PhD position in Compilation Principles for Reversible Languages (MSCA Doctoral Network E-CoRe, DC7), University of Copenhagen

University of Copenhagen; Denmark; On-site; DKK 323,000 - 387,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Copenhagen, PLTC Section, invites applications for a 3-year PhD position on compilation principles for reversible languages as part of the MSCA Doctoral Network E-CoRe. The position starts 1 January 2027, or after agreement, and is hosted within DIKU.

Applicants should hold a Master’s degree in Computer Science or related field, have a strong academic record, and be able to work independently in an international research setting. Secondments to partner institutions are planned.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Computer Science or closely related field.
• Strong academic record and motivation for doctoral research.
• Experience in compiler design, program analysis, and language semantics is an advantage.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Willingness to travel and undertake secondments at project partners.

Responsibilities

• Conduct independent research on compilation principles for reversible languages.
• Develop prototype compilers and a benchmark suite to evaluate techniques.
• Publish results at international conferences and in peer‑reviewed journals.
• Collaborate in an international research environment and engage in student guidance.

Skills

Compiler design

Program analysis

Language semantics

Independent work

Team collaboration

English proficiency

Education

Master's degree in Computer Science

Job description

The Programming Languages and Theory of Computation (PLTC) Section, part of the Department of Computer Science (DIKU)

Organisation/Company University of Copenhagen Department The Programming Languages and Theory of Computation (PLTC) Section, part of the Department of Computer Science (DIKU) Research Field Computer science Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 1 Nov 2027 - 23:59 (Europe/Copenhagen) Country Denmark Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 37 Offer Starting Date 1 Jan 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - MSCA Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

PhD position in Compilation Principles for Reversible Languages (MSCA Doctoral Network E-CoRe, DC7), University of Copenhagen

The position is doctoral candidate DC7, “Compilation Principles for Reversible Languages", in the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network E-CoRe. The position is available from 1 January 2027, or after agreement.

Job description

The Programming Languages and Theory of Computation (PLTC) Section, part of the Department of Computer Science (DIKU), University of Copenhagen, invites applications for a 3-year PhD position on compilation principles for reversible languages.

The project

The position is funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks (MSCA-DN) programme, grant agreement no. 101120187. The project advances the science and practice of reversible computing for a sustainable digital future. Energy is a main concern in society: IT accounts for an estimated 10% of global energy consumption. Reversible computation discards no information and therefore avoids the fundamental energy lower bound of conventional computing. The network trains a cohort of doctoral candidates who will improve and popularise reversible languages, algorithms, and architectures for energy‑intensive applications.

Read more about the network at https://e-core.nws.cs.unibo.it/.

The position is open for talented candidates with a master’s degree, who want to pursue a PhD degree in Computer Science.

DC7

The successful PhD candidate will work on compilation principles and techniques for reversible languages. The candidate can build on the work by project members.

Concretely, the work includes the following:

• Studying techniques for translating high-level reversible languages into efficient low‑level reversible and irreversible representations.
• Designing optimisation techniques for reversible languages, including foundational methods and novel approaches to program analysis and code generation.
• Implementing prototype compilers to evaluate optimisation techniques, alongside a benchmark suite specifically designed for reversible compilation and empirical evaluation.
• Publishing the results at international conferences and in peer‑reviewed journals.

Planned Secondments: Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen (Germany), University of Manchester (UK).

Key criteria for the assessment of applicants for the position:

The candidate must have a master’s degree (equivalent to a Danish Master's degree) in Computer Science or a closely related field, obtained by the recruitment date.

Certified copy of original Master of Science diploma and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in a language other than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted.

Please note that we might ask you to obtain an assessment of your education performed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science.

Other important criteria are:

• Strong academic record and motivation for doctoral research.
• Experience in compiler design, program analysis, and language semantics, regardless of programming paradigm, is an advantage. Prior knowledge of reversible computing is not needed.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and collaborate effectively in an international research environment. Proactive and team‑oriented approach to work.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Willingness and ability to travel and undertake secondments at other project partners.

The successful candidate will be employed as a PhD student at the Department of Computer Science at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Copenhagen, and will collaborate closely with the group at the University of Southern Denmark, Odense, which is also an E‑CoRe partner. The position may involve co‑supervising related student projects. The PhD student is expected to participate in the activities of the research section and in the training programme of the E‑CoRe network.

Start date: 1 January 2027, or after agreement with the cohort of the MSCA‑DN

Duration: 3 years

The successful candidate will conduct independent research related to the topics above at the Programming Languages and Theory of Computation (PLTC) Section, Department of Computer Science (DIKU). We expect the candidate to engage in an active research environment and take part in student guidance.

Note: Another job opening for DC1 “Reversible Programming Languages” is available. More information: PhD position in Reversible Programming Languages (MSCA Doctoral Network E-CoRe, DC1), University of Copenhagen.

Mobility rule

The researcher must not have resided or carried out his/her/their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Denmark for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date. Short stays as holidays and compulsory military service and/or Refugee Convention 1951 are disregarded.

Eligibility as Doctoral Candidate (DC)

The recruited DC must be doctoral candidate, i.e. not already in possession of a doctoral degree on the first day of employment. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will not be considered eligible.

Workplace description

The Programming Languages and Theory of Computation (PLTC) Section is part of the Department of Computer Science (DIKU) at the Faculty of Science, located on the North Campus in Copenhagen. At the section we research topics such as algorithmic aspects of programming, compiler technology, functional programming, reversible and quantum computing. You will be part of an international group of PhD students, postdocs, and faculty working at the intersection of programming languages, theory of computing, and various applications.

Terms of employment

Salary, pension and terms of employment will be in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Finance and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or other relevant organization. Currently, the monthly salary starts at DKK 31,845 / approx. EUR 4,260 (August 2026-level).

Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated. The employer will pay an additional 18.07 % to your pension fund.

The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2025.

Deadline for applications: Sunday 1 November 2026, 23:59 PM CET.

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the above‑mentioned requirements.

The further process

After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the hiring committee which will consist of both internal (UCPH) and external members. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an unbiased assessor. Once the assessment work has been completed, each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself.

The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

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