Recruitment Offer

12 fully funded PhD positions in MSCA-DN Project RELAX

Are you interested in efficient data analytics and data-intensive software systems? Check out below our 12 fully funded PhD positions to work with leading European researchers to advance the frontiers of data analytics systems.

The RELAX Doctoral Network is funded by the European Union and is part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions – Doctoral Networks (MSCA-DN) programme. The network brings together 5 cross-disciplinary research groups and 7 industry partners to train a new generation of industry-conscious thinkers and leaders who will influence the design and operation of future data analytics systems. It is a consortium of high-profile researchers from various universities, research institutions, and companies spanning 8 European countries (the Netherlands, France, Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Ireland, Greece, and the UK).

We offer exceptional opportunities for promising young students to work on cutting-edge topics in data analytics systems and data-intensive software systems to address the question of how relaxing the semantics of data analytics can enhance the capabilities of data analytics systems, both functionally and performance-wise. To address this question, the RELAX doctoral network will offer a research platform and training program for the Fellows to study the interplay and interdependencies between data, algorithmic semantics, application domain considerations and performance characteristics of computing systems.

The alumni of MSCA-DNs have formed a vibrant community. Check their website:  https://www.mariecuriealumni.eu/ for more information on the benefits of being part of a  MSCA-DN.

Keywords:  Data analytics and data-intensive software systems, qualitative aspects of analytics, indexing and summarization, workflow analysis and optimization, heterogeneous data, graph analytics, ML and DNN training and inference, compression and approximation, computer arithmetic, concurrency and relaxation, parallel and distributed algorithms and synchronizations.

Career Stage: Doctoral Candidates (DCs). These are 3-year PhD positions open for graduated students (Master or equivalent).

Application procedure for 12 PhD positions in the RELAX Project

All 12 PhD positions are described in detail here: https://blogs.qub.ac.uk/relax-dn/dc-research-projects/

All 12 PhD positions are listed below with their project-hosting institutions. A link to the application form is given next to the title of the project in the below list. This link will take you to the application portal of the project-hosting institution.

Candidates may submit applications to different institutions within the network. In this case a list of preference should be provided.

There are different deadlines for applications for the different projects, the first deadline for applications (projects #1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12 below)  is the 7th of May 2023, the deadlines for the other projects will follow shortly.

List of our 12 PhD Projects

Project Number

Project Title

Hosting Institution

Application link

1

Continuous/concurrent data summarization

Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden

Link to Chalmers offer

2

Staleness and Asynchrony for performance gains in in deep learning and iterative large data processing

Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden

Link to Chalmers offer

3

Integrating event stream processing in ML and analytics systems

Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden

Link to Chalmers offer

4

Data-centric analytics modelling for complex tasks

The Institute of Communication and Computer Systems/National Technical University of Athens, Greece

Link to ICCS offer

5

Analytics modelling over uncertain and variable data inputs

The Institute of Communication and Computer Systems/National Technical University of Athens, Greece

Link to ICCS offer

6

Numeric Accuracy and Reproducibility in Deep Learning Training and Inference

Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

Link to TCD offer

7

Arithmetic and Number Systems for Deep Learning

Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

Link to TCD offer

8

Transparent Data Management and Verification

Århus University, Denmark

Link to AU offer
9Interaction techniques for adaptable models and streaming data systemsÅrhus University, DenmarkLink to AU offer
10Efficient and responsible analytics for urban mobility and allied applicationsQueen’s University Belfast, UKLink to QUB offer
11Interactive and Intelligent exploration of big complex dataQueen’s University Belfast, UKLink to QUB offer
12Application-Aware Relaxed Synchronisation for Distributed Graph ProcessingQueen’s University Belfast, UKLink to QUB offer

Requirements

Research Field: Computer Science (Computer Engineering / Computer Systems)

Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent

Languages: English Level: excellent

Skills/Qualifications: We are looking for highly motivated, self-propelled, energetic, independent, and creative individuals with strong analytical and problem-solving skills willing to leave their footprint on science. Candidates should hold or expected to hold by September 2023 an MSc (or equivalent) in computer science and engineering or in a related discipline within the last 3 years.

Specific Requirements

  • Have a deep interest in big data analysis.
  • Be passionate about doing research and have or be willing to develop the skills to communicate this passion with other scientists and the general public.
  • Have relevant skills and experiences, and a strong interest in both theoretical and applied science.
  • Welcome the opportunity to conduct research abroad and to work within an international and multidisciplinary team.
  • Hold an MSc (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline (which can be, but is not limited to computer science, computer engineering, applied mathematics, computer systems).
  • Be an eligible candidate according to the eligibility conditions indicated below.

Additional Information

Benefits

Successful candidates will receive an attractive salary following the MSCA regulations for doctoral candidates. The exact salary will be confirmed upon appointment and is dependent on the host country (to allow for the difference in the cost of living in different EU Member States).

The salary includes a living allowance (€40.800/year *(correction factor to be applied per country)), a mobility allowance (€600), and a family allowance (if the recruited doctoral candidate has or acquires family obligations during the duration of the fellowship).

The guaranteed PhD funding is for 36 months. In addition to their individual scientific projects, all doctoral candidates will benefit from further training, which includes internships/secondments in relevant industry, a variety of training courses (including transferable skills), and active participation in workshops and conferences.

Eligibility criteria

Applicants need to fully respect three eligibility criteria:

  1. Supported researchers must be Doctoral Candidates (DC), i.e., not already in possession of a doctoral degree at the date of the recruitment. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will not be considered eligible.
  2. Recruited researchers can be of any nationality and must undertake trans-national mobility (i.e., move from one country to another) when taking up the appointment. In particular, at the time of selection by the host organization, researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of their host organization for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment. Short stays, such as holidays, are not taken into account.
  3. The candidates’ ability to understand and express themselves in both written and spoken English should be sufficiently high for them to derive the full benefit from the network training.

Selection process

Candidates should apply electronically using the above link(s) indicated in the PhD position(s) of their interest.

Candidates should provide the following documents.

  1. a detailed CV, including information on the candidate’s proficiency in English
  2. a motivation letter
  3. additional documents that could help to evaluate the applicants’ education/training (specified in the application portal of each institution, e.g. copies of bachelor and/or master’s thesis, attested copies and transcripts of completed education, grades and other certificates, links to software repositories with relevant projects.)

The selected (short-listed) candidates will be

  • Asked to provide two references, and
  • Invited for an interview by the supervisors.

The final decision on whom to recruit will be made by the selection committee. For the positions with deadline the 07th of May we expect the decisions to be made before 30st June 2023.

The selected DCs are to start their research before 1st November 2023.