BRICS. Research. Centre. and. International. PhD. School. in Computer Science. BRICS Basic Research

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1 BRICS Research Centre and International PhD School in Computer Science BRICS Basic Research in Computer Science

2 Staff and Management BRICS Staff The permanent staff of BRICS comprises an international team of researchers with special expertise in the areas of semantics, logics, algorithms and complexity theory. The staff at the University of Aarhus include: Ivan B. Damgård, Associate Professor, PhD (Aarhus,1988), Cryptology, Complexity Theory, Computational Number Theory, Discrete Mathematics. Olivier Danvy, Associate Professor, PhD (Paris VI,1986), Habilitation (Paris VI,1992), Programming Languages, Semantics, Partial Evaluation. Gudmund S. Frandsen, Associate Professor, PhD ( Aarhus, 1985), Algorithms and Complexity Theory. Brian H. Mayoh, Professor, PhD (Illinois,1965), Genetic Algorithms, Machine Learning, Image Processing, Data Mining. Peter Bro Miltersen, Associate Professor, PhD ( Aarhus, 1993), Algorithms and Complexity Theory, Combinatorics. Peter D. Mosses, Associate Professor, PhD ( Oxford, 1975), Semantics of Programming Languages, Algebraic Specification, Logic. Mogens Nielsen, Associate Professor, PhD ( Aarhus, 1977), Concurrency, Logic, Verification. Michael I. Schwartzbach, Associate Professor, PhD ( Cornell, 1987), Programming Languages, Static Analysis, Type Systems. Erik Meineche Schmidt, Associate Professor, PhD ( Cornell, 1977), Algorithms and Complexity Theory, Programming Methodology. Sven Skyum, Associate Professor, Reader, PhD ( Aarhus, 1975), Algorithms and Complexity Theory. Glynn Winskel, Professor, PhD (Edinburgh,1980), ScD (Cambridge,1995), Semantics of Programming Languages, Logic, Category Theory, Verification. The staff at the University of Aalborg include: Luca Aceto, Associate Professor, PhD ( Sussex, 1991), Concurrency, Process Algebra. Hans Hüttel, Associate Professor, PhD ( Edinburgh, 1991), Object and Process Languages. Kim Guldstrand Larsen, Professor, PhD ( Edinburgh, 1986), Concurrency, Verification Methodology and Tools. Arne Skou, Associate Professor, PhD ( Aalborg, 1990), Distributed and Real-time Systems, Communication Protocols. BRICS Management Directors: Glynn Winskel, Mogens Nielsen, and Erik Meineche Schmidt Project Manager: Uffe H. Engberg, PhD (Aarhus,1990) Secretaries: Janne Kroun Christensen (PhD school), Karen Kjær Møller ( research centre). 2

3 BRICS BRICS, Basic Research in Computer Science, is a research centre and an international PhD school, both funded by the Danish National Research Foundation. BRICS is a joint venture between the Universities of Aarhus and Aalborg, Denmark, with the PhD school located in Aarhus. This folder contains information on BRICS and its PhD school in particular. For further updated information on BRICS activities, and detailed information on the application procedures for PhD admission/grants and research positions, please consult We look forward to welcoming you at BRICS. Glynn Winskel Mogens Nielsen Research centre The main areas of BRICS research centre are algorithms, complexity theory, logic in computer science and semantics of computation. The activities of BRICS are centred around its permanent staff, and an average of 15-20, mainly foreign, long term junior and senior associated researchers, PhD students and an intensive programme of visiting researchers and scientific events. BRICS has a well established network of formal co-operation with universities, research institutions and private companies world wide. PhD school BRICS International PhD school is a truly international graduate school in computer science, offering a programme of courses and project work of high scientific quality. The PhD school recruits Danish as well as foreign PhD students of high standard, and aims at making its graduates attractive for a wide spectrum of employers in private and public research and development institutions. The PhD school admits students annually, and offers a substantial number of grants for Danish as well as foreign students. The school is located at the University of Aarhus, from where all PhD s get their degree. The PhDs thesis supervision may be delegated to the faculty of BRICS in Aalborg. Erik Meineche Schmidt 3

