Postdoc position in Quantum Software and Quantum Communication (DEIS)

Postdoc position in Quantum Software and Quantum Communication

At the Technical Faculty of IT and Design, Department of Computer Science, a fully-funded postdoc position is available within the area of design automation / software stack for quantum computing and quantum communication. The position will be hosted at the Aalborg campus of Aalborg University. The position is initially offered for one year with the option to be extended. The expected starting date is February 1, 2027 or soon thereafter.

The candidate will be part of the section Distributed, Embedded and Distributed Systems https://www.cs.aau.dk/research/distributed-embedded-intelligent-systems/

and the research group Quantum Systems Analysis and Synthesis

https://www.cs.aau.dk/research/research-groups/quantum-systems-analysis-and-synthesis-qsas

The Department of Computer Science features a broad range of synergistic activities within research and education in the general area of computer science, including curiosity-driven research and targeted research in collaboration with industrial partners, traditional university education with a unique problem- and project-based focus, and continued education and knowledge dissemination.

The candidate will be supervised by Kim Guldstrand Larsen, Jiri Srba, and Christian Schilling.

Your work tasks

The candidate will join a collaborative project. Depending on the background and preferences of the candidate, this will be a project that also includes partners from Aarhus University and industry or a project that involves other departments at Aalborg University. The projects consist of multiple tasks, which are shortly outlined below. It is not intended that the candidate works on all tasks. The concrete tasks will be agreed upon with the supervisors, based on the candidate’s background and preferences.

Task 1: Synthesis of quantum circuits. We intend to apply reinforcement learning. This task will include feasibility and scalability considerations (e.g., approximate solutions, application of symbolic data structures).

Task 2: Simulation of quantum circuits with high-level structure and under noisy conditions. This task will include the extension of recent work on model-order reduction applied to quantum circuits. The extension will cover quantum programs with loops and various noise effects.

Task 3: Equivalence checking of quantum circuits. This task will include the identification of suitable metrics for approximate equivalence and algorithms to efficiently compute approximation distances. A potential direction is the generalization to parallel GPU computations.

Task 4: Correctness evaluation of quantum communication systems and quantum protocols. This task will include approaches such as statistical model checking and conformal prediction to efficiently assess a given design and identify bugs or bottlenecks.

Task 5: Design and semantics of distributed quantum programming and modelling languages. This task will include the development of language features and formal semantics for programming and modeling distributed quantum systems, enabling correct composition, communication, and verification of quantum processes across multiple nodes.

Qualification requirements

Appointment as postdoc requires academic qualifications at PhD level. Due to the project’s angle, the candidate should have a strong background in at least one of the following areas: theoretical computer science (e.g., formal methods, design automation, algorithms) and reinforcement learning. The candidate should be open to practical computational experiments. Excellent spoken and written communication skills in English are expected.

How to apply

Your application must include the following

• A cover letter (one page), stating (1) the preferred starting date, (2) reasons for applying, and (3) intentions and visions for the position
• Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Diplomas and transcripts of records
• oist of publications, with the option to attach up to five publications relevant to the position

You can read more about the requirements for your application here .

The application must be submitted via Aalborg University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aalborg University's website.

Aalborg University wants to reflect the surrounding society and has diversity as a core value. Therefore, everyone, regardless of personal background and orientation, is encouraged to apply for the position.

Aalborg University has a policy of parallel language use. International staff are encouraged, with support from the university, to learn Danish during their employment in order to support their integration into the workplace and Danish society.

Danish language courses will be offered as part of the employment.

Do you have any questions?

If you have any questions about the position, you are more than welcome to contact us. You will find contact persons at the bottom of the jobpost.

Further information

Read more about our recruitment process here

The appointment process at Aalborg University involves a shortlisting process. You can read more about the shortlisting and appointment process here .

The hiring process at Aalborg University may include a risk assessment as a tool to identify potential risks associated with new hires, ensuring the safety, compliance, and integrity of the workplace.

Salary and terms of employment

The employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities and the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities. Furthermore, your terms of employment and salary are in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the state (AC collective agreement) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities.

You can find information about the salary and salary structure for the position in the Salary Overview for Recruitment - Scientific positions (VIP) . Please refer to the introductory section of the page and the section entitled “Postdoc”.

There is a mutual probationary period of 3 months for the position.

Aalborg University - Knowledge for the world

Aalborg University is an international workplace with more than 3,700 employees. We offer real-world-oriented education and create world-class research results through collaboration between researchers, students, and public and private companies. This is how we achieve insights, new solutions to societal problems, and knowledge that changes the world. Our main campus is in Aalborg, but we also have campuses in Esbjerg and Copenhagen.