University Assistant/Associate Professor in Algorithms and Complexity

Location: West Cambridge

The Department of Computer Science and Technology is seeking to recruit a new faculty member at the Assistant Professor/Associate Professor level who will contribute to research and teaching in algorithms and computational complexity. While the focus of this appointment is algorithms and complexity, exceptional applicants from all areas of Computer Science will be considered.

The Department is strongly research-oriented and has long-standing strengths in theoretical computer science, with pioneering contributions and a vibrant current research environment spanning algorithms, complexity theory, coding theory, cryptography, learning theory, logic, optimization, and quantum computing. We foster close interactions across the theory ecosystem, as well as with machine learning, security, physics, and mathematics. More broadly, Cambridge offers an outstanding research environment across science and technology, with world-leading departments, institutes, and interdisciplinary centres that provide rich opportunities for collaboration.

We are looking for a candidate with outstanding research credentials in algorithms and/or computational complexity. The ideal candidate will contribute to areas such as the design and analysis of algorithms (e.g. randomized, quantum, approximation, property testing, online, streaming, sublinear, fine-grained, distributed/parallel) and/or complexity theory (e.g. circuit and proof complexity, lower bounds, pseudo-randomness, meta-complexity, communication complexity, PCP, hardness of approximation, analysis of Boolean functions, quantum complexity). They will have a strong international publication record, international visibility, and evidence of community service and impact commensurate with career stage. The ability to secure research funding to support their vision and build a world-class team is essential, and we can transfer fellowships and research grants where the funder allows.

We welcome applications from researchers with interdisciplinary interests who will collaborate across different subdisciplines in Computer Science and Technology and with other academic fields (e.g., mathematics, engineering, economics). Collaborations outside academia are also highly valued, including with industry and third-sector organizations.

All members of the Department are supported in developing their research leadership. We provide excellent administrative support across research management, funding, communications, finance, and recruitment, and benefit from strong university-wide initiatives in commercialization, collaboration, ethics, and interdisciplinary centres. The University has also secured funding to support the recruitment and relocation of outstanding academics from outside the UK, and eligible appointees may be able to access additional resources to support relocation and financial support for team members for a fixed period.

The Cambridge Computer Science programme broadly follows and extends the ACM curriculum, with scope for local innovation responsive to our dynamic industry environment and diverse, exceptionally talented student body. The appointee will advance the curriculum, contribute to undergraduate teaching in algorithms and complexity, and develop innovative graduate content within the MPhil in Advanced Computer Science (ACS). Candidates should be excellent communicators, committed to teaching at undergraduate and Master's level, and able to supervise research at both Master's and PhD level.

We anticipate undertaking a long-listing process where a number of candidates will be invited to produce a recorded teaching task, and will be asked to confirm that the names of their three referees will be available for contact as part of this process. The appointment will be from 1 September 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Interested applicants are encouraged to make informal enquiries about the post to Professor Tom Gur at tom.gur@cl.cam.ac.uk

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

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