<p>I am partway through my PhD studying deep learning. I chose it just because it's useful and would yield a lot of industry opportunities. However, I am really missing my previous coursework in computability theory and complexity theory. I would like to get involved in this area of math/cs. Does anyone know how I can do so? Should I just finish my PhD and do a postdoc? Are there many postdocs available for math logic/cs theory and would they take someone who studied AI with no research experience in that area?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-25T11:13:29.030Z
That would depend a lot on *where* you are doing your PhD (currently), and whether there are any faculty there working on computability and complexity theory — you may want to provide these details.
Clement C.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-25T16:15:29.747Z
@ClementC. Yeah so a big issue is that there's no faculty doing that in my university right now. It's also not ranked very high. Do you think I could jump somewhere else to study this?
JobHunter69
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-26T10:03:33.657Z
The first thing that comes to mind is: have you talked to your PhD advisor(s)? What do they say/suggest? Unless there is a good reason not to ask them, they would be much better placed (given available info, etc.) to provide you valuable advice than us.
Clement C.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-28T02:51:17.313Z
As a first step, I would recommend aiming at building some bridges between the areas.  Identify a problem in deep learning that has open complexity status, and try to resolve it. Try to find reductions between deep learning tasks. Or try to prove some upper/lower bounds on running times for deep learning algorithms. Try to  investigate what happens if you allow using oracles in deep learning algorithms. Which algorithm can gain a speed-up? How much is the speed-up, which oracles can provide it, and how? Such results can place you on the borderline and then allow moving into either area.
Andras Farago
<cc.complexity-theory><computability><research-practice>
How can I switch into computability theory when I am part way through my PhD in deep learning?
JobHunter69
# How can I switch into computability theory when I am part way through my PhD in deep learning?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-03-25)

I am partway through my PhD studying deep learning. I chose it just because it's useful and would yield a lot of industry opportunities. However, I am really missing my previous coursework in computability theory and complexity theory. I would like to get involved in this area of math/cs. Does anyone know how I can do so? Should I just finish my PhD and do a postdoc? Are there many postdocs available for math logic/cs theory and would they take someone who studied AI with no research experience in that area?

**Tags:** cc.complexity-theory, computability, research-practice
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: That would depend a lot on *where* you are doing your PhD (currently), and whether there are any faculty there working on computability and complexity theory — you may want to provide these details.  
> **username_0**: @ClementC. Yeah so a big issue is that there's no faculty doing that in my university right now. It's also not ranked very high. Do you think I could jump somewhere else to study this?  
> **username_1**: The first thing that comes to mind is: have you talked to your PhD advisor(s)? What do they say/suggest? Unless there is a good reason not to ask them, they would be much better placed (given available info, etc.) to provide you valuable advice than us.  
> **username_2**: As a first step, I would recommend aiming at building some bridges between the areas.  Identify a problem in deep learning that has open complexity status, and try to resolve it. Try to find reductions between deep learning tasks. Or try to prove some upper/lower bounds on running times for deep learning algorithms. Try to  investigate what happens if you allow using oracles in deep learning algorithms. Which algorithm can gain a speed-up? How much is the speed-up, which oracles can provide it, and how? Such results can place you on the borderline and then allow moving into either area.  

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## 0 answers

