[TYPES/announce] Postdoctoral position in probabilistic programming languages

[Norman Ramsey]

Postdoctoral position in probabilistic programming languages
============================================================

There is a postdoc open at Tufts University, supported by the project

> Probabilistic Programming for Advanced Machine Learning (PPAML)

The PPAML project will empower practitioners and researchers in
machine learning by creating vastly improved language technology for
probabilistic programming.  This postdoc provides an opportunity to
think deeply about probabilistic modeling and inference and to realize
those thoughts in new language designs and (prototype) implementations.

Our team is focused on these aspects:

  - The design of novel languages, especially intermediate languages,
    for expressing and analyzing probabilistic computations

  - The development of type systems and other program analyses that
    will support *efficient* inference over probabilistic models

  - Languages and language extensions that can formalize and express
    *intensional* properties that may enable a probabilistic
    programming system to affect the performance or accuracy of
    inference and learning

The goal is to develop new designs, type systems, and analyses that
will not only inform and contribute to the team's research software,
but that will of sufficient scope, power, and quality to be
publishable in such venues as POPL, PLDI, OOPSLA, and ICFP.


Who we are
----------
The research will be supervised at Tufts by Professor Norman Ramsey.
The larger team includes senior faculty Mitch Wand and Olin Shivers
from Northeastern University, as well as senior colleagues in both
programming languages and machine learning at nearby BAE Systems in
Burlington.  The research will be carried out on the Tufts campus,
located near Davis Square in Somerville, Massachusetts, USA, a short
distance from Boston.


What we're looking for
----------------------
We're looking for a recent PhD (or someone about to graduate) who is
committed to the idea of programming languages as a way to express
knowledge and solve problems.  In addition,

  - We're looking for someone with a track record of creating
    interesting and effective software.

  - We're looking for someone with strong background in at least *one*
    domain area relating to the project: probability, probabilistic
    programming, language design, language implementation, type
    systems, static analysis, measure theory, domain theory, topology,
    real analysis, or probabilistic inference.

  - We believe that ideas and software are best developed in tandem.
    We're therefore looking for someone who will contribute both to
    the development of the team's software and to the development and
    publication of new ideas.


When and for how long the position can be held
----------------------------------------------
The initial appointment will be for one year, but given mutual
agreement, it is expected to be renewed annually for a total of three
years.  (Support is available through July 2017.)  Other mutually
agreed arrangements are possible.

Salary is competitive.

The starting date is negotiable, but if other things are equal, we may
extend an offer to the candidate who is available sooner rather than later.


What support and benefits are available
---------------------------------------
Tufts University is committed to helping postdoctoral scholars gain
the skills necessary to become independent researchers.  This
commitment includes access to resources for personal and professional
development.  Tufts postdocs are full-time employees of Tufts
University and are eligible for benefits, including health and
retirement benefits.


How and when to apply
---------------------
Interested candidates should apply at

    https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/3983

An application should include

  - A cover letter explaining your interest in the position
  - Your curriculum vitae
  - A paper representative of your published work
  - The names of three people who can, if asked, write letters of reference

There is no deadline for applications; we will look at applications as
soon as they come in, and we will keep looking until we fill the
position. 


Whom to ask questions
---------------------
If you have questions about the project or whether it is a good fit
for your interests, please write to Norman Ramsey <nr at cs.tufts.edu>.