Exploring quantum physics beyond classical space and time.
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When the quantum nature of gravity is taken into account, our conventional notions of space and time are no longer sufficient for structuring our understanding of reality.
By combining quantum information theory, quantum gravity, and philosophy of physics, WOST tries to develop new ways of describing the world — in a sense — without space and without time.
It investigates how the fabric of reality itself arises from quantum phenomena, fundamentally reshaping our understanding of the Universe.
WOST brings together a diverse, international network of researchers, from early-career scientists to established experts, working collaboratively across institutions and continents. The consortium is structured around 2 coordinating hubs and 15 research groups, with over 148 active members worldwide, including 19 affiliated philosophers.
PI · Francesca Vidotto
PI · Marios Christodoulou
PI · Flaminia Giacomini
PI · Pietro Donà
PI · Renato Renner
PI · Muxin Han
PI · Erik Curiel
PI · Ivan Agullo
PI · Philipp Höhn
PI · Eugenio Bianchi
PI · Lucien Hardy
PI · Robin Lorenz
PI · Richard Howl
PI · Sougato Bose
PI · Lucas Hackl
PI · Ognyan Oreshkov
PI · Pablo Arrighi
WOST is led by two young women researchers, supported by a Senior Advisory Scientific Committee and a dedicated Management Team.
Leader
Co-Leader
Senior Advisory Scientific Committee (SASC)
Caslav Brukner
Jeremy Butterfield
Bob Coecke
Carlo Rovelli
Chris Smeenk
Management Team
Tommaso De Lorenzo
Pietro Donà
Lucas Hackl
Richard Howl
Christine Vodovar
Are you a consortium member? Find teams, funding programs, and resources.
Members PortalBrowse current openings across the WOST consortium.
Several groups of the WOST consortium announce openings for a total of 12 postdoc positions.
The review of applications will start on December 1st, 2025 and continue till positions are filled.
This program enables WOST groups to invite external researchers in Physics to visit them and discuss WOST-related topics. The aim is to encourage an exchange of ideas, foster new collaborations, and promote exciting new research directions. Visitors can be master's students, PhD students, postdocs, or professors, and need not be members of the WOST consortium.
✔️ Physicists (WOST members or external researchers)
✔️ Must contact the host group Principal Investigator before applying
✔️ Expenses will be reimbursed upon reception of receipts after the visit
For urgent cases, partial reimbursement prior to the visit may be available — contact us.
Visits may range from a few weeks to several months. This allocation can support multiple visits and can be combined with other funding sources.
Covered expenses include but are not limited to:
First/business class travels are not covered
This program enables WOST groups to invite external researchers in Philosophy to visit them and discuss WOST-related topics. The aim is to encourage an exchange of ideas, foster new collaborations, and promote exciting new research directions at the intersection of philosophy and physics. Visitors can be master's students, PhD students, postdocs, or professors, and need not be members of the WOST consortium.
✔️ Philosophers working on topics relevant to WOST research
✔️ Must contact the host group Principal Investigator before applying
✔️ Expenses will be reimbursed upon reception of receipts after the visit
For urgent cases, partial reimbursement prior to the visit may be available — contact us.
Visits may range from a few weeks to several months. This allocation can support multiple visits and can be combined with other funding sources.
Covered expenses include but are not limited to:
First/business class travels are not covered
Submit an expression of interest to be notified of future openings.
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