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

  • Prof. Abbas Edalat

    Personal details

    Prof. Abbas Edalat Professor of Computer Science and Mathematics

    +44 (0)20 7594 8245

    Location

    420, Huxley Building

    Research interests

    Differential and integral calculus, computational geometry, computation in logical form, optimisation theory, game theory, computational psychiatry, attachment based psychotherapy.

  • Prof. Chris Hankin

    Personal details

    Prof. Chris Hankin Security Science Fellow, Institute for Security Science and Technology

    +44 (0)20 7594 7619

    Location

    Sherfield Building

    Research interests

    Security, Program Analysis and  Programming Language Theory.

  • Prof. William Knottenbelt

    Personal details

    Prof. William Knottenbelt Professor of Applied Quantitative Analysis

    +44 (0)20 7594 8331

    Location

    363, ACE Extension

    Research interests

    Mathematical modelling and optimisation, parallel queueing systems, resource allocation, Markov models, decentralised finance, blockchain, and cryptocurrencies.

  • Prof Ruth Misener

    Personal details

    Prof Ruth Misener Professor in Computational Optimisation

    +44 (0)20 7594 8315

    Location

    379, Huxley Building

    Research interests

    Global optimisation, mixed-integer nonlinear optimisation, optimisation software, bioprocess optimisation.

  • Dr Panos Parpas

    Personal details

    Dr Panos Parpas Reader

    +44 (0)20 7594 8366

    Location

    357, Huxley Building

    Research interests

    Large-scale optimisation problems, and large scale modeling.

  • Dr Iain Phillips

    Personal details

    Dr Iain Phillips Senior Lecturer

    +44 (0)20 7594 8265

    Location

    427, Huxley Building

    Research interests

    Theory of concurrency and reversible computation.

  • Prof. Berc Rustem

    Personal details

    Prof. Berc Rustem Emeritus Professor

    +44 (0)20 7594 8345

    Location

    361, Huxley Building

    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

  • Dr Calvin Tsay

    Personal details

    Dr Calvin Tsay Lecturer

    Location

    Huxley Building

    Research interests

    Optimisation, control, computational methods, machine learning, and engineering processes.

  • Prof Iddo Tzameret

    Personal details

    Prof Iddo Tzameret Chair in Computational Complexity

    Location

    559, 5th Floor, Huxley Building, South Kensington Campus

    Research interests

    Algorithms, complexity, lower bounds on concrete computational models, satisfiability, proof complexity, combinatorial, algebraic, and logical approaches in complexity, theory of SAT- and constraint-solving.

  • Dr Steffen van Bakel

    Personal details

    Dr Steffen van Bakel Senior Lecturer

    +44 (0)20 7594 8263

    Location

    425, Huxley Building

    Research interests

    Functional programming, Lambda calculus, term rewriting systems, mobile ambients, systems biology, type systems, type theory, theorem provers, semantics, game theory, and abstract interpretation.

  • Dr Herbert Wiklicky

    Personal details

    Dr Herbert Wiklicky Reader in Computer Science

    +44 (0)20 7594 8206

    Location

    424, Huxley Building

    Research interests

    Program analysis, programming languages, semantics, probabilistic models, program synthesis, semantics in computer security, quantum computation.

Affiliated Faculty

  • Dr Mahdi Cheraghchi

    Personal details

    Dr Mahdi Cheraghchi Visiting Reader

    +44 (0)20 7594 9043

    Location

    353, ACE Extension

    Research interests

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

  • Prof. Ian Hodkinson

    Personal details

    Prof. Ian Hodkinson Emeritus Professor of Logic and Computation

    +44 (0)20 7594 8219

    Location

    361, Huxley Building

    Research interests

    Algebraic Logic and Modal and Temporal Logic.

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