JobSearchInfo/JobPostings

Academic Mathematics-Related Jobs

The following section discusses academic job postings (postdocs + tenure-track offerings) in mathematics-related fields.

MathJobs

MathJobs is an online database job application site sponsored by the AMS. For math-related academic departments in the US and Canada, MathJobs is the de facto location for job opening advertisements. You can browse jobs without signing up. However, to apply, you must register as a `Job Applicant' (free). Some of the very nice features of MathJobs include:

• Collection/storage/dissemination of anonymous letters of recommendation
• Storage/dissemination of CVs, resumes, research/teaching statements, publication lists, reference lists, and any other application material.
• Collection of multiple versions of the above items
• Easy to update application materials, even after submission
• Standardization of application forms
• Keeps records of your applications and status of the job searches
• It's fast and easy: once you learn the system, you can apply to a job in a couple of minutes.

In short, if you had to compute your professional visibility payoff per hour spent for various portals, MathJobs will almost certainly beat the competition. It's very easy, and if there's a position open in the US/Canada, it will almost certainly be on MathJobs.

One of the best features of MathJobs is that you can update application materials after submission. In fact, you can technically apply for a position with an incomplete set of documents. If you see a job and apply, and suppose you are missing a recommendation letter, you will see an incomplete message under the "Status" link. Once a reference uploads the requisite recommendation, you can submit the application and it will now be complete. Similarly, if you don't have say a cover letter ready, you can still submit and then re-submit with the proper documents. I don't think the employer will look at the application until it is complete so you don't have to worry.

Employment Center (EC)

The Employment Center is a great venue held at the Joint Math Meetings in early January. You can apply for an interview with both academia (mostly tenure-track jobs) and industry via MathJobs. The integration with MathJobs is new for 2012 and is very easy to use. You can click on the EC link in the navigation bar on the MathJobs site. You might need to sign in to your account to see it, and certainly register.

You should apply through the Employment Center by early to mid December to give employers enough time to look at your information and schedule a time. The interviews are typically only 30 minutes, so be prepared to be able to give a very brief (<=2-3 minutes each) overview of your research, interests, skills, and objectives. The interviews go by very quickly. Also, you should dress professionally. A suit and tie is not uncommon, and it's probably not a good idea to where jeans. Also, make sure to bring a few copies of resume/CV (~10 to be safe because you might be interviewing with >1 person simultaneously).

As a side note, when you arrive at the Employment Center at the JMM, you will go to a large waiting room. There, you will wait while the interviewer comes to the waiting area and calls your name. Don't get stressed in the waiting area, although it is easy to do this when you see the anxious and emotionless faces of the other interviewers.

Job boards and Other

• SIAM Job board

• EIMS - Employment Info in the Math Sciences

I honestly did not use the above two options, but one should know about them. A lot of the jobs found on these job boards are also found on the MathJobs postings, but it is not inclusive (not necessarily 1-1 or onto). You should also look at journals, digests and notices (e.g., NA Digest). I would recommend talking to your advisor for job's more closely related to your fields of interest. They might know of sources that more apt for your research.

Department Announcements

If you know a particular department/university that you want to apply to, check their web page. Often times advertisements for job openings will appear there.

Government Jobs (mathematics)

These are potential jobs with the US government and their subsidiary national laboratories. Often times, US citizenship is required.

• The National Security Agency hires many mathematicians in many areas of specialty.

• The Department of Energy hires technical specialists. Their openings are more focused towards engineering-type professionals.

• National Laboratories/FFRDCs -- often these labs will have lab-specific, well-paid, competitive, named fellowships

  • Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory at UC-Berkeley

  • Argonne National Laboratory (ANL named postdocs)

  • Sandia National Laboratory

  • Jet Propulsion Laboratory at CalTech

  • Lincoln Laboratory at MIT

  • Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  • Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

  • National Center for Atmospheric Research

• Non-profits that are basically FFRDCs

  • The Aerospace Corporation

  • The RAND Corporation

Also see:

• http://www.siam.org/students/resources/fellowship.php

• http://www.math.lsa.umich.edu/~krasny/fellowships_etc.html ( This is quite a good page.)

Mathematical Industry Jobs

The following is a list of potential private employers for mathematics-related jobs.

• Wolfram Research

• MathWorks

• Metron

• Susquehanna International Group

• IBM Research

• Microsoft Research

• Goldman Sachs

• Tessella

• Numerica (US only)

• Raytheon BBN Technologies (US only)

• GE Research

• Siemens

• Wagner Associates (US only)

• NUWC (US only)

Other Sources

• Numerical Analysis Jobs sometimes get posted to NA-Digest.

• Somewhat Europe-centric announcements regarding scientific computing, often including jobs, get posted to the GSCi announcement list.