PhDs in Formal Verification

Stream: new members

[Shaunticlair Ruiz]

Hello! I'm a computer science masters student, graduating Spring 2025, focused on AI. This summer, I came to the conclusion that I'm really excited about formal verification applied to AI, so I'm planning to pursue a PhD in the subject. I'm going to start exploring by studying Lean. But more generally, we're already in the stage where I should be looking at what sorts of PhDs I should apply to. Before my revelation this summer, I didn't even think I wanted to do a PhD, so I feel a bit out of my depth. I don't know what sorts of professors and universities are likely to want/be good for doing a formal verification-relevant PhD. It's also worth noting my pure math background isn't very strong; I've self-studied some of real analysis and that's mostly it.

If anyone can provide suggestions/directions for where I should be looking at, or any particular maths I should be studying, or other related details, I would really appreciate it. I apologize if I'm misusing this space; I've been unsure of where to ask these kinds of questions, and I was recommended to try here. Thanks in advance!

[Luigi Massacci]

if you go to the #job postings channel and search for “PhD” you’ll find plenty of stuff. Most of the specific positions listed there will have probably been filled by now, but it can give you a lead as to professors and institutions that are interested in this sort of research