Logic List Mailing Archive

2 PhD student positions in Logics for Quantum Interaction, Groningen (The Netherlands), Deadline: 7 June 2010

TWO PHD POSITIONS IN LOGICS FOR QUANTUM INTERACTION
UNIVERSITY OF GRONINGEN, THE NETHERLANDS

Call for Applications:
Two PhD positions are available in the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural
 
Sciences in the Institute of Artificial Intelligence (ALICE), offered in 
collaboration with the department of Theoretical Philosophy at the 
University of Groningen. The candidates will join the five-year NWO Vidi 
project of Dr. Sonja Smets.

VIDI Project: ‘Reasoning about quantum interaction: Logical modelli
ng 
and verification of multi-agent quantum protocols’:

As for classical computing, logic is expected to play an essential role in
 
the understanding of quantum computation and quantum information, and 
especially in the formal verification of quantum communication protocols.
 
Such multi-agent applications involve quantum information flow and 
classical knowledge transfer (by classical communication) between the 
agents. So one of our aims in the proposed VIDI research project is to 
develop the logical tools for modelling complex situations where different
 
types of informational dynamics (classical and quantum) are combined. Our
 
goal is to develop and use a combined classical-quantum logic for the full
 
specification and formal verification of agent-based quantum protocols for
 
secure communication. Towards this goal, we propose to use formalisms 
based on modal logic, especially combinations of dynamic (or temporal) 
logics and epistemic (or spatial) logics. But other logical formalism
s, 
such as probabilistic logic, linear logic and coalgebraic logic (or 
categorical logic, in general), may also turn out to be useful in this 
context

Two PhD positions are linked to this project. The first PhD position has 
the task of studying from a logical perspective the role of classical 
knowledge transfer in known protocols such as e.g. Teleportation, Super 
Dense Coding and Quantum Secret Sharing. The second PhD position is 
associated to the logical study of the (classical and quantum) information
 
flow in protocols dealing with the anonymity of an agent’s identity
 such 
as the Quantum Dining Cryptographers and Quantum Electronic Voting.

Qualifications: Candidates should have (or obtain before 1 September 2010)
 
an excellent Masters degree in Logic, Computer Science, Artificial 
Intelligence, Philosophy, Mathematics or Physics. Fluent English is a 
prerequisite.

Job Profile: We are looking for candidates with a strong interest in Logic
 
(especially in any of the areas such as Modal Logic, Epistemic Logic, 
Dynamic Logic, Linear Logic, Categorical Logic or Quantum Logic) and in 
Quantum Information Theory or Quantum Computing.

Appointment: The PhD positions are awarded for a period of four years and
 
should lead to a dissertation. The gross monthly salary for each position
 
will range from 2042 euro in the first year to 2612 euro in the fourth 
year. The successful applicants are required to participate in the PhD 
programme at the University of Groningen (see 
http://www.rug.nl/prospectivestudents/degreeprogrammes/graduateschools/phd)
 
and will be working under the daily supervision of Dr. S. Smets. The main
 
focus of the appointment is on research, but can include moderate teaching
 
duties in subjects relevant to the candidates research activities. The
 
preferred starting date is 1 September 2010.

How to apply: Applications must be send electronically to Dr Sonja Smets 
at S.J.L.Smets@rug.nl, they should arrive by 7 June 2010 and must contain:

- a Curriculum Vitae
- a Letter of Motivation (at most 2 page), explaining why you are 
interested in this position
- a list of all university courses taken (including grades).
- a short summary of your Master thesis in maximum 2 pages
- the name and contact details (including email address) of two referees 
who can provide details about your profile (e.g. the supervisors of your 
master thesis).

For further information, please contact Dr Sonja Smets at 
S.J.L.Smets@rug.nl

We will start reviewing applications on 7 June 2010 and hope to make a 
decision soon after that, but applications will continue to be accepted 
until both positions are filled.

http://www.rug.nl/corporate/vacatures/vacaturesRUG