Postdoc on "Purity and Simplicity in Mathematical Proofs", Rome (Italy)

A one-year postdoc position is now open at the Dep. of Literary, Philosophical and Art History Studies, University of Rome Tor Vergata. The position is founded by the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research within the national project PUMa (Proof and Understanding in Mathematics) involving the Scuola Normale in Pisa, the IUSS in Pavia, and the universities of Torino and San Raffaele in Milan.

The postdoctoral researcher is expected to carry out his/her research in the fields of proof-theory and philosophy of mathematics. In particular, the focus shall be on Hilbert's 24th problem concerning the possibility to devise logico-mathematical criteria for determining the simplest, given two demonstrations of the same theorem. The problem of the "purity of methods" in mathematics - especially in connection with the one about the simplicity of proofs - can be also considered as a central issue. The research shall be led by examining both formalized and "ordinary", non-formalized, proofs as they occur in the mathematical practice.

Gross income: 25000 euros per year.

Web page for online applications (English version available): https://pica.cineca.it/uniroma2/f1-2023-0071/