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PhD student position in formal verification, VU Amsterdam

PHD POSITION: FORMAL VERIFICATION OF EPIDEMIC PROTOCOLS AND DISTRIBUTED
VERIFICATION METHODS
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The Theoretical Computer Science Group at the Vrije Universiteit (VU) in
Amsterdam seeks a PhD student for four years on a research project devoted
to

  Formal Verification of Epidemic Protocols and Distributed Verification
  Methods

Starting date of this PhD position: as soon as possible.


The project -----------

The aim of the project is to develop techniques and tools for distributed
verification, and to apply formal verification techniques in the design
and analysis of epidemic protocols.

The distributed verification track will focus on parallel algorithms for
minimizing state spaces modulo some behavioral equivalence, and model
checking. The DAS-3 supercomputer, which will become operational this
Summer, will serve as an experimentation platform.

Epidemic protocols multicast data in a peer-to-peer network similar to the
way a disease spreads. The analysis of epidemic protocols should (1)
provide further experience with applying formal verification methods to
communication protocols, and with applying such methods in the design
process, (2) result in improved versions of epidemic protocols, (3) lead
to a systematic approach to analyze epidemic protocols, and (4) provide
case studies for the distributed verification track.

For more detailed information on the project, see

  http://www.cs.vu.nl/~wanf/epidis.txt

This project is a collaboration between three research groups at the VU:
Theoretical Computer Science (Wan Fokkink, Jan-Willem Klop), Distributed
Systems (Maarten van Steen, Andy Tanenbaum), and Parallel Computing (Henri
Bal).

For more information on the involved research groups, see

  http://www.cs.vu.nl/~tcs //www.cs.vu.nl/cs/index-en.html


Qualifications --------------

Candidates should have completed their studies in computer science or a
closely related area. Experience with distributed systems, a good
theoretical background (algorithmics, formal methods), and an open
attitude to applications are considered advantages. You should enjoy
working in an internationally oriented research environment. Communicative
skills and the ability to work in a team are important.


Information and application ---------------------------

For further information about this position please contact:

  Prof.dr. Wan Fokkink, wanf@cs.vu.nl, tel. +31 (0)20 5987735

You are invited to send an application by email to the above email address
no later than June 29, 2006. Your application should consist of a cover
letter, a curriculum vitae (including detailed information regarding your
academic degree, and possibly a list of publications), and the names and
addresses of two references.