Would you like to develop algorithms that help engineer safer systems? In this PhD position, you will enhance and integrate various formal methods towards practical impact.

Your main responsibilities as a PhD Candidate will be to conduct cutting-edge research within the FuRoRe project on robust runtime monitoring under uncertainty. We expect that this research will lead to the development of faster and more scalable techniques for the formal analysis of safety-critical systems that operate based on limited information about their environment. In particular, we aim to develop novel algorithms for the analysis of Markov decision processes and partially observable Markov decision processes (and extensions thereof), motivated by a series of applications in the dependability and security domains. The project explores connections between runtime verification, model checking, automata learning, planning and reinforcement learning.

As a PhD Candidate, you will join a vibrant research group. Like the other PhD Candidates on the project, you will have a limited teaching task (10%).

• You hold an MSc or equivalent degree in computer science, mathematics or a closely related field.
• You are able to work both independently and as part of a team.
• You are proficient in English. (Dutch is not required.)
• You are able to program in C++ or Python.

While previous knowledge of model checking, Markov decision processes or automata theory is beneficial, the willingness to learn and extend your knowledge in these areas is more important.

Fixed-term contract: You will be employed for an initial period of 18 months, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4 year contract) or 3.5 years (5 year contract).

• It concerns an employment for 0.8 (5 year contract) - 1.0 FTE (4 year contract).
• The gross starting salary amounts to €2,770 per month based on a 38-hour working week, and will increase to €3,539 in the fourth year (salary scale P).
• You will receive 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
• You will be employed for an initial period of 18 months, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4 year contract) or 3.5 years (5 year contract).
• You will be able to use our Dual Career and Family Care Services. Our Dual Career and Family Care Officer can assist you with family-related support, help your partner or spouse prepare for the local labour market, provide customized support in their search for employment and help your family settle in Nijmegen.
• Working for us means getting extra days off. In case of full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the legally allotted 20.

Work and science require good employment practices. This is reflected in Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions. You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself, for example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports subscription. And of course, we offer a good pension plan. You are given plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.

The position is available in the Software Science group of the Institute for Computing and Information Sciences (iCIS) at Radboud University. Our mission is to enhance model-driven approaches for the design and analysis of software, bridging the gap between theory and applications. We offer joining a fun and diverse group that maintains a range of international cooperations. We publish our research in international flagship conferences such as CAV, TACAS, AAAI, and IJCAI. Furthermore, our group actively contributes to the development of Storm, the state-of-the-art probabilistic model checker
(www.stormchecker.org).

The Faculty of Science is a complete science faculty where research and education are closely related. The faculty aims to be an academic community with an international character, where staff members from different backgrounds combine their talents with the common goal of being a leading faculty of science in Europe.

Radboud University is an equal opportunity employer, committed to building a culturally diverse intellectual community, and as such encourages applications from women and minorities. The university offers customised facilities to better align work and private life. Parents are entitled to partly paid parental leave and RU employees enjoy flexibility in the way they structure their work. The university highly values the career development of its staff, which is facilitated by a variety of programmes.

Radboud University
At Radboud University, we aim to make an impact through our work. We achieve this by conducting groundbreaking research, providing high-quality education, offering excellent support, and fostering collaborations within and outside the university. In doing so, we contribute indispensably to a healthy, free world with equal opportunities for all. To accomplish this, we need even more colleagues who, based on their expertise, are willing to search for answers. We advocate for an inclusive community and welcome employees with diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives. Will you also contribute to making the world a little better? You have a part to play.
 
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