PhD on streaming data management

Job description

This is a 5-years paid PhD position. The position will be with the Database group of the TU Eindhoven. You will join a vibrant team of 5 permanent researchers/academics and 8 PhD students, and collaborate with other top research institutes across Europe. You will participate in cutting-edge research, publish your work in leading conferences and journals for data management (SIGMOD, VLDB, TODS, TKDE), and contribute to open-source tools. You will travel to present your work to international conferences, and to meet world-class academics.

You will be supervised by dr. Odysseas Papapetrou. You will work on management and analytics for data streams. Data streams are omnipresent, and it is expected that, by 2025, 90% of the big companies will be exploiting such data to drive real-time intelligence (https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS49936122). Accordingly, the big tech companies invest Millions on developing streaming solutions and platforms to support efficient stream processing. Still, compared to the case of static-stored data, the current progress in streaming algorithms is far from satisfactory.

One of the possible ways to handle data streams is by the use of synopses, to summarize the streams (https://dsf.berkeley.edu/cs286/papers/synopses-fntdb2012.pdf). In this project, you will work on designing, developing, and evaluating synopses to address novel challenges. You will contribute to open-source code, and disseminate your results by writing papers. The ultimate goal is to build a synopses-powered stream analytics engine, with capabilities on par to the ones offered by state-of-the-art databases for static data.

This is a Teaching PhD position. Throughout your PhD you will spend some time helping with the teaching of relevant courses (e.g., by running instruction sessions, and by correcting students' homework). You will also have the opportunity to obtain teaching qualifications. 

Job requirements

• BSc and MSc degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, or a closely related field. At least 5 years of study.
• Good statistical background and knowledge of probability theory
• Programming in Java or C/C++
• English language proficiency, demonstrated by tests (IELTS/TOEFL)
• Ability to read scientific papers
• Ability to write mathematical proofs in a clear and understandable way

Will be considered an advantage:

• Experience using high-performance computing to run experiments (e.g., through the use of slurm)
• Experience with Linux, command-line, bash scripting
• Past experience as a teaching assistant or student assistant

Conditions of employment

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation (go/no-go) after nine months. You will spend 10% of your employment on teaching tasks.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. €2,770 max. €3,539).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates. 

Information and application

About us

Eindhoven University of Technology is an internationally top-ranking university in the Netherlands that combines scientific curiosity with a hands-on attitude. Our spirit of collaboration translates into an open culture and a top-five position in collaborating with advanced industries. Fundamental knowledge enables us to design solutions for the highly complex problems of today and tomorrow. 

Curious to hear more about what it’s like as a PhD candidate at TU/e? Please view the video.

Information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more?
Please contact the hiring manager Odysseas Papapetrou, o.papapetrou@tue.nl.

Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. You can also contact HRServices.MCS@tue.nl.

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.

Application

We invite you to submit a complete application by using the apply button. The application should include a:

• Your CV
• Detailed grades
• A cover letter (1 page max.) that briefly describes your motivation for your application, and what makes you a good candidate for this position. Make sure that your cover letter also mentions your grades for the courses you consider relevant to this position.
• A short research proposal (1 page max.) that outlines what you want to do for your PhD, in the context of synopses.
• Contact details of two-three referees, who may be contacted for more information. 

We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible. The vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.