The University of San Diego invites applications for a postdoctoral research fellowship in homotopy type theory beginning Fall 2021, or earlier if desired. This is a two-year position with potential extension to a third year, funded by the second AFOSR MURI grant for HoTT, entitled "Synthetic and Constructive Mathematics of Higher Structures in Homotopy Type Theory".
This is the same grant that’s funding Emily’s postdoc at Johns Hopkins, but due to delays in job posting, I won’t be able to make an offer before the AMS coordinated postdoc response deadline of February 1. Indeed, February 1, 2021 is only the priority submission deadline for the application, less than 2 weeks away. However, I’ll do my best to make a quick turnaround, and if you’re interested in the position but have other offers requiring a response, please let me know before giving up. As with the Johns Hopkins position, you must at least be able to obtain a visa to come and work physically in the U.S.; I’m still working on the details of visa sponsorship, but it should be possible.
Applications are encouraged from candidates working in any area related to homotopy type theory, broadly construed. If your background is in a related area but you’re interested in getting into the field, don’t let that deter you. Please include in your cover letter a discussion of your background and future research goals as they relate specifically to homotopy type theory, as well as any specific interests you may have in collaborating with the team for the grant, which in addition to myself includes Steve Awodey, Bob Harper, Favonia, Dan Licata, and Emily Riehl, and their students and postdocs. This is especially important if you’re new to the field and HoTT doesn’t figure prominently in your CV and past research.
The University of San Diego (not to be confused with the University of California, San Diego) is a relatively small private Catholic university. Although the university includes a few graduate schools, the mathematics department is in the College of Arts and Sciences, which is purely an undergraduate liberal arts college. We have no graduate students, and this will be the first postdoc ever in the math department. So you should be aware what you’re getting into; but on the other hand, if you have any interest in eventually becoming faculty at a liberal-arts college, this could be a good opportunity to get a feel for what such a department is like. Although I can’t make any promises, the postdoc may have the opportunity to help supervise undergraduate research students and/or to teach undergraduate courses if they are interested (though this is not required, and will be decided later).
Applications should be submitted through the University of San Diego recruitment system. Please email to alert me of your application, as well as with any questions you have!
USD is an Equal Opportunity employer, and is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community.