Christian Schaffner | Theory.Amsterdam

Three new faculty members in Theoretical Computer Science

Mon, 30 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

We are happy to announce the hiring of three new faculty members in Theoretical Computer Science (TCS) at the University of Amsterdam, thereby further growing the active community of TCS researchers in Amsterdam.

Rebecca Reiffenhäuser and Balder ten Cate are joining the Institute for Logic, Language and Computation (ILLC), and Nicolas Resch is joining the Theory of Computer Science group at the Informatics Institute, all at the Faculty of Science (FNWI) of the UvA.

Balder ten Cate (PhD Amsterdam, 2005), currently a fixed-term senior researcher at the ILLC and previously a software engineer at Google, will join the ILLC as Associate Professor this summer. Balder’s research spans a number of applications of logic in computer science and AI, with a particular focus on data management and knowledge representation, as well as computational learning theory.

Rebecca Reiffenhäuser (PhD Aachen, 2018), currently a postdoc at Sapienza University in Rome, will join the ILLC as Assistant Professor in December. The focus of Rebecca’s research is on the design and analysis of algorithms in the presence of uncertainty, when full information about the problem at hand is unavailable or cannot be processed. Her work has strong links to algorithmic game theory and machine learning.

Nicolas Resch (PhD Carnegie Mellon University, 2020), currently postdoc at CWI Amsterdam, will join the TCS group at the Informatics Institute in September 2022. Nic is an expert in coding and information theory, and he is working in the intersection of coding theory and cryptography, with the goal of designing efficient quantum-secure cryptographic protocols.

Assistant Professorship in Quantum Information Science

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Are you enthusiastic about quantum information science and are you equally passionate about research and education in this field? Are you looking forward to taking the next step in your career and are you excited about joining one of the world-leading places in quantum research? The Informatics Institute (IvI) at the University of Amsterdam is seeking to significantly strengthen its quantum profile by appointing a new faculty member in this area on the level of assistant professor (UD).

The candidate will be embedded in the Theory of Computer Science (TCS) group at IvI and should have a research profile in quantum information science that aligns with research at QuSoft, the Dutch research centre for quantum software, and which allows to connect with the expertise of other research groups at the institute. For example, in:

machine learning and AI, to explore whether quantum information and computation can improve existing techniques in AI, or offer new possibilities going beyond the non-quantum state-of-the art;
complex systems, to use quantum computers to simulate the quantum processes that underly many complex systems in biology, material science or chemistry;
networks and security, to explore the role of quantum information with respect to networks, security, distributed/parallel computation, e.g. in post-quantum cryptography, quantum cryptography, quantum key distribution, quantum internet, distributed and delegated quantum computation, etc.

Supported by Action Line 3 of QDNL, the UvA is planning to set up a new two-year research MSc program in Quantum Computer Science. The candidate will be the scientific leader of this new programme. Setting up an entirely new MSc program from scratch is a rare and exciting chance for long-lasting educational impact. The candidate will play a crucial role representing the UvA efforts in the new Quantum.Amsterdam Talent & Learning Center.

Applicants looking for a tenure-track position might also be interested in the current openings at QuSoft.

What are you going to do?

As a faculty member at the Informatics Institute, you will contribute to all aspects of the institute’s scientific mission, considering the normal research:teaching ratio of 70:30 at the institute. This includes in particular:

Research: develop your own independent research line; building and coordinating a research team of PhD candidates and postdocs; publishing your work in recognised outlets; and supporting your research through the acquisition of funding from agencies such as the NWO and ERC, and possibly industrial partners.
Teaching (30% of the position’s total time): (co-)supervise the group’s postdocs, PhD students and MSc students; teach one course in the new MSc program Quantum CS; scientific coordination of the new program.
Knowledge transfer: contribute to outreach, both in terms of engaging with (inter)national academic partners as well as possible industrial partners.
Management: contributing to management and administrative tasks at the institute, related to both education and research.

What do we require of you?

Your experience and profile:

a PhD degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics or closely related field;
excellent research skills in quantum information science, as evidenced by a track record of publications in renowned conference proceedings and journals;
ability to promote outstanding and innovative research and foster research collaborations (with faculty, postdoctoral researchers and PhD candidates);
a track record and affinity for teaching and supervision (at the undergraduate and graduate levels), with willingness to acquire a certificate of academic teaching quality (e.g. Dutch BKO) within two years;
the ability to communicate research findings to a broad audience;
willingness and ability to perform relevant administrative and organisational tasks, in particular related to educational tasks;
international research experience is preferred as is a highly collaborative and enthusiastic approach;
an excellent command of English and willingness to learn the Dutch language.

