About the Project
Supervisory Team: Dr Corina Cirstea
This project will make advances to the areas of automated verification and synthesis, by generalising existing techniques to match the complexity of modern software agents. Application domains include the synthesis of autonomous systems and automated planning with formal guarantees of correctness/optimality.
The area of coalgebraic verification aims to employ methods from the field of coalgebra in order to enhance and extend the applicability of automated verification and synthesis techniques.
Coalgebras are mathematical structures suited for modelling general state-based, dynamical systems. They come equipped with logics that support reasoning about temporal behaviour, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Coalgebraic techniques have already helped to better understand, unify and even generalise automata-based techniques used in automated verification.
Current limitations of automated verification and synthesis techniques include the lack of applicability to systems whose structure and interactions vary over time, and/or whose optimality requirements are complex (e.g. optimal resource usage in a stochastic environment). This project will advance the coalgebraic approach to verification by addressing some of these limitations.
Entry requirements
You must have a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in computer science or mathematics.
An interest in theoretical aspects of computer science is desirable.
Fees and funding
We offer a range of funding opportunities for both UK and international students. Horizon Europe fee waivers automatically cover the difference between overseas and UK fees for qualifying students.
Competition-based Presidential Bursaries from the University cover the difference between overseas and UK fees for top-ranked applicants.
Competition-based studentships offered by our schools typically cover UK-level tuition fees and a stipend for living costs for top-ranked applicants.
Funding will be awarded on a rolling basis, so apply early for the best opportunity to be considered.
For more information, please visit our postgraduate research funding pages.
How to apply
You need to:
- choose programme type (Research), 2027/28, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
- select Full time or Part time
- search for programme PhD Computer Science (7089)
- add name of the supervisor in section 2 of the application
Applications should include:
- research proposal
- your CV (resumé)
- 2 academic references
- degree transcripts and certificates to date
- English language qualification (if applicable)
Contact us
Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
For questions about applying, doctoralcollege-admissions@soton.ac.uk.
Project leader
For an initial conversation, cc2@ecs.soton.ac.uk.
The School of Electronics and Computer Science is committed to promoting equality, diversity inclusivity as demonstrated by our Athena SWAN award. We welcome all applicants regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or age, and will give full consideration to applicants seeking flexible working patterns and those who have taken a career break. The University has a generous maternity policy, onsite childcare facilities, and offers a range of benefits to help ensure employees’ well-being and work-life balance. The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and has been awarded the Platinum EcoAward.