Postdoc in Computer Science Focused on SAT Solving - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Department information

The Theoretical Computer Science Group at KTH Royal Institute of Technology invites applications for a postdoc position in computer science focused on SAT solving.

The Theoretical Computer Science Group at KTH (www.csc.kth.se/tcs) offers a strong research environment spanning a wide range of research topics such as complexity theory and approximation algorithms, computer and network security, cryptography, formal methods and natural language processing. We have one of Europe's most prominent groups in algorithms and complexity theory, and the research conducted here has attracted numerous international awards and grants in recent years.

Job description

The postdoctoral researcher will be working in the research group of Jakob Nordström. Much of the activities of this research group revolve around the themes of efficient algorithms for satisfiability in propositional logic (SAT solving) and lower bounds on the efficiency of methods for reasoning about SAT (proof complexity). On the practical side, one problem of interest is to gain a better understanding of, and improve, the performance of current state-of-the-art SAT solvers — in particular, solvers using conflict-driven clause learning (CDCL). We are even more interested in exploring new techniques that hold out the theoretical possibility of exponential improvements over CDCL, but seem hard to implement efficiently in practice, e,g, algebraic methods such as Gröbner bases or geometric methods such as pseudo-Boolean solving (basically 0/1 integer linear programming).

The research project is financed by a Breakthrough Research Grant from the Swedish Research Council and a Starting Independent Researcher Grant from the European Research Council. A more detailed description of the project can be found at www.csc.kth.se/~jakobn/project-proofcplx. The group currently consists of two postdoctoral researchers and four PhD students (in addition to the PI). There are also several other professors, postdocs, and PhD students in the TCS Group working on other aspects of algorithms and computational complexity, and so this is a unique opportunity to explore new connections between theoretical and practical areas of computer science within a vibrant and growing research environment.

Within the overall framework sketched above, the postdoc will be expected and encouraged to contribute to and influence the research agenda. Taking part in teaching graduate seminar courses is encouraged but not required. Travel funding is included, and the group also receives short-term and long-term visitors on a regular basis.

This postdoc position is a full-time employed position for one year with a possible one-year extension. The ideal starting date would be during the autumn semester of 2017 or in early 2018, but this is to some extent negotiable.

Qualifications

Applicants should have or be about to receive a Ph.D. degree in a subject relevant for the research area, and should have a passionate interest in research. The successful candidate is expected to have a solid background in computer science in general and SAT solving in particular, and preferably also mathematics, and should have a strong research record as witnessed by publications in conferences such as AAAI, IJCAI, SAT, CP, or similar, or in journals of a comparable quality. Problem solving skills and creativity are a must. Excellent programming skills are crucial.

The working language of the TCS group is English, and knowledge of English is also fully sufficient to navigate life in Sweden in general. It might also be worth mentioning that Sweden routinely scores at the absolute top in rankings of quality of life such as, e.g., the OECD Better Life Index.

Trade union representatives

You will find contact information to trade union representatives at KTH's webpage.

Application

The application should include the following documents:

1. Curriculum vitae
2. List of publications
3. Brief research statement with description of your research so far and future research goals and interests
4. Copy of Ph.D. diploma (if applicable)
5. Names and addresses of three or more individuals who will provide letters of recommendation

Please observe that all the documents above should be in English (or for official documents possibly in Swedish).

Writers of recommendation letters should submit their letters directly to jakobn@kth.se by the application deadline. Please state the reference number D-2017-0455 in the subject line.

Log into KTH's recruitment system (see link at the bottom of this page) in order to apply to this position. You are the main responsible to ensure that your application is complete according to the ad.

Your complete application must be received at KTH no later than the last day of application, midnight CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

Other Information

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Disclaimer: In case of discrepancy between the Swedish original and the English translation of the job announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.