PhD student opening: Technology-aware and Scenario-based Design Space Exploration

I have an opening for a PhD student in the area of system-level embedded system architecture design. More specifically, the Ph.D. student will be involved in the EU-FP7 MADNESS project: Methods for predictAble Design of heterogeNeous Embedded Systems with adaptivity and reliability Support.

The MADNESS project aims at the definition of innovative system-level design methodologies for embedded systems, able to drive the optimal composition of a heterogeneous MultiProcessor System-on-Chip (MPSoC) architecture, according to the requirements and the features of a given target application field. The proposed methodologies will extend the classic concept of design space exploration (DSE), to cope with high heterogeneity, technology scaling, system reliability and multi-application demands, pursuing the following objectives:

Improve design predictability of highly heterogeneous embedded systems, bridging the so called "implementation gap", i.e. the gap between the results that can be predicted during the system-level design phase and those eventually obtained after the on-silicon implementation.
Consider, apart from more traditional constraints (typically, cost, performance, power consumption), continued availability of service, taking into account fault recovery as one of the optimization factors to be satisfied.
Support adaptive runtime management of the architecture.

TASKS: The appointee will perform research on technology-aware system-level DSE of embedded MPSoC architectures as well as on so-called scenario-based DSE techniques for system-level exploration of adaptive MPSoCs.

REQUIREMENTS:

M.Sc. in computer science, computer engineering, or electrical engineering
Decent knowledge of computer architecture
Preferably some expertise in the field of performance analysis by means of analytical techniques and/or simulation
Candidate should be able to work in an international research team
Fluency in oral and written English is required.

APPOINTMENT:

The appointment will be on a temporary basis for a maximum period of four years, with an initial period of eighteen months followed by a further two and a half years subject to a positive appraisal. It is expected to result in a dissertation (PhD thesis). An educational plan that includes attendance of courses and national and international meetings will be drafted. The salary is in accordance with the university regulations for academic personnel, and will range from 2,042 Euro (first year) up to a maximum of 2,612 Euro (last year) per month before tax. The Collective Employment Agreement of the Dutch Universities is applicable.

APPLICATION:

Applications should be emailed to me and should include a letter of motivation and a curriculum vitae. Also please include the names and contact information of two references. The application period will remain open until the position is filled.

For more information, please contact me by email.