[TYPES/announce] Microsoft funded PhD. position: verifying concurrent higher-order programs

[Matthew Hague]

MICROSOFT PHD SCHOLARSHIP IN THE VERIFICATION OF CONCURRENT HIGHER-ORDER PROGRAMS

We are offering a PhD position fully funded for 3 years which aims to develop
the theoretical underpinnings and successful practical applications of
higher-order verification to concurrent systems, resulting in new program models
and tools applicable to real-world code.

The position is due to commence before October 2015 and will be held in the
Department of Computer Science at Royal Holloway, University of London,
supervised by Dr. Matthew Hague (http://www.cs.rhul.ac.uk/home/hague/).  The
position may also include an internship at a Microsoft research laboratory.

Higher-order programming features are increasingly supported by modern
languages, such as F Sharp, Python, Scala, Haskell, OCaml and C++.  Thus, this
forms an increasingly essential topic for verification for which there have been
several important recent advances.  Furthermore, it is clear that concurrency
will become the dominant programming paradigm, due to both the ubiquity of
multi- and many-core machines and the increasingly distributed nature of
computation.


THE DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE, ROYAL HOLLOWAY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON

The Department is one of the UK's leading centres for research into Computer
Science. In the most recent Research Excellent Framework (REF 2014), we ranked
11th in the UK for the quality of our research output, with over 32% of our
publications recognised as world leading, and a further 55% internationally
excellent. The theories we develop lead to the design and building of novel
practical computing systems, and their application in the real world.
Research students enjoy a very lively research culture and are fully involved
in the research activities of the Department (and share their successes).  The
Department also funds students to present their work at international
conferences.


REQUIREMENTS

A good degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or related
disciplines. 


APPLICATION PROCESS

Applicants should contact matthew.hague at rhul.ac.uk with an expression of
interest in the position and an up to date CV.


IMPORTANT DATES

Applications should be received before the end of June 2015.  The position
will be offered when a suitable candidate is found.


FINANCIAL

The position will be funded for three years.  Funding will cover

    + Tuition fees
    + Stipend for living expenses (~£17k)
    + Up to £1000 for a laptop
    + Some funding for travel expenses