Assistant professor Theoretical Computer Science

Do you have the ambition to carry out top academic research in Theoretical Computer Science at the Institute for Logic, Language, and Computation? Are you interested to work in our thriving interdisciplinary environment where you can establish connections to research lines in neighboring disciplines? Do you have the drive to teach theoretical computer science in our bachelor/master programmes?

We offer a position as assistant professor in Theoretical Computer Science at the Institute for Logic, Language and Computation (ILLC), an interdisciplinary research institute at the University of Amsterdam. The area of theoretical computer science comprises a broad variety of topics or subfields, including (but not restricted to) algorithms and computational complexity, program semantics and verification, logic and computation, machine models and automata, information theory, machine learning, and the foundations of artificial intelligence. You are a leading researcher in one of these areas, with a good knowledge of the wider area of theoretical computer science, and experienced in academic teaching.

Within the ILLC, the new position fits naturally within the scope of the ‘Logic and Computation’ programme, which also houses strong groups in logic, artificial intelligence and quantum computing. ILLC staff members teach in various undergraduate and postgraduate programmes; relevant for this position are the BSc programmes in Computer Science and AI, and the MSc programmes in Logic, AI and Computer Science.

Both the ILLC and the neighbouring Informatics Institute are currently establishing new chairs in Theoretical Computer Science. The assistant professor is expected to collaborate closely with the newly appointed full professors, and to help them build a strong nucleus in theoretical computer science at the University of Amsterdam. Since the position is partly financed with the aim of improving the quality of academic educational programmes, its research:teaching proportion is 50:50 rather than the usual 60:40 proportion at the ILLC.

What are you going to do?

You are expected to:

• carry out research in Theoretical Computer Science;
• publish your results in high-level international journals and present them at leading conferences;
• (co-)supervise PhD students;
• initiate and contribute to research proposals for raising external funding;
• exploit opportunities for applied research collaboration;
• actively contribute to the dissemination of academic knowledge to industry and society;
• design and teach undergraduate and postgraduate courses in various teaching programmes;
• within two years complete the track towards the Dutch University Teaching Qualification (BKO);
• supervise student projects, including BSc and MSc theses;
• take responsibility for administrative tasks in research and education at the institute.

What do we require?

You have:

• a PhD in Computer Science or a related discipline and some years of postdoctoral research experience;
• a profound knowledge of  theoretical computer science and its connections with neighboring areas;
• an excellent publication record;
• the ability to communicate research findings to a broad audience;
• inspiring didactic skills and a proven record of teaching at the academic level;
• commitment to stimulating and supervising of students;
• an excellent command of the English language and sufficient proficiency to teach in Dutch (within 2 years);
• demonstrable willingness to perform administrative and organizational tasks;
• team spirit and a strong affinity with the multidisciplinary environment of the ILLC.

Our offer

A temporary contract for 38 hours a week, preferably starting on 1 March 2021 for the duration of 24 months. A permanent contract subsequently follows if your performance is positively assessed. 

The salary, depending on relevant experience before the beginning of the employment contract, will be  €3,746 to  5,127 (scale 11) gross per month, based on a full-time contract of hours a week. This is exclusive 8 % holiday allowance and 8,3% end-of-year bonus. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

Are you curious about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits like our excellent opportunities for study and development? Then find out more about working at the Faculty of Science.

About the Faculty of Science

The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 7,000, as well as 1,600 members of staff working in education, research or support services. Researchers and students at the Faculty of Science are fascinated by every aspect of how the world works, be it elementary particles, the birth of the universe or the functioning of the brain.

About the Institute for Logic, Language and Computation and the Informatics Institute

The Institute for Logic, Language and Computation (ILLC) is an interdisciplinary  research institute at the University of Amsterdam in which researchers from the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Humanities collaborate. Its central research area is the study of fundamental principles of encoding, transmission and comprehension of information. Research at ILLC is interdisciplinary, and aims at bringing together insights from various disciplines concerned with information and information processing, such as logic, mathematics, computer science, linguistics, natural language processing, cognitive science, artificial intelligence, music cognition, and philosophy.
The Informatics Institute of the University of Amsterdam is a collaborative partner for this vacancy and has a long-standing tradition in the area of theoretical computer science, with special attention to algebraic specification and process algebra.
The ILLC and the Informatics Institute strive to strengthen their cooperation in research and the educational programmes mentioned.

Questions?

Do you have questions about this vacancy? Or do you want to know more about our organisation? Please contact:

• Prof. Yde Venema 

Job application

The UvA is an equal-opportunity employer. We prioritise diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. We value a spirit of enquiry and perseverance, provide the space to keep asking questions, and promote a culture of curiosity and creativity.

Do you recognize yourself in the job profile? Then we look forward to receiving your application by 6 January 2021. You may apply online by using the link below. 

Your application should include the following information (in one single PDF file, using your surname as the file name):

• a letter of motivation\ discussing in some detail your past and ongoing research, future research plans and your view on teaching (max 3 pages);
• your curriculum vitae, including a list of publications and teaching and supervision experience (please highlight and provide URLs for two publications that are representative of your work);
• names, affiliations and email addresses of three academic referees who can provide details about your academic profile in relation to the advertised position (we will contact these referees only after we have requested your explicit permission to do so).

We will invite potential candidates for interviews in January 2021.

We adhere to the DORA criteria for scientific excellence; therefore, limit the number of scientific articles mentioned in your CV to a maximum of the 10 best ones, and refrain from mentioning your H-index or the impact factor of journals/conferences.
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