4 PhD Studies Structure of PhD Studies The PhD studies are divided into 2 two-year programmes, Parts A and B. Part A combines an advanced course programme with introductory research. It is concluded by a qualifying examination based on selected course work and a progress report summarising research contributions and plans for the final Part B. The primary goal of Part B is the writing of a dissertation. The school will provide its students with a solid background in the theoretical foundation of a number of core areas centred around BRICS activities. From this foundation, the students may continue to do research in theory or foray into areas of a more applied or experimental nature as possible areas of thesis specialisation. There are two semesters running from September through December, and February through May, respectively. Outside semesters, students are offered a variety of special events, exchange programs with other universities and summer internships at Danish and foreign computing companies. Graduate Courses The Computer Science Department offers a number of relevant graduate courses, including Knowledge- Based Systems, Image Processing, Neural Networks, Scientific Computing, Co-design and VLSI, Robotics Object Technology, Hypermedia and Multimedia, Human Computer Interaction, and Numerical Analysis. Most graduate courses are given in English. Mobility The PhD school has a well developed programme of exchange of PhD students with high quality international universities and research centres. Recently, BRICS has had long term (a semester or more) visiting students from, or BRICS students visiting, e.g. Cambridge University, University of Edinburgh, Ecole Normale Superieure, Technical University of Munich, Cornell University, Duke University, New York University, Washington University, Fields Institute, MIT, Bell Labs, AT&T, SPIC Mathematical Institute. PhD Courses The PhD school continuously offers courses covering the following 9 core areas: Discrete Mathematics Semantics of Computation Logic in Computer Science Computational Complexity Design and Analysis of Algorithms Programming Languages Verification Distributed Computing Cryptology and Data Security. In general, all students at the school are expected to follow these courses, which comprise the bulk of the mandatory course requirements. Also, the PhD school offers courses directly aimed at new PhD students including a focused introduction to the research world, covering issues like paper writing and presentation, and ethical issues of science. All PhD courses are given in English. 4

5 PhD Admission Requirements The admission requirements for PhD studies in computer science are knowledge corresponding to four years of full-time study at a recognised university, comprising at least basic skills in the following list of topics based on the current undergraduate education at the University of Aarhus (interpreted in a flexible way): algorithms and data structures, computer systems, computability, programming, programming languages, and mathematics (linear algebra, analysis, probability theory). All students who are admitted to the PhD programme may be accepted with merit from their previous study. The details rest with the study board of the Faculty of Science. Foreign students may be required to provide scores on the GRE ( Graduate Record Examination General Test). The working language is English, and foreign students may also be required to provide scores on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). Grants The school offers student grants of different types, covering tuition and/or studentships. For details, please see Tuition covers expenses for teaching and supervision, and each student is equipped with an office space, a work station, and a small travel budget for international conferences and summer schools. A full studentship is sufficient to cover normal student living expenses. All studentships require the student to work part time (around 300 hours annually) - typically doing departmental work (teaching, tutoring, programming) or administrative work for BRICS. Students may apply for the tuition waiver and full studentship. However, the number of such full grants are limited. It is also possible to apply for tuition waiver only, or with supplementary studentship if the student brings some support of his or her own. Application Procedures You will find detailed information on the application procedures for PhD admission/grants and research positions with BRICS on The deadline for PhD applications for foreign students is January 15 (admission for semester starting September 1) - there are no fixed deadlines for temporary research positions. 5

