We explore the structural connections between physics and computer science, with applications in quantum information and computation, and also in the foundations of physics. We rely in particular rely on category theory and logic. An international community is forming, with our group playing a leading role. The main activity within the group is the development of categorical quantum mechanics, which was pioneered by Samson Abramsky and Bob Coecke, an activity which ranges from foundations of physics, via pure category theory, to software development. With Andreas Doering and Chris Heunen joining our group we now have activity in the topos approach to physical theories, and there is also growing activity in dynamic epistemic logic and computational linguistics.
If you'd like more information about joining the group, please send an email to Samson Abramsky or Bob Coecke. We support postdoctoral fellowship applications for strong applicants. The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Royal Society have annual fellowship competitions, some of which are open to non-British nationals.
If you're interested in doing a DPhil with us, contact Samson Abramsky or Bob Coecke. The department awards scholarships each year to the strongest EU (DTA) and overseas (Clarendon) applicants.
If you're doing a Masters degree in Oxford and might be interested in doing your project with a member of our group, please get in touch as soon as possible, either with Samson Abramsky, Bob Coecke or Andreas Doering for categorical quantum mechanics and quantum computer science, Mehrnoosh Sadrzadeh or Alexandru Baltag for dynamic epistemic logic, and Mehrnoosh Sadrzadeh or Bob Coecke for computational linguistics.
If you're an undergraduate and would like to learn more about the sorts of things we work on, have a look at the MSc in Mathematics and the Foundations of Computer Science.
funding
Members of the group are pleased to receive funding from the following sources:
