Thorsten Altenkirch

Thorsten Altenkirch is a Professor at the School of Computer Science at the University of Nottingham. He jointly chairs the Functional Programming Laboratory with Graham Hutton and is actively involved in organizing the weekly FP lunch and FP seminar. His academic career spans decades of contributions to theoretical computer science, particularly in the foundations of programming languages and formal verification.

Professor Altenkirch's research focuses on Type Theory, Homotopy Type Theory, Constructive Logic, Category Theory, Lambda Calculus, Quantum Computing, and Certified Correct Programs. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications in programming language design and verification. He has been instrumental in developing formal systems that enable the creation of programs that are correct by construction, with significant contributions to the Epigram system and dependent type theory.

His recent publications and talks demonstrate a consistent focus on advancing type theory, particularly Homotopy Type Theory and its applications. He explores connections between category theory and type theory, investigates higher-dimensional models, and develops practical applications of dependent types in programming. His work shows a clear trajectory from foundational theoretical work toward practical implementations in programming languages and verification tools.

Professor Altenkirch has successfully secured multiple research grants, including significant funding from EPSRC and USAF for projects on dependent types and Homotopy Type Theory. His collaborative work spans institutions across the UK and internationally, reflecting the broad impact of his research.

He has supervised numerous PhD students both past and present, including notable researchers like Andreas Abel, Wouter Swierstra, and Nicolai Kraus. His teaching responsibilities include Introduction to Formal Reasoning and Programming courses, where he applies his deep theoretical knowledge to practical computer science education.

As co-chair of the Functional Programming Laboratory, Professor Altenkirch fosters a vibrant research community focused on advancing functional programming techniques, type systems, and formal methods in software development.