PhD position in Combined Software Co-Piloting and Verification

The department of Computer Science and Engineering is strongly international, with approximately 270 employees from over 30 countries. The position is placed in the Formal Methods group, in colaboration with the Data Science and AI group, which perform word-class research in formal verification and machine learning, respectively, with strong connections to researchers internationally. You will work in close collaboration with researchers from these different areas, locally and internationally, on top notch research combining AI based code co-piloting and exact verification methods.

Information about the research
The research to be performed in this PhD position is part of a project 'TriCo — Triple Co-Piloting of Implementation, Specification, and Tests'. The goal is to enable software developers to exploit the power of rapidly emerging AI based code synthesis while achieving a high level of robustness. The project will provide a co-piloting methodology that enables the developer to create code, tests, and specifications simultaneously, and to guide the developer in this process by suggesting modifications in the respective other artefacts whenever the developer changed one of them, such that the three are kept consistent. The approach uses machine learning to come up with adaption suggestions (prompted by incremental edits in the other artefacts), and exact, logic-based techniques to constantly check the conformance among the artefacts. See also https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-19849-6_11

Major responsibilities
The employment is a fixed-term position limited to a maximum of five years, four years of studies and up to one year of departmental work, distributed over the whole employment period. The position comes with enrolment in the PhD programme for Computer Science and Engineering. As a PhD student, you undertake original individual research, under supervision and in context of the research group. This includes preparing research papers, mostly in collaboration with other researchers. 20% of the position are devoted to departmental work, mostly as teaching assistants in courses. Furthermore, this position is funded by the WASP program, and as such comes with an additional set of coursework requirements and career development opportunities (https://wasp-sweden.org).

Qualifications
Applicants should have, or expect to shortly obtain, a Master's degree in Computer Science or equivalent, alternatively a Bachelor's degree in the above field corresponding to at least 240 higher education credits (4y).

A good level of skills in mathematical modelling, reasoning, and programming language engineering is required. Skills in logic, verification, and/or applied machine learning are a merit.

Contract terms
This PhD position is a full-time temporary employment for five years.

We offer
Chalmers offers a cultivating and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg. 
Read more about working at Chalmers and our benefits for employees.

Chalmers aims to actively improve our gender balance. We work broadly with equality projects, for example the GENIE Initiative on gender equality for excellence. Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.

Application procedure
The application should be marked with Ref 20230425 and written in English. The application should be sent electronically and be attached as PDF-files, as below. Maximum size for each file is 40 MB. Please note that the system does not support Zip files.

CV: (Please name the document as: CV, Surname, Ref. number) including:
• CV, include complete list of publications
• Previous teaching and pedagogical experiences
• Two references that we can contact.

Personal letter: (Please name the document as: Personal letter, Family name, Ref. number)
1-3 pages where you:
• Introduce yourself
• Describe your previous research fields and main research results
• Describe your future goals and future research focus

Other documents:
• Attested copies of completed education, grades and other certificates.

Use the button at the foot of the page to reach the application form.

Application deadline: 2023-09-01

 
For questions, please contact:
Prof., Wolfgang Ahrendt,
ahrendt@chalmers.se, +46-31-772-1011

Dr., Moa Johansson,
moa.johansson@chalmers.se

*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. *** 





Chalmers University of Technology conducts research and education in engineering sciences, architecture, technology-related mathematical sciences, natural and nautical sciences, working in close collaboration with industry and society. The strategy for scientific excellence focuses on our six Areas of Advance; Energy, Health Engineering, Information and Communication Technology, Materials Science, Production and Transport. The aim is to make an active contribution to a sustainable future using the basic sciences as a foundation and innovation and entrepreneurship as the central driving forces. Chalmers has around 11,000 students and 3,000 employees. New knowledge and improved technology have characterised Chalmers since its foundation in 1829, completely in accordance with the will of William Chalmers and his motto: Avancez!