The IMDEA Software Institute invites applications for one postdoc position to work on runtime verification enginers for the offchain monitoring of smart contract blockchains, and in particular the Tezos blockchain. Offchain monitoring is the process of analyzing the chain of blocks that are generated during the evolution of the blockchain, and produce verdicts and explanations from the analysis. This novel runtime verification is both offline (since the past already exists) and online, since the present continues to be produced.
In this project we are building a sophisticated runtime verification engine to analyze the execution of the Tezos blockchain. Our aim is to detect attacks, malicious users and their relations and other anomalies. We are building a query language that allows to describe which information to collect from the history of the blockchain. The outcome is the collection of rich data that is computed as a results of queries, and serves as explanation and visualization. In turn, this requires to improve indexers that allow to runs these queries efficiently, including the smooth cooperation of both online monitor engine and the history processing at the node and indexer server.
The ideal candidate should have a strong background on programming languages and formal methods, and excellent programming skills and experience building online monitoring engines. Experience in Blockchain technologies, particularly smart contracts, and runtime verification is a plus. Functional languages (particularly O-Caml and Haskell) are a big plus.
Applications are invited to apply for a postdoc position at the IMDEA Software Institute, Madrid, Spain. Selected candidates will work with Prof. César Sánchez and an international team of graduate students, postdocs, programmers and researchers focusing on Blockchain reliability.
Candidates should hold a PhD in Computer Science, have an interest in blockchain as a research area, and a strong commitment to research. Proven top programming skills as well as ability to understand and develop algorithms are required. Good teamwork and communication skills, including excellent spoken and written English are also required.
The position is based in Madrid, Spain, where the IMDEA Software Institute is situated. The institute provides for travel expenses and an internationally competitive stipend. The working language at the IMDEA Software Institute is English.
The duration of the position will be up to 24 months.
Applicants interested in the position should submit their application at https://careers.software.imdea.org/ using reference code 2022-11-postdoc-monchain. Review of applications will begin immediately and close when positions are filled or on December 1st, 2022.
For enquiries about the position, please contact:
