2025 PhD studentship opportunities in Theory
PhD positions are available at the Theory and Foundations (FoCS) group in the Department of Computer Science, University of Warwick, UK. The group works on various aspects of theoretical computer science including:
- algorithmic game theory,
- approximation algorithms,
- automata and formal languages,
- combinatorics and graph algorithms,
- computational complexity,
- logic and games,
- online and dynamic algorithms,
- parallel algorithms and distributed computing,
- parameterized complexity and structural graph theory,
- random structures and randomized algorithms,
- sublinear and streaming algorithms,
- theoretical foundations of machine learning.
The group has strong ties with the Centre for Discrete Mathematics and its Applications (DIMAP), established in 2007 jointly with the Warwick Mathematics Institute and Warwick Business School. Together with DIMAP, the group is one of the leading theory groups in Europe, with regular publications in top international conferences and journals in theoretical computer science.
The Department of Computer Science at Warwick offers an excellent research environment. It was ranked 4th in the latest UK research assessment in Research Excellence Framework (REF) in 2021. The University of Warwick is one of the founding members of the Alan Turing Institute.
The university campus is located on the border of two counties, West Midlands and Warwickshire, is about one hour train ride from London, and 15 minutes from Birmingham International Airport.
The applicants are expected to have a strong background in discrete mathematics, algorithms, computational complexity, automata, logic, formal languages, verification, or related topics with undergraduate and/or Master's degrees in Computer Science, Mathematics, or related disciplines. The position(s) will be fully funded, and the successful applicant(s) will be receiving a stipend at rate in line with current Research Councils UK rates.
If you are interested in this opening, please send an email with subject line "Application for PhD position" to either Sayan Bhattacharya (S dot Bhattacharya at warwick dot ac dot uk) or Dmitry Chistikov (D dot Chistikov at warwick dot ac dot uk) with a SINGLE .pdf file containing: (i) your CV, (ii) contact email address, and (iii) the names and email addresses of two references. The deadline for receiving the applications is November 11, 2025.
You are strongly encouraged to informally contact faculty members in the group you might want to work with prior to submitting your application. Only those candidates whose applications are endorsed by a faculty member in the group will be interviewed informally during the week of 17 November 2025.
The following subset of faculty members of the group are looking for PhD students this year.
- Dmitry Chistikov
- Artur Czumaj
- Charilaos Efthymiou
- Matthias Englert
- Christian Ikenmeyer
- Marcin Jurdzinski
- Ranko Lazic
For more information about the Foundations of Computer Science (FoCS) Research Group, see FoCS web page.
For more information about DIMAP, see DIMAP web page.
PhD positions in Theoretical Computer Science
Closing date: November 11, 2025