Jakob Nordström / Open positions / PhD positions in theoretical computer science and/or combinatorial optimization

This webpage is being kept for archival purposes only. Please see www.jakobnordstrom.se/openings for information about currently open positions.

PhD Positions in Theoretical Computer Science and/or Combinatorial Optimization

The Department of Computer Science (DIKU) at the University of Copenhagen invites applications for PhD positions in theoretical computer science and/or combinatorial optimization.

The Scientific Environment

The PhD students will be part of a world-leading research environment (currently ranked 11th worldwide by CSrankings.org in algorithms and complexity theory), with a strong presence at top-tier conferences like STOC, FOCS, and SODA, and also with publications in premier AI venues like AAAI, IJCAI, and NeurIPS. We are home to the Basic Algorithms Research Copenhagen (BARC) centre (barc.ku.dk), joint with the IT University of Copenhagen (ITU), and have extensive collaborations with the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and with Lund University on the Swedish side of the Øresund Bridge, as well as with our many visitors. We aim to attract top talent from around the world to an ambitious, creative, collaborative, and fun environment. Using the power of mathematics, we strive to create fundamental breakthroughs in algorithms and complexity theory. While our focus in on foundational research, we do have a track record of surprising algorithmic discoveries leading to major industrial applications.

Job Description

These positions are available for period of 3-5 years, depending on the current education level of the applicant (please see the official advertisement for more detailed information). The starting date is negotiable, but the default would be in August-September 2023.

All PhD positions in the research group are fully funded, employed positions (including travel money) that come with an internationally competitive salary.

Qualifications

To be eligible to apply for these positions, applicants need to have or be about to obtain either a BSc or an MSc degree in computer science, mathematics, or a related field. The successful candidates are expected to have a strong background and passionate interest in mathematics and theoretical computer science, as demonstrated by excellent grades in relevant courses, or by results at the Olympiads of Mathematics or Informatics, or by publication in relevant internationally recognized conferences or journals. Problem solving skills and creativity are a must. For candidates interested in more applied research, strong programming skills are required.

Applicants need to be highly motivated for doctoral studies; should possess the ability to work independently and perform critical analysis; and also have good levels of communicative abilities and English language skills.

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

Workplace

The University of Copenhagen was founded in 1479 and is the oldest and largest university in Denmark. It is often ranked as the best university in Scandinavia and consistently as one of the top places in Europe. Within computer science, it is ranked 2nd in the European Union (post-Brexit) by ShanghaiRanking.

General information about PhD studies at the Faculty of Science at the University of Copenhagen can be found at the webpage www.science.ku.dk/phd/.

Application

The application deadline is January 10, 2023 at midnight local time.

Applications must be submitted via the University of Copenhagen recruitment system. Please see the official advertisement at employment.ku.dk/phd/?show=158036 for more details including a link to the application form.

The application should include the following documents:

Curriculum vitae.
Brief statement as to why the applicant wishes to conduct doctoral studies, including a description of the applicant's qualifications and interests.
Diplomas and transcripts of records (BSc and MSc as applicable).
If applicable, copies of the applicant's BSc/MSc thesis and any research publications.
Names and addresses for three references who might be contacted later in the recruitment process.

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

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position.

Further Information and Contact Details

Inquiries about the positions can be made to Mikkel Abrahamsen (miab@di.ku.dk), Jakob Nordström (jn@di.ku.dk), or Rasmus Pagh (pagh@di.ku.dk). Candidates interested in working with other faculty in the Algorithms and Complexity Section are also encouraged to apply.