[DMANET] Doctoral Research Fellowship (PhD) in Computer Science: Interdisciplinary connectivity as part of the i-CONN Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions ITN

Interdisciplinary connectivity: Understanding and managing complex systems using connectivity science

Job title: Doctoral Research Fellowship (PhD)
Title: Structure in patterns in ordered datasets with applications in Astrophysics, Neuroscience and Archaeology
Location: European University Cyprus<http://www.euc.ac.cy>.
Duration: 3 years
Closing date: 30th January 2020
Contacts: Vicky Papadopoulou Lesta: v.papadopoulou@euc.ac.cy

Gross Living Allowance: 32 400 per year plus mobility and family allowance.
Salary is subject to deduction of national taxes and employer's costs.

General Info: The position concerns a paid PhD scholarship for the program PhD in Computing/Computer Science of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at European University Cyprus<http://www.euc.ac.cy>. It is offered within the context of the i-CONN project (Agreement no. 859937) (http://www.iconn.network/) funded by the Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network (ITN) project funded by the European Commission, under their H2020 program. The network consists of 10 Universities and three partner organisations across Europe, and brings together scientists from Astrophysics, Computer Science, Ecology, Geomorphology, Hydrology, Neuroscience, Systems Biology and Social Science. The goal of i