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The following studentships should be of high interest to type theoretists ~~ PLanCompS: Programming Language Components and Specifications Two fully-funded, full time PhD studentships ============================================ Applications are invited for two PhD studentships in connection with a joint EPSRC research project: A. Modularisation and multi-phase translation ****************************************** Centre for Software Language Engineering Royal Holloway, University of London B. Foundations of component-based language specification ***************************************************** Department of Computer Science Swansea University Candidates from the UK, EU and overseas are welcome to apply. *** Application deadline: 31st May 2011 *** ABOUT THE PLANCOMPS PROJECT [www.plancomps.org] =============================================== This exciting and highly ambitious project will develop and test a novel component-based framework for the design, specification and implementation of programming languages. It includes: * Specification of a collection of highly reusable language components called funcons (fundamental constructs); * Translation of major general-purpose programming languages (C#, Java, F#) and domain-specific languages to funcons; * Validation of funcon and language specifications by testing generated prototype implementations; * Design and implementation of an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for component-based specification; and * Creation of a digital library of language specifications. PLanCompS is currently recruiting (preferably post-doctoral) research assistants as well as PhD students. THESIS TOPICS ============= A. Modularisation and multi-phase translation This PhD student will conduct research into the use of modular grammars described in the LDT formalism and into applications of Tear-Insert-Fold (TIF) annotations to Context Free Grammars. The TIF operators allow (i) a limited set of local tree-rewrites to be applied to a derivation tree and (ii) a new grammar (the TIF-Transformed Grammar, or TTG) which describes the transformed trees. The TTG could be used to automatically generate tree walkers, and as the input to a further phase of processing. Our goal is to ease the development of Domain Specific Language translators for non-expert users. Prior knowledge of the LDT and TIF formalisms is not required, but a familiarity with context free parser generators is desirable. B. Foundations of component-based language specification This PhD student will carry out foundational research related to the semantic specification frameworks used in the project, and will be supervised by Professor Peter Mosses. This theoretical research will extend and refine the semantic formalisms used for specifying funcons. We aim to give an I-MSOS for a revised version of the action notation used in action semantics, prove various algebraic laws for action notation, investigate how to specify continuation-handling constructs in I-MSOS, and integrate the notation, modular structure and foundations of the I-MSOS and action semantic formalisms. We will also develop I-MSOS bisimulation theory. Prior knowledge of action semantics and I-MSOS is not required, but familiarity with some form of structural operational semantics is desirable. ELIGIBILITY =========== * Candidates should have a first or upper-second (2:1) class honours degree (or equivalent) in Computer Science or a closely related area. * Candidates from the UK, EU and overseas are welcome to apply. AWARD VALUE =========== * Each studentship will cover UK/EU Tuition Fees for 42 months full-time (starting 1st October 2011 or 1st January 2012) plus stipend of GBP 13,590 p.a. tax free * International candidates will have to cover the difference between the UK/EU-level fees and international-level fees * The studentship will cover the cost of attending two overseas conferences each year HOW TO APPLY ============ A. Modularisation and multi-phase translation For general information on the research environment at Royal Holloway, see http://www.rhul.ac.uk/studyhere/researchdegrees/home.aspx and the CSLE home page at http://www.rhul.ac.uk/computerscience/research/CSLE/CSLEhome.aspx For details of this PhD project and the application process, please see http://www.rhul.ac.uk/computerscience/research/CSLE/PlanCompsPhD.aspx Informal enquiries to a.johnst...@rhul.ac.uk B. Foundations of component-based language specification For general information on the research environment in Computer Science at Swansea, see http://www.swan.ac.uk/compsci/research/ For details of this PhD project and the application process, please see http://www.swansea.ac.uk/scholarships/research/whoiseligible,58266,en.php Informal enquiries to p.d.mos...@swansea.ac.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~