Our offer

We offer a temporary employment contract for 38 hours per week for a period of 18 months with a probationary period of two months. Preferred starting date is between 1 August and 1 September 2022. A permanent contract follows if we assess your performance positive.

The salary, depending on relevant experience before the beginning of the employment contract, will be €3,821 to €5,230 gross per month (scale 11), based on a fulltime contract (38 hours a week). This is exclusive 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

Are you curious about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits like our excellent opportunities for study and development? Take a look here.

Application deadline

new deadline: 15 April 2022

Interested?

For full details regarding this vacancy please refer to the UvA website.

Tenure Track Position in Theoretical Computer Science

Tue, 21 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Do you have the ambition to carry out top academic research in Theoretical Computer Science at the Institute for Informatics (IvI)? Do you have a solid background in algorithms and complexity theory and you would like to establish connections to research lines in neighboring disciplines? Are you interested in joining and building a growing community of TCS researchers in Amsterdam? Do you have the drive to teach theoretical computer science in our Bachelor/Master programs?

The University of Amsterdam (UvA) is hiring a tenure-track researcher for their theory of computer science group at the Institute for Informatics (IvI). You will be able to hire a PhD student as part of the startup-package.

You are expected to do world-leading research in theoretical computer science with a preference for research areas that are complementary to the already existing expertise in quantum computing and cryptography. Examples include (classical) algorithms and complexity theory. Interest in collaborating with researchers from theory and other IvI research groups (e.g. in AI, Data Science, Computational Science, Systems & Networking) is considered a plus.

You will be joining a growing and vibrant team of colleagues in Amsterdam all working in theoretical computer science from various UvA institutes such as IvI, the Institute for Logic, Language and Computation (ILLC), the mathematics institute (KdVI), but also CWI and the VU. See https://theory.amsterdam/ for an overview.

Applicants looking for a faculty position at the Associate/Full Professor level might also be interested in the current openings in the Theoretical Computer Science Group at the neighbouring Institute for Logic, Language and Computation (ILLC).

What are you going to do?

You are expected to

contribute to the development of the Amsterdam theory group through innovative research and develop your own independent research line;
acquire independent funding from sources such as the national funding agency NWO (e.g. VIDI), EU funding via H2020 (e.g. ERC starting grant) and possibly industry.
(co-)supervise the group’s postdocs, PhD students and MSc students;
contribute to strengthening the curriculum in TCS of the Bachelor and Master Computer Science and related programmes; teaching is 30% of the position’s total time;
contribute to outreach, both in terms of engaging with (inter)national academic partners as well as possible industrial partners.

What do we require of you?

A PhD degree in (Theoretical) Computer Science, Mathematics or closely related field.
A solid publication record in theoretical computer science as demonstrated by international peer reviewed publications at top-tier conferences (FOCS, STOC, CCC, ICALP, SODA, ESA etc.) or in relevant journals.
Experience in obtaining research funding in an ambitious environment.
Inspirational teaching skills and affinity for teaching and supervision (at the undergraduate and graduate levels), with willingness to acquire a certificate of academic teaching quality (e.g. Dutch BKO) within two years.
Ability to promote excellent and innovative research and foster research collaborations (with faculty, postdoctoral researchers and PhD candidates).
At least two years of postdoctoral experience is expected but not strictly necessary. International research experience is also preferred.

Our offer

We offer a temporary employment contract with a tenure track agreement for the duration of five years. You will be offered a permanent position after positive assessment and evaluation. The type of contract is negotiable and depends on experience and scientific profile of the selected candidate. The committee will make an offer pending the vacancy and your experience and track record. The starting salary will be in accordance with university regulations for academic personnel, and depending on experience and qualifications.

The gross monthly salary based on full-time employment (38 hours per week) ranges from €3,821 up to a maximum of €5,943 (salary scale 11/12). This is exclusive 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% end-of-year bonus. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The profile Assistant Professor is applicable in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities.

Are you curious about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits like our excellent opportunities for study and development? Take a look here.

Application deadline

7 February 2022

Interested?

For full details regarding this vacancy please refer to the UvA website.