6 BRICS Co-operation and Activities Projects BRICS is a partner of many international research projects, including a number of EU projects. BRICS has established formal co-operation with similar international institutions, e.g. the research centre DIMACS from USA and the PhD schools IPA and TUCS ( forming the European Educational Forum). BRICS is involved in a number of collaborative projects exploring applications of its basic research, notably the Thomas B. Thrige Centre for Quantum Informatics, a recently established joint venture between BRICS and the Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Aarhus. Its activities are devoted to the development of a tool for Quantum Cryptography and to more general problems in Quantum Computing. Other examples of such projects include: VVS (Validation and Verification of large Systems) exploring the recent use of theoretical results and techniques in tools for reasoning about embedded software. Mona/Fido combining automata theory with BDD technologies and novel ideas in implementing efficient decision procedures for logics over strings and trees. WIG (Web Interface Generator) developing tools to support the safe writing of advanced interactive web services. Computational Biology - in co-operation with the Department of Biology, University of Aarhus. Regular Events Much of BRICS activity is centred around selected annual themes of research, including in the past themes of Complexity Theory, Logic in Semantics, Verification, and Quantum Information Processing. BRICS offers a number of regular seminar series within general as well as specialised areas. Also, a number of regular lunch meetings with informal specialised seminars are held. The PhD school offers a series of so-called mini courses during semesters. Mini courses are given by local and visiting researchers, and offer in-depth presentations of a single topic during a concentrated small number of lectures spread over one or two weeks. The PhD students own Junior Club organises a series of seminars mainly given by PhD students for PhD students. Special Events BRICS is a frequent organiser of major international conferences, summer schools and workshops. Recent events hosted by BRICS include: Conferences: SWAT 94, TACAS 95, TAPSOFT 95, CPM 97, CSL 97, ICALP 98 Summer schools: Verification 96, Cryptology and Data Security 98 Workshops: Proof Theory and Complexity 98, Normalisation by Evaluation 98, the 56th and 65th Peripatetic Seminar on Sheaves and Logic. Leisure Activities The Friday bar invites the whole department to get together at the end of a week s hard work. The Junior Club is a natural forum for arranging dinners, excursions, etc. Also, the International Student Centre provides information about student life in Aarhus, and offers a variety of social events of their own. Football is the national sport of Denmark, and the PhD school has its own leisure soccer team known as the Great xbiff Soccer-team participating in a local tournament. 6

7 Environment Denmark Denmark is one of Europe s oldest countries, with powerful historic bonds to many parts of the world. Education at all levels is one of Denmark s highest priorities. This provides Denmark with one of its biggest assets, viz., know-how. No place in Denmark is more than 52 km from the sea. No wonder that the Danes were Vikings a few generations ago! The City of Aarhus The city of Aarhus was founded over 1,000 years ago as a Viking settlement at the mouth of the river. Today, Aarhus has more than 250,000 inhabitants. It has many educational institutions; apart from the University there are business colleges, technical schools and a number of smaller institutions; about 15% of the city population are students. This percentage influences the life of downtown Aarhus with its cafes, restaurants, shopping streets and small theatres. The University of Aarhus The University of Aarhus was founded in With more than 18,000 students, it is Denmark s largest university outside the capital, Copenhagen. A combination of its central location and its extensive campus makes the University of Aarhus a rarity among Northern European universities. The campus, or the University Park as it is called by the locals, is so centrally placed in the city that it also functions as a city park. During summer, it becomes a popular recreational area for students. The characteristic yellow-brick buildings of the University with their straight lines and sharp angles represent the elegant, simple style that has become a tradition of the Danish architecture of the 20th century. The town s attractive Concert Hall is the background for a great part of the larger cultural arrangements in Aarhus. This is the home of Aarhus Symphony Orchestra and the Jutland Opera Company. The city is situated on the coast with many green areas scattered throughout the city and its surroundings. Aarhus is surrounded by the sea to the east, superb beaches and woodland to the north and south; and glimmering lakes and river valleys a little further to the west. There is ample opportunity for free-time activities like swimming, sailing, jogging, etc. Cycling is a popular form of transport in Aarhus - and not only for students. 7

8 BRICS Address Research Centre and PhD School of the Danish Address BRICS Department of Computer Science University of Aarhus Ny Munkegade, Bldg 540 DK-8000 Aarhus C. Denmark Phones: (Janne Kroun Christensen) (Karen Kjær Møller) Fax: Web: National Research Foundation Grafik Hertzwall Herold BRICS Basic Research in Computer Science