Postdoctoral Researcher

Core responsibilities:

• Lead and conduct mathematical research on the compositional structure and dynamics of working languages
• Write academic papers and contribute to grant deliverables
• Collaborate with Topos Institute researchers and external partners
• Present work at conferences and workshops
• Contribute to educational materials and open-source research software as appropriate

This role creates positive change by developing new tools for collective inquiry and modeling to help society better cooperate on critical issues like the climate crisis, pandemic responses, and global access to education through interconnected systems that consider holistic impacts.

Required qualifications:

• Strong foundations in category theory; PhD in mathematics, computer science, or related field (completed or expected by start date); within 5 years of PhD completion
• Work comfortably at the boundary between mathematics and philosophy—where problems aren't yet fully formalized
• Read and engage critically with the research motivating this position
• Contribute to both theoretical development and implementation
• Communicate clearly in writing and conversation
• Collaborate closely with a remote supervisor and with colleagues at Topos Berkeley

Compensation and benefits:

• Salary: $85,000–95,000
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance (all premiums covered)
• 18 days paid vacation annually
• 13 paid company holidays annually
• 401(k) plan (non-matching)
• Supportive culture with focus on intellectual rigor and personal well-being
• Flexibility to support work-life balance

Topos Institute is a non-profit research institute dedicated to realizing a world where the systems that surround us benefit us all, so that society can better cooperate on critical issues through interconnected systems that consider holistic impacts. They develop new tools for collective inquiry and modeling enabled by novel foundational mathematics, open-source software engineering, and collaboration with domain specialists.