[DMANET] PhD position in parameterized complexity and phylogenetics

Dear colleagues,

There is a 4-year PhD position available within the Algorithms, Complexity and Optimization (ALGOPT) group of our department at Maastricht University in the Netherlands to work on the interface of parameterized complexity / fixed parameter tractability with phylogenetics (the study of evolutionary trees). The PhD position is funded by NWO KLEIN 1 grant "Deep kernelization for phylogenetic discordance".

The project has a strong, but not exclusive, focus on kernelization i.e. the application of polynomial-time pre-processing rules such that the resulting reduced instances have size that is bounded by a function of some carefully selected parameter. The primary goal of the project is to explore the limits of kernelization in this area -- just how small can we make these reduced instances by applying ever-more powerful reduction rules? -- and, secondarily, to leverage combinatorial insights resulting from the kernelization in the development of bounded-search, exponential-time and polynomial-time approximation algorithms.

Prior experience with parameterized complexity / fixed parameter tractability, or phylogenetics, is not required, but is obviously a bonus. The project is emphatically a theory project so candidates must have a strong algorithmic background and be comfortable with proofs.

Interested candidates can find more information and background and official submission instructions here:

https://www.academictransfer.com/nl/294075/phd-position-in-parameterized-complexity/

The intention is to fill the position as soon as possible.

I am happy to receive informal queries from (serious) interested candidates, but please only submit official applications through the Academic Transfer website.

Kind Regards,

Dr. Steven Kelk
http://skelk.sdf-eu.org

Associate Professor
Algorithms, Complexity and Optimization -- https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/research/dke/research/algorithms-complexity-and-optimization-algopt
Department of Data Science and Knowledge Engineering (DKE)
Maastricht University
The Netherlands







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