Department of Computing, Imperial College London
The PhD project will target real-world software engineering and formal verification by building reliable, scalable, and cost-efficient AI systems.
Students will have opportunities to work on both foundational research and large-scale system building, spanning foundation models, agent systems, software infrastructure, and formal methods. Projects emphasize solving practical software engineering challenges through deployable systems, rigorous evaluation, and close engagement with real-world codebases and development workflows.
Applicants are expected to have a First Class or Distinction Masters level degree, or equivalent, in a relevant scientific or technical discipline, such as computer science or mathematics, with a GPA above 87.5/100 (or an equivalent level under other grading systems). Applicants must be fluent in spoken and written English.
Candidates should have strong software engineering and coding skills, be proficient in modern AI-assisted development (Vibe Coding), and have hands-on experience in at least one of the following:
⭐ Research experience is a plus, but not required. First-author publications at top-tier venues or demonstrated independent research experience will be viewed favorably.
Successful candidates are expected to enjoy building real-world systems, thrive in a collaborative research environment, and demonstrate the initiative to pursue ambitious research with practical impact.
🚀 Let's do something interesting and impactful!
To apply for this position, please follow the application guidelines at:
http://www.imperial.ac.uk/computing/prospective-students/courses/phd/phd-application-guidelines/
In the application form, please write “AI for SE” in the “Proposed Research Topic” field, and Jialun Cao in the “Proposed Research Supervisor” field.
Applicants are advised to visit http://www.imperial.ac.uk/computing/prospective-students/courses/phd/ for general information on becoming a PhD student in the Department of Computing.