19 Jan 2026
Job Information
- Organisation/Company
The University of Manchester- Department
Computer Science- Research Field
Computer science- Researcher Profile
First Stage Researcher (R1)- Positions
PhD Positions- Application Deadline
6 Feb 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/London)- Country
United Kingdom- Type of Contract
Temporary- Job Status
Other- Job Status Extra Information
3.5-year PhD studentship- Offer Starting Date
1 Apr 2026- Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?
Horizon Europe (other)- Reference Number
101226927- Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?
No
Offer Description
The target is to explore novel synergies among natural language-based Human-AI interaction, nature-inspired optimization and exploration, the social impacts of Human-AI cooperation on team dynamics, and advanced machine learning in the engineering domain. Generative AI substantially changes the way engineers interact with and benefit from AI and access domain-specific knowledge, marking a phase transition that not only enhances the productivity of engineering teams but also expands the complexity of solvable design problems.
We have two exciting PhD positions at the intersection of formal software verification and Large Language Model (LLM) safety, focusing on extending state-of-the-art logic-based automated reasoning tools such as ESBMC (https://github.com/esbmc/esbmc ) to address safety and reliability challenges in agentic reasoning systems. Successful candidates will investigate novel approaches that use abstract interpretation, model checking, constraint programming, and fuzzing techniques to ensure safety and reliability in LLM-powered agentic systems.
Where to apply
- Website
- https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/safe-agentic-llm-reasoning-via-formal-ver…
Requirements
- Research Field
- Computer science
- Education Level
- Master Degree or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2.1 honours degree or a master’s (or international equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering related discipline.
- Languages
- ENGLISH
- Level
- Excellent
- Research Field
- Computer science
- Years of Research Experience
- 4 - 10
Additional Information
Benefits
This 3.5-year PhD studentship is open to Home (UK) and overseas applicants. The successful candidate will receive an annual tax-free stipend set at the UKRI rate (£20,780 for 2025/26; subject to annual uplift), and tuition fees will be paid. We expect the stipend to increase each year. The start date is April 2026.
Eligibility criteria
Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2.1 honours degree or a master’s (or international equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering related discipline.
Applicants should follow the Mobility Rule: DCs have not been resident in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the last 36 months.
- Website for additional job details
https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/safe-agentic-llm-reasoning-via-formal-ver…
Work Location(s)
- Number of offers available
- 2
- Company/Institute
- The University of Mancheser
- Country
- United Kingdom
- State/Province
- Greater Manchester
- City
- Manchester
- Postal Code
- M13 9PL
- Street
- Oxford Road
- Geofield
- Number of offers available
- 2
- Company/Institute
- https://www.manchester.ac.uk/
- Country
- United Kingdom
- State/Province
- Greater Manchester
- City
- Manchester
- Postal Code
- M13 9PL
- Street
- Oxford Road
- Geofield
Contact
- State/Province
Manchester- City
Manchester- Website
https://www.manchester.ac.uk/- Street
Oxford Road- Postal Code
M13 9PL
noriko.griffiths@manchester.ac.uk
STATUS: EXPIRED
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