees or the Abelian sandpiles, and continuum theories, for example the Schramm-Loewner evolutions. Combining our knowledge and previous work in these fields with the UNamur team’s expertise in complex network theory, we plan to address the generalizations of loop-erased random walks to complex networks and several simultaneous random walkers.