Thursday, December 15, 2016

[DMANET] Postdoc positions in TCS at KTH Royal Institute of Technology

The Theory Group at KTH Royal Institute of Technology invites applications for up to four postdoctoral positions in theoretical computer science.

KTH Royal Institute of Technology is the leading technical university in Sweden. 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.

The postdoc positions are in the area of computational complexity theory, focusing on questions at the intersection of approximation algorithms, subexponential algorithms, and proof complexity. Examples of topics of particular interest are the use of linear and semidefinite programming to solve hard combinatorial problems, or of proof complexity to prove that the problems are beyond the reach of such methods. Exciting recent developments have identified the so-called sums of squares hierarchy as a unifying theme for these questions, and one aim of our research is to build and expand on this theme. However, we will also freely explore whatever other methods turn out to be helpful for attacking these and other topics of interest in algorithms and complexity theory.

This research project is led by Johan Hastad, Per Austrin, and Jakob Nordstrom, and is financed by grants from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, the European Research Council, and the Swedish Research Council.

In addition to the PIs, the research project is planned to involve a total of 4-5 postdocs and 5-7 PhD students. Thus, this will be a unique opportunity to explore new connections between different subareas of complexity theory 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.

These postdoc positions are full-time employed positions for one year with a possible one-year extension. The expected starting date is in August-September 2017, although this is to some extent negotiable.

The application deadline is January 15, 2017. See http://apc.csc.kth.se/D-2016-0871-Eng.php for the full announcement with more information and instructions for how to apply. Informal enquiries are welcome and may be sent to apc@csc.kth.se.


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