Eindhoven*
We are looking for a strong, motivated PhD candidate with a background
in computer science and/or mathematics for a four-year project on the
intersection between algorithms and probability theory.
*Project description.*
Complex networks are ubiquitous and their failure has severe
consequences. Therefore robustness is an essential property of networks.
The quality of geometric networks like road networks is often measured
based on distances: a good network should provide relatively short
routes between the nodes of the network. Geometric spanners are networks
that have a relatively short route between any pair of nodes. In this
project we will analyze the robustness of geometric spanners under
random failures and develop algorithms to construct and augment spanners
that are robust to random failures. The project is part of the NETWORKS
program (see below) and is a joint project of the Algorithms Group and
the Probability and Statistics Group at the TU Eindhoven, under the
daily supervision of Kevin Buchin and Tim Hulshof, and additional
supervision of Mark de Berg and Remco van der Hofstad.
*Requirements.*
We are looking for a highly motivated candidate who has an MSc in
mathematics or computer science. The candidate should be interested in
algorithms as well as in probability theory, and preferably already have
a good background in at least one of these two areas.
*NETWORKS.*
NETWORKS is a 10-year research program funded by the Dutch Ministry of
Education, Culture and Science through the Netherlands Organisation for
Scientific Research. The NETWORKS consortium consists of top researchers
from four different institutions: University of Amsterdam (UvA),
Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), Leiden University (UL) Center
for Mathematics and Computer Science (CWI). The program started in the
summer of 2014 and covers a broad range of topics dealing with
stochastic and algorithmic aspects of networks. The aim of the programme
is to address the pressing challenges posed by large-scale networks with
the help of stochastics and algorithmics. See
http://www.thenetworkcenter.nl/ for more details.
Through the NETWORKS programme we offer various post-graduate
educational opportunities to our PhDs. This comes mainly in the form of
"Training Weeks", where one or more experts give an intensive week-long
course on a topic relevant to NETWORKS, as well as the opportunity for
PhDs to do a more extensive, guided internship in a different scientific
group (or company) associated with NETWORKS.
*The TU/e Algorithms Group.*
The algorithms group, headed by prof. Mark de Berg, performs fundamental
research in computational geometry, I/O-efficient algorithms, and FPT
and graph algorithms, with applications to, for instance, geographic
information systems. Currently the group consists of Mark de Berg, Kevin
Buchin, Herman Haverkort, and Bart Jansen, and several PhD students.
Hans Bodlaender (Utrecht University) is associated to the group as a
part-time professor.
*The TU/e Stochastics Section.*
The Stochastics section at the TU/e consists of about sixty people
divided into two groups focussing on Probability and Statistics, and on
Stochastic Operations Research, respectively. The Probability and
Statistics group is headed by professors Edwin van den Heuvel and Remco
van der Hofstad. Other members of the group are Rui Castro, Tim Hulshof,
Julia Komjathy, and Francesca Nardi, as well as several postdocs and PhD
students. The research interests of the group are varied, but the main
focus is on probabilistic and statistical aspects of networks, applied
statistics, machine learning, and statistical physics.
Associated with the Stochastics Section is the EURANDOM institute, which
hosts many international workshops on topics related to probability,
statistics and stochastic operations research throughout the year.
*The TU Eindhoven and the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science*.
The TU Eindhoven (TU/e) was established in 1956 as a polytechnic. It has
grown into a university with nine faculties. The TU/e now has
approximately 3000 employees (incl. PhD students) and 8000 BSc and MSc
students. The Department of Computer Science offers several bachelor and
master programs, all of which are taught in English. It has eight
well-established research groups, one of which is the Algorithms Group.
The TU/e campus is in the center of Eindhoven. The city of Eindhoven is
located in the south of the Netherlands. It is a lively city with about
200,000 inhabitants, making it the fifth largest city of the
Netherlands. Including suburbs the population is about 400,000.
Being a PhD student in the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, every PhD
student gets paid a salary; no additional grants are needed. Moreover,
although PhD students sometimes take courses, there is no minimum
requirement. Hence, PhD students are more like employees than like
students. Indeed, the Dutch word for PhD student translates to "research
trainee". The work of a PhD student may include assisting in courses of
BSc or MSc programs of the department. This amounts to at most 20% of
the time; the remaining time is spent on research and research-related
activities. Foreign PhD students need not speak Dutch: it is easy to get
by with English, not only at the university but also in everyday life.
*We offer.*
We offer a PhD position on an exciting topic at the intersection of
algorithms and probability theory. The project will take place in a
strong and stimulating environment: the Algorithms Group and the
Probability and Statistics Group are among the largest and strongest
groups world-wide in their respective research areas, and the embedding
into the NETWORKS project offers great opportunities post-graduate
educational opportunities in the form of training weeks, workshops and
internships. Gross salary ranges from € 2.174 per month in the first
year increasing up to € 2.779 in the fourth year. The TU Eindhoven
offers a broad package of fringe benefits (e.g. excellent technical
infrastructure, child daycare and excellent sports facilities).
*Further information.*
For more information about the project or about the working conditions,
please contact Mark de Berg (mdberg@win.tue.nl
<mailto:mdberg@win.tue.nl>), or Kevin Buchin (k.a.buchin@tue.nl
<mailto:k.a.buchin@tue.nl> ).
*How to apply.*
Applications must be done through the Networks website:
http://www.thenetworkcenter.nl/Open-Positions/openposition/15/PhD-position-on-project-%E2%80%9CRobust-Spanner-Networks-in-the-Face-of-Uncertainty%E2%80%9D-at-TU-Eindhoven
Your application should contain in a combined pdf: a letter of
motivation, CV and a list of courses and grades. In addition, please
provide one or (preferably) two letters of reference. These letters
should be sent directly (by the person providing the letter) to
info@thenetworkcenter.nl <mailto:info@thenetworkcenter.nl> . The subject
line of the email should be: "Letter of recommendation for ..." (with
the name of the applicant inserted).
*Closing Date.*Wed 31 Aug 2016
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