Research Associate in Learning to do Math with Vampires and Spiders

The University of Manchester; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An esteemed educational institution in Manchester is seeking three motivated Research Associates to join a leading research group. The role focuses on enhancing automated reasoning in theorem provers, applying machine learning techniques, and creating a web service for theorem proving. The ideal candidates will have relevant research experience and a PhD in Computer Science or related fields. The university promotes equality, diversity, and flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

Market-leading pension scheme

Employee health and wellbeing services

Exceptional annual leave entitlement

Paid closure over the Christmas period

Local and national retail discounts

Qualifications

• Experience in automated reasoning or theorem proving.
• Strong knowledge of machine learning techniques.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a research environment.

Responsibilities

• Improve theory reasoning in the theorem prover Vampire.
• Develop machine learning strategies for theorem proving.
• Create a public web service for theorem provers.

Skills

Automated reasoning

Machine learning

Theorem proving

Mathematics

Education

PhD in Computer Science or relevant field

Job description

We are seeking three highly motivated and experienced Research Associates to join an established research group. These positions are part of the new project Learning to do Math with Vampires and Spiders awarded to the Computer Science Department of the University of Manchester. For more information about the project, see https://www.renaissancephilanthropy.org/learning-to-do-math-with-vampires-and-spiders

The formal methods group conducts research in automated reasoning with a recent emphasis on solving problems in mathematics. We build the world-leading automatic theorem prover Vampire, based on our research in theory, implementation, and applications of theorem proving. Vampire has won over 70 world championship titles in first-order and higher-order theorem proving.

Overall Purpose of the Job

There are three available positions. The main research directions are:

• Improving theory reasoning in Vampire, with the aim of enhancing its reasoning capabilities in math, including analysis, non-linear math, and trigonometric functions.
• Machine learning for first-order theorem proving to create strategy schedulers and other ways of configuring theorem provers.
• Creation of a public web service for first-order and higher-order theorem provers, using machine learning.

Manchester has a long and distinguished track record in the research and teaching of core Computer Science, and across interfaces to adjacent disciplines. Founded upon the pioneering work of Williams, Kilburn and Turing, we were the first academic Department of Computer Science in the UK and one of the first to run an undergraduate programme. Our research strength is reflected in consistently strong returns in UK research assessment exercises: 5 in RAE 2000, 2nd in Research Power in RAE 2008, and ranked equal 1st for research environment in REF2014 and REF2021.

The Department is strongly committed to promoting equality and diversity, including the Athena SWAN charter for gender equality in higher education. The Department holds a Bronze Award for good practice in relation to gender, including flexible working arrangements, family-friendly policies, and support to allow staff to achieve a good work-life balance. We positively welcome applications from women for this post. For further information, please visit: http://www.manchester.ac.uk/connect/jobs/equality-diversity/awards/athena-swan

What you will get in return:

• Fantastic market-leading pension scheme
• Excellent employee health and wellbeing services, including an Employee Assistance Programme
• Exceptional starting annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays
• Additional paid closure over the Christmas period
• Local and national discounts at a range of major retailers

Our University is positive about flexible working. You can find out more here. Hybrid working arrangements may be considered.