Theory and Algorithms

The exponential growth in computing power and its impact on society is well-known (“Moore’s law”). Less recognised, but still essential is the progress in theory and algorithms in the same time span. In fact, advances in computing power have been matched or even exceeded by comparable advancements in theory and algorithms. Take for example linear programming algorithms, the technology behind most of the decision-making software, from investment decisions in pensions funds, to designing airline schedules and the algorithm behind our day-to-day power grid operations.

Theoretical advances in linear programming account for speedups that are three times more those due to new hardware and programming languages. The advances in the solution of sparse systems of linear equations, which arise for example in computer animations, are just as impressive. Advances in processing power are becoming harder to come by and improvements due to theory and algorithms will become even more significant.

The research within the Theory and Algorithms theme reflects the broad applicability and impact of theory and algorithms to society. Our members are addressing fundamental and applied problems across four different groups and three centres. We are interested in algorithm design and analysis, computation on continuous data types, concurrency, optimisation algorithms, information theory, blockchain and cryptocurrencies, quantum computing, stochastic modelling and computational psychiatry. We apply our research interests to real-life systems via long-term collaborations, e.g. with biomedical, chemical, civil engineers and psychotherapists.

TA

Research groups and centres

Groups

Centres

Academics

Academics

  • Dr Mario Berta

    Dr Mario Berta

    Personal details

    Dr Mario Berta Senior Lecturer

    +44 (0)20 7594 8305

    Research interests

    My research area is quantum information theory, with a focus on quantum Shannon theory and quantum cryptography. I am interested in connections to mathematical physics, most importantly through the fields of matrix analysis and (non-commutative) optimization theory.

    Location

    444A, Huxley Building

  • Prof. Abbas Edalat

    Prof. Abbas Edalat

    Personal details

    Prof. Abbas Edalat Professor of Computer Science and Mathematics

    +44 (0)20 7594 8245

    Research interests

    Exact Computation in Differential and Integral Calculus, ODE's, Computational Geometry, Computation in Logical Form,  Optimisation Theory, Game Theory, Computational Psychiatry, Attachment Based Psychotherapy.

    Location

    420, Huxley Building

  • Dr Arthur H C Gervais

    Dr Arthur H C Gervais

    Personal details

    Dr Arthur H C Gervais Lecturer

    Research interests

    My research focuses on the security, privacy and performance of blockchain technology. Because this technology is still in its infancy, I largely focus on understanding and quantifying the tension points and tradeoffs in terms of security, privacy and performance, with the goal to build a mainstream, scalable, open, and decentralized blockchain.

    Location

    354, ACE Extension

  • Prof. Chris Hankin

    Prof. Chris Hankin

    Personal details

    Prof. Chris Hankin Director, Institute for Security Science & Technology

    +44 (0)20 7594 7619

    Research interests

    Security, Program Analysis and  Programming Language Theory.

    Location

    Sherfield Building

  • Prof. Michael Huth

    Prof. Michael Huth

    Personal details

    Prof. Michael Huth Professor of Computer Science and Head of Department

    +44 (0)20 7594 8355

    Research interests

    Trusted Computing, Access Control, Formal Methods, Insider Threats, Model-Driven Security, Risk Analysis.

    Location

    364, ACE Extension

  • Prof. William Knottenbelt

    Prof. William Knottenbelt

    Personal details

    Prof. William Knottenbelt Professor of Applied Quantitative Analysis

    +44 (0)20 7594 8331

    Research interests

    Application of mathematical modelling techniques to real life systems. modelling and optimisation in parallel queueing systems (especially split-merge and  fork-join  systems), modelling of storage systems, stochastic modelling of sport, stochastic modelling of healthcare systems, resource allocation and control in cloud-computing environments, numerical solution of (semi-)Markov models and specification techniques for SLA specification, compliance prediction and monitoring.

    Location

    363, ACE Extension

  • Dr Ruth Misener

    Dr Ruth Misener

    Personal details

    Dr Ruth Misener Professor in Computational Optimisation

    +44 (0)20 7594 8315

    Research interests

    Global Optimization, Mixed-Integer Nonlinear Optimization, Optimization Software, Bioprocess Optimization.

    Location

    379, Huxley Building

  • Dr Panos Parpas

    Dr Panos Parpas

    Personal details

    Dr Panos Parpas Reader

    +44 (0)20 7594 8366

    Research interests

    Development and analysis of algorithms for large scale optimisation problems. Exploiting the structure of large scale models arising in applications.

    Location

    357, Huxley Building

  • Dr Iain Phillips

    Dr Iain Phillips

    Personal details

    Dr Iain Phillips Senior Lecturer

    +44 (0)20 7594 8265

    Research interests

    Theory of concurrency, reversible computation.

    Location

    427, Huxley Building

  • Prof. Berc Rustem

    Prof. Berc Rustem

    Personal details

    Prof. Berc Rustem Emeritus Professor

    +44 (0)20 7594 8345

    Research interests

    Algorithms and applications of linear, nonlinear & integer programming, Algorithms for games & min-max, Optimization of stochastic systems, Decision making & engineering design under uncertainty, Applications to defence, engineering, economics and finance, Multi-objective optimisation, Robust design & risk management, Numerical methods & algorithms for computer aided design

    Location

    361, Huxley Building

  • Prof Iddo Tzameret

    Prof Iddo Tzameret

    Personal details

    Prof Iddo Tzameret Chair in Computational Complexity

    Research interests

    Algorithms and Complexity: Limits of efficient algorithms and inference, Lower bounds on concrete computational models, Satisfiability, Proof complexity, Combinatorial, algebraic and logical approaches in complexity, Theory of SAT- and constraint-solving.

    Location

    Huxley Building

  • Dr Steffen van Bakel

    Dr Steffen van Bakel

    Personal details

    Dr Steffen van Bakel Senior Lecturer

    +44 (0)20 7594 8263

    Research interests

    Functional Programming:Lambda Calculus, Term Rewriting Systems, Term Graph Rewriting Systems, Mobile Ambients, Systems Biology, Type systems: Sequent Calculus for Classical Logic, Curry Howard Isomorphism,Intersection type assignment, Polymorphic type assignment, Decidable systems, Type theory and theorem provers, Semantics: Filter models, Approximation models, Game theory and Abstract interpretation.

    Location

    425, Huxley Building

  • Dr Herbert Wiklicky

    Dr Herbert Wiklicky

    Personal details

    Dr Herbert Wiklicky Reader in Computer Science

    +44 (0)20 7594 8206

    Research interests

    Program Analysis, semantics of programming languages, Probabilistic Models, Program Synthesis, semantics in Computer Security and Quantum Computation.

    Location

    424, Huxley Building

Affiliated Faculty

  • Dr Mahdi Cheraghchi

    Dr Mahdi Cheraghchi

    Personal details

    Dr Mahdi Cheraghchi Honorary Senior Lecturer

    +44 (0)20 7594 9043

    Research interests

    Communication and computing, randomness and computing, information and coding theory, algorithms and complexity theory, Boolean functional analysis, foundations of cryptography.

    Location

    353, ACE Extension

  • Prof. Ian Hodkinson

    Prof. Ian Hodkinson

    Personal details

    Prof. Ian Hodkinson Emeritus Professor of Logic and Computation

    +44 (0)20 7594 8219

    Research interests

    Algebraic Logic and Modal and Temporal Logic.

    Location

    361, Huxley Building