Position Title & Department: Postdoctoral Researcher
Posting # 5559 Department Description: The Department of Mathematics aims to be a welcoming and supportive home within the College of Arts and Sciences for the development and training of logical and computational thinking, emphasizing the value of human reasoning as well as its interaction and synergy with machine reasoning.
The College of Arts and Sciences is at the heart of the University of San Diego. Our philosophy is built on the enduring values of the Catholic intellectual tradition, immersing students in the concepts of free inquiry, ethical conduct and compassionate service. The College aims to establish an academic foundation for students to thrive and gain a comprehensive education, which spans the sciences, arts and social sciences. Through our exemplary liberal arts education and rigorous scholarship, we aspire to not only educate the mind but also develop the whole person.
University Description: The University of San Diego, an engaged and contemporary Catholic institution, was founded by the Diocese of San Diego and the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1949. Governed by an independent board of trustees since 1972, USD remains committed to a liberal arts education grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. Inspired by this centuries old tradition of Catholic higher education, the University welcomes people of all faith traditions and any, or no, religious background. The future success of USD relies on the contributions of those who seek to foster the development of engaged global citizens and an earnest confrontation of humanity's urgent challenges. Detailed Description: The postdoctoral researcher will be part of the team working on the grant 'Proof assistants for formalization of higher category theory'. The primary task at this site of the grant is to finish development of the experimental proof assistant Narya and explore its uses for formalization of higher category theory. Secondary tasks include developing the metatheory of type theory for the purpose of establishing the formal theory of Narya, and developing the higher-categorical model category theory for the purpose of establishing its categorical semantics.
The postdoctoral researcher will operate under the general guidance of the Supervisor. Research goals for the postdoc will be set collaboratively between the researcher and the supervisor, based on the postdoc's background, skills, interests, and prior achievements and work in progress. Depending on the specific research goals, the postdoc may work largely independently, in close collaboration with the supervisor, or somewhere in between. In any case, the postdoc should expect to meet at least weekly with the supervisor to discuss research.
This is a full-time/benefit-based position with an anticipated end date of August 31, 2027. The appointment is renewable at the discretion of the University and dependent upon performance and continued funding. Job Requirements:
Minimum Qualifications: The successful candidates will:
A PhD in Mathematics or Computer Science
Successful completion of a pre-employment background check.
Persons offered employment will be required to provide official transcripts for degree verification purposes.
Posting Salary: This appointment is a full-time 11-month contract, benefits-eligible with a salary of $6,900/Monthly; Excellent Benefits
The University of San Diego offers a very competitive benefits package including; medical, dental, vision, a retirement contribution given to you by the University, and access to on-campus Fitness Centers. Please visit the benefits section of our website to view all of the perks and benefits that USD has to offer. USD: Human Resources: Benefits
The salary range provided in this posting reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this position. Actual compensation offered or earned is dependent on experience, education and other factors including departmental budget. Special Application Instructions:
Applicants are asked to submit the following materials.
A brief letter of application, including an overview of any current and past research and background that is applicable to the goals of the grant project.
Curriculum vita
Contact information for two references who will be sent a link to upload letters.
Candidates are asked to submit these materials by May 24, 2026. Inquiries about the position should be directed to Dr. Michael Shulman at shulman@sandiego.edu.
If you have any technical difficulties please contact the Employment Services Team at jobs@sandiego.edu.
Additional Details:
The University of San Diego is a smoking and tobacco-free campus. For more information, visit www.sandiego.edu/smokefree.
The University of San Diego is committed to academic excellence, Catholic intellectual and social traditions, and providing a top-notch liberal arts education for scholars of all faiths. USD is located on 180 acres overlooking the city of San Diego, Mission Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The campus is renowned for its beauty, and features Spanish Renaissance-inspired architecture.