As a PhD candidate, you will work with Dr Cynthia Kop on the NWO-funded project ‘Implicit Complexity through Higher Order Rewriting’. The work will be carried out in collaboration with researchers in several European countries.
 
Computational complexity is the study of resources (typically time and space) required to algorithmically solve a problem. This area studies some highly elusive questions of theoretical importance, such as (but certainly not limited to) the famous 'Clay Mathematics Prize "million-dollar" problem'. Rather than analysing programs directly, the area of implicit complexity seeks to encode queries into calculi or logics. This allows methods from widely different areas to be brought to bear on the questions of complexity; inversely, this study can create new insights into the underlying logics.
 
In this project, you will use higher-order term rewriting as a method for analysing implicit complexity. Term rewriting is a formal system that can be used to specify algorithms. Its simple, rigorous definition makes it very suitable for formal analysis, and as a result, its properties are well studied. Higher-order term rewriting extends standard term rewriting with anonymous functions and binders as in the ?-calculus, thus providing a highly liberal class of systems. You can build on several existing approaches, but will have the freedom to define your own direction.
 
You will be supervised by Dr Cynthia Kop. If you wish to learn more, feel free to send an e-mail to C.Kop@cs.ru.nl.

• you hold an Msc or equivalent degree in computer science, mathematics or a closely related field;
• you are able to work both independently and as part of a team;
• you are proficient in English (knowledge of Dutch is not required);
• prior knowledge of term rewriting or implicit complexity is not required.

• employment: 0.8 - 1.0 FTE
• a maximum gross monthly salary of € 2,972 based on a 38-hour working week
• the gross starting salary amounts to €2,325 per month, and will increase to €2,972 in the fourth year
• in addition to the salary: an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• duration of the contract: 4 years
• your performance will be evaluated after 18 months. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 2.5 years
• you will be classified as a PhD Candidate (promovendus) in the Dutch university job-ranking system (UFO);
• you will be able to make use of our Dual Career Service where our Dual Career Officer will assist with family related support, such as child care, and help your partner prepare for the local labour market and with finding an occupation

Are you interested in our excellent employment conditions?

Faculty of Science
Strategically located in Europe, Radboud University is one of the leading academic communities in the Netherlands. It is a place with a personal touch, where top-notch education and research take place on a beautiful green campus, in modern buildings with state-of-the-art facilities.
 
The position is available in the Software Science group of the Institute for Computing and Information Sciences (iCIS) at Radboud University. Research at iCIS focuses on software science, digital security and data science. During recent evaluations, iCIS has been consistently ranked as the No. 1 Computing Science department in the Netherlands. Evaluation committees praised our flat and open organisational structure, our ability to attract external funding, our strong ties to other disciplines, and our solid contacts with government and industrial partners. The Software Science group is well known for its contributions to the mathematical foundations of software, formal methods, and functional programming.
 
Further information on The Institute for Computing and Information Sciences (iCIS)
Further information on the project ICHOR
Further information on Cynthia Kop