PhD studentships at LFCS, University of Edinburgh

[James Cheney]

Several funded PhD studentships are available in topics relating to programming languages in the Laboratory for Foundations of Computer Science, School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh.  Admission is generally for autumn 2016; earlier admission is possible depending on availability of funding.

Expressions of interest from applicants interested in PhD study on any topic relating to theoretical computer science are welcome.  Programming languages research topics of particular interest (some with funding already secured) include:

* Topic: Proof Engineering
  Contact: David Aspinall <david.a...@ed.ac.uk>
  More information: http://homepages.inf.ed.ac.uk/da/proofeng.shtml
 
* Topic: Security and verification (including secure concurrent programming,
  verification of software defined networks, or automatic vulnerability prediction)
  Contact: David Aspinall <David.A...@ed.ac.uk>
  More information: http://secpriv.inf.ed.ac.uk/phds/


* Topic: Heterogeneous Metaprogramming for Data-Centric Applications
  Funding available:  4 years stipend and tuition for student of any nationality
  Contact: James Cheney <jch...@inf.ed.ac.uk>
  More information: http://wcms.inf.ed.ac.uk/lfcs/graduate%20study/data-centric-programming-and-provenance, http://homepages.inf.ed.ac.uk/jcheney/linq/

* Topic: Mechanized metatheory, nominal logic and type theory
  Contact: James Cheney <jch...@inf.ed.ac.uk>
  More information: http://wcms.inf.ed.ac.uk/lfcs/graduate%20study/nominal-logic-automated-reasoning-and-type-theory


* Topic: Categorical semantics for quantum computing
  Funding available: stipend and UK/EU tuition
  Contact: Chris Heunen <chris....@ed.ac.uk>

 
* Topic: C3: Scalable & Verified Shared Memory via Consistency-directed Cache Coherence   
  Funding available: stipend and UK/EU tuition
  Contact: Vijay Nagarajan <vijay.n...@ed.ac.uk>
  More information: http://gow.epsrc.ac.uk/NGBOViewGrant.aspx?GrantRef=EP/M027317/1


* Topic: Complexity Metrics for Testing Concurrent Programs
  Funding available: stipend and UK/EU tuition
  Contact: Ajitha Rajan <ara...@staffmail.ed.ac.uk>
  More information: http://wcms.inf.ed.ac.uk/lfcs/graduate%20study/complexity-metrics-for-testing-concurrent-programs
 
* Topic: GPUs Applied to Software Testing
  Funding available: stipend and UK/EU tuition
  Contact: Ajitha Rajan <ara...@staffmail.ed.ac.uk>


* Topic: A Basis for Concurrency and Distribution
  Funding available: stipend and UK/EU tuition
  Contact: Philip Wadler <wad...@inf.ed.ac.uk>
  More information: http://homepages.inf.ed.ac.uk/wadler/abcd-phd-advert.html
 

The LFCS web page lists additional possible supervisors, research interests, and project suggestions:

http://wcms.inf.ed.ac.uk/lfcs/graduate%20study/research-topics
http://wcms.inf.ed.ac.uk/lfcs/people


Applicants with interests related to parallel programming, distributed computation, or high-performance computing, databases, machine learning, statistics, or optimization may also apply for funded, 4-year combined Master's and PhD programmes offered by one of Edinburgh's two EPSRC Centres for Doctoral Training:

Centre for Doctoral Training in Pervasive Parallelism
  http://pervasiveparallelism.inf.ed.ac.uk/

Centre for Doctoral Training in Data Science
  http://datascience.inf.ed.ac.uk/apply/

These Centres have separate application processes.  Please consult their respective websites for details.

In any case it is strongly recommended for applicants to discuss their interests with a prospective supervisor before applying.


== Application instructions ==

Applicants from outside the UK/EU must apply as soon as possible in order be considered for full funding.  All applicants should apply by March 18, 2016.  However, early application is advisable.

Internal funding decisions are typically made based on applications received by early February, so it is advisable to apply for admission and and applicable funding sources by February 1, 2016.

To apply, please follow the instructions at:

https://wcms.inf.ed.ac.uk/lfcs/graduate%20study/apply/

and apply to the LFCS 3-year PhD program.  The direct application link is: https://www.star.euclid.ed.ac.uk/public/urd/sits.urd/run/siw_ipp_lgn.login?process=siw_ipp_app&code1=PRPHDINFMT7F&code2=0087).

Please get in touch early in case of questions about the application process, project ideas or study in the UK or Edinburgh.


== Funding ==

As noted above, some topics are associated with funded projects, including a stipend of approximately £14,000 per year, and covering UK/EU tuition or (for some projects) full tuition for a student of any nationality.

Students interested in topics for which full funding is not available are strongly encouraged to apply for additional University or external funding, and are encouraged to apply to one of the School's two EPSRC Centres for Doctoral Training if their research interests match.  University deadlines for consideration for funding are typically in early February.

However, applicants interested in any research topic and of any nationality are encouraged to contact a prospective supervisor and discuss their research interests before applying.


== About the University of Edinburgh and LFCS ==

The University of Edinburgh School of Informatics brings together world-class research groups in theoretical computer science, artificial intelligence and cognitive science. The School led the UK 2008 RAE rankings in volume of internationally recognised or internationally excellent research.  The Informatics Forum, opened in 2008, is located in central Edinburgh, Scotland's capital and one of the best places to live in the UK.

We welcome applications from members of groups traditionally underrepresented in the field.  In 2013, the School of Informatics received an Athena Swan Silver Award, in recognition of its commitment to advancing the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) employment in higher education and research.  Overall the University of Edinburgh has achieved a Bronze Award.

The Laboratory for Foundations of Computer Science was established by Burstall, Milner and Plotkin in 1986, and is recognized worldwide for groundbreaking research on topics in programming languages, semantics, type theory, proof theory, algorithms and complexity, databases, security, and systems biology.

Programming Languages and Foundations is one of the largest research activities in LFCS, including 15 academic staff, 8 postdoctoral researchers, and 10 current PhD students. We participate in a thriving PL research community across Scotland, with Scottish Programming Languages Seminars hosted every 3-4 months by PL groups at Glasgow, Strathclyde, Heriot-Watt, St. Andrews, Dundee and Edinburgh.


For more information about Edinburgh and studying here, see these pages:

* Explore Edinburgh
   (http://www.ed.ac.uk/about/city)
* Overview for prospective postgraduates
   (http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/informatics/postgraduate)
* Programming Languages and Foundations at LFCS
   (http://wcms.inf.ed.ac.uk/lfcs/research/groups-and-projects/pl)