[net.general] Theory and Formal Methods Research at Imperial College

clh@ic-cs.UUCP (chris hankin) (01/30/85)

			     IMPERIAL COLLEGE
                          DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTING


           POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH IN THEORETICAL COMPUTER SCIENCE
                            AND FORMAL METHODS

Theoretical Computer Science   is  the  study  of  fundamental  aspects  of 
computation using tools from mathematics and logic.   Formal Methods is the
application  of theory to the practice of programming and  systems  design, 
with  the  aim  of  developing  more  systematic,   reliable  and  accurate
methodologies, supported by computer-based tools.  A great deal of progress
in  these  fields  has  been  made  in  recent  years,   using  ideas  from
mathematical  logic,  category  theory,  universal  algebra,  topology  and
lattice theory.

The Department of Computing at Imperial College is a centre for research in
Theory  and  Formal  Methods,  with a group of about 20 members  of  staff,
research  assistants  and  Ph.D students engaged in a  number  of  projects
funded  by SERC,  the Alvey Programme and industry.   Particular  areas  of
research interest currently include:

         Semantics of Programming Languages and Computation
         Logics of Programs
         Concurrency
         Program Specification
         Data Base Theory
         Abstract Interpretation
         Theorem Proving and Rewrite Systems
         Program Support Environments for Formal Methods
         Philosophy and Social Aspects of Computing
         Natural Language Processing
         Foundations of Non-Monotonic Reasoning and Expert Systems

Applications  are invited from either students with a good first degree  in
Mathematics  or  a subject with a high mathematical content,  who  wish  to
enter the intellectually exciting and rapidly expanding field of Computing;
or  students  with  a good first degree  in  Computer  Science,  preferably
including some theoretical component, who wish to pursue research in Theory
or Formal Methods.

The  Department  of  Computing supports a large and  flourishing  Ph.D  and
Research  community  (currently  about 30 full-time Ph.D  students  and  30
Research  Assistants and Fellows).   A unique Inter-collegiate Postgraduate
course  in  Theoretical Computer Science within the  University  of  London
provides  in-depth  introductions to the major areas of the subject  during
the  first year of the Ph.D programme.   There are also regular  series  of
seminars  run  by the various research groups within the  Department.   The
high  level  of  research  activity  in the  Department  makes  it  a  most
stimulating environment in which to work.

For further information and an application form, write to:

                Miss C A Wooldridge
                Admissions Secretary
                Department of Computing
                Imperial College of Science and Technology
                180 Queen's Gate
                LONDON SW7 2AZ