PhD Position in Computational Complexity Theory (FOX Group, University of Sheffield)
A fully funded PhD position is available in Computational Complexity Theory within the Foundations of Computation (FOX) Group at the School of Computer Science, University of Sheffield. This opportunity is ideal for students interested in deep theoretical questions in computer science, with a focus on areas such as Boolean function analysis, query complexity, communication complexity, and circuit complexity. The specific research questions will be tailored to the student's interests in collaboration with the supervisors.
The FOX Group is one of the largest and most diverse theoretical computer science groups in the UK, with expertise spanning algorithms, computational complexity, combinatorics, logic, program semantics, and verification. The School of Computer Science at Sheffield is highly ranked for its research environment, with 99% of its research rated as world-leading or internationally excellent in the latest national evaluation (REF 2021). The group offers a vibrant academic atmosphere, including seminars, workshops, and annual PhD schools, fostering engagement with the wider research community.
Supervision will be provided by Professor Or Meir, an expert in computational complexity with a distinguished academic background from the Weizmann Institute of Science and University of Haifa, and Dr. Swagato Sanyal, a lecturer with a PhD from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and previous faculty experience at IIT Kharagpur. More information about their research can be found on their academic pages.
This position offers full funding for tuition fees at the UK rate and a tax-free stipend of £20,780 for the 2025/26 academic year, tenable for three and a half years. International students are encouraged to apply and are eligible for funding.
Applicants should have at least a 2.1 undergraduate honours degree or a master’s degree with Merit in Computer Science, Mathematics, or a closely related discipline, or an international equivalent. The application requires a research proposal (maximum one A4 page, including references) focused on the applicant's background in theoretical computer science and any previous research experience. There is no need to propose a specific research topic, as this will be determined jointly with the supervisors upon acceptance.
To apply, submit your application via the University of Sheffield's Postgraduate Online Application Form, naming Or Meir and Swagato Sanyal as your proposed supervisors. Detailed instructions and required documents are available on the university's application page. The deadline for applications is January 31, 2026.
For further details about the FOX Group and the School of Computer Science, visit the provided links. This is an excellent opportunity for motivated students to pursue advanced research in computational complexity theory within a leading UK institution.
