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We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

We are seeking an ambitious researcher to join a major new project funded by the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA), combining formal verification, cybersecurity and AI. The post offers an unusual opportunity to work at the intersection of Isabelle/HOL, the seL4-verified microkernel, information-flow security, and AI-assisted theorem proving.

The project aims to develop a formally verified reference monitor on top of seL4 for the secure containment of AI agents. We will develop new mechanisms for dynamically controlling agents’ capabilities and information flows, together with machine-checked security guarantees. In parallel, we will investigate how modern AI techniques can accelerate large-scale formal verification, developing AI proof agents that can maintain, extend and refactor the seL4 proof base in Isabelle/HOL.

You will join a highly collaborative international team spanning the Universities of Sheffield, Surrey and Melbourne, bringing together expertise in Isabelle/HOL, seL4, information-flow security, program logics, and neurosymbolic AI. The project is exceptionally well resourced, including substantial funding for access to state-of-the-art AI models and computing infrastructure.

We particularly welcome applicants with strong expertise in Isabelle/HOL or other interactive theorem provers, formal verification and security, or neurosymbolic AI and AI-assisted reasoning. Deep expertise in Isabelle/HOL will be especially valued, and we encourage outstanding Isabelle researchers to apply even if their career stage is less senior than might normally be expected for a Grade 8 research position.

For informal enquiries about the project or the position, please contact Professor Andrei Popescu at A.Popescu@sheffield.ac.uk

Main duties and responsibilities

• Conduct research of international standing in areas relevant to the project, including formal verification, information-flow security, interactive theorem proving, and AI-assisted reasoning.
• Independently develop and pursue technically ambitious research ideas, determining research objectives and selecting appropriate methods and approaches within the overall aims of the project.
• Take primary responsibility for substantial technical research tasks according to the postholder’s expertise, from their formulation and implementation through to evaluation and dissemination.
• Contribute to the development and formal verification of an agent-aware reference monitor on top of seL4, supporting dynamic control of the capabilities and information flows of AI agents.
• Develop and mechanise security models, program logics and information-flow properties in Isabelle/HOL, and contribute to the modernisation, extension and maintenance of the existing seL4 proof infrastructure.
• Develop and evaluate AI techniques for large-scale interactive theorem proving, potentially including supervised fine-tuning and reinforcement learning using formal verification feedback, and AI agents for proof generation, repair and refactoring.
• Contribute to the development of Isabelle infrastructure for AI-assisted theorem proving, including proof-data extraction, interaction with proof states, and integration of AI agents into Isabelle-based verification workflows.
• Work closely with researchers and research software engineers at Sheffield and with project partners at the Universities of Surrey and Melbourne, contributing to the integration of the project’s security, systems and AI components.
• Design and conduct rigorous evaluations of the resulting verification and AI techniques, including their effectiveness, robustness, scalability and maintainability on the seL4 proof base.
• Disseminate research findings through high-quality publications, presentations, software and formalisation artefacts, including presenting results at national and international conferences and project meetings.
• Contribute to the supervision and mentoring of students and junior researchers where appropriate.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification  

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Further Information

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place in the week commencing 5th October. This will consist of an interview held online or in person. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 28th September. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact COM-Recruitment@sheffield.ac.uk

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What we offer

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave, including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes, integrated with our Academic Career Pthways.
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
  • access to menopause support in the workplace
  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment
  • and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Leader (opens in a new window). If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Closing Date : 27/09/2026 

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.