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EPSRC funded PHD STUDENTSHIP IN AUTOMATED REASONING CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: 14 May 2010 ANTICIPATED START DATE: July - September 2010 One EPSRC funded PhD studentship is available in the School of Computer Science at the University of Manchester. ABOUT THE PROJECT The project forms part of an EPSRC Research Project with the aim to automatically generate implemented automated reasoners. Reasoning is needed in many subfields of computer science from verification of programs, ontology reasoning for the semantic web, multi-agent systems to artificial intelligence and text mining but also other fields including mathematics, computational linguistics and philosophy. Implementing an automated reasoner from scratch or even implementing one as an extension of an existing reasoner is a time-consuming and difficult undertaking. As an alternative we intend to develop technology and software for automatically generating implemented automated reasoners. The idea is that a user-defined logical formalisation of an application is automatically transformed, first, into a deduction calculus, and finally into an implemented automated reasoner. This will give non-expert users and developers the ability to build implemented reasoners with relative ease in a supported way. The foundation of the project will be a tableau calculus synthesis framework that we developed in recent work and have already applied to a number of logics. The focus of the PhD project will be on tableau prover generation for modal and description logics (or other non-classical logics depending on the background of the successful applicant). The expected tasks include significantly contributing to the development of a prototype implementation of a tableau prover generator and auxiliary tools, conducting case studies for various logics, developing refinements and optimisations, and undertaking an evaluation of the developed technology. The project will be supervised by Dr Renate Schmidt and Dr Dmitry Tishkovsky. WHO CAN APPLY The successful applicant is expected to conduct research leading to original contributions to the project culminating in a PhD thesis. Expected qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience: - A first class BSc(Hons), strong MSc degree, or equivalent, in an appropriate discipline; - Background in computer science and/or mathematics with significant knowledge of logic and/or automated reasoning, preferably including modal, description, first-order logic, tableau-based reasoning and equality reasoning; - Good programming skills; - Good communication skills in English, both oral and written; - Ability to work collaboratively. The studentship is expected to start between 1 July 2010 and 30 September 2010 subject to negotiation, and is available for up to three years with a stipend of 13,290 pounds per annum (tax free), full university registration fees for UK/EU students, a contribution of about 74% to the university registration fees for Non-EU international students, plus travel money for attending conferences. HOW TO APPLY To apply for the studentship, please send a detailed CV, copies of transcripts (academic records of marks for courses taken), names of at least two referees (email addresses preferred) and covering letter by email to: [email protected]. Email submission of PDF and/or plain text are acceptable. The deadline for applications is *14 May 2010*. Late applications may be considered. FURTHER INFORMATION For further details about the studentship and the project please contact Dr Renate Schmidt, preferably by email at [email protected]. Additional information about postgraduate research in the School can be found at http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/phd/. NOTE Formal application to be admitted by the PhD program in the School of Computer Science at the University of Manchester needs to be made separately by the successful candidate. -- Renate Schmidt [email protected] Computer Science University of Manchester _______________________________________________ Logica-l mailing list [email protected] http://www.dimap.ufrn.br/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/logica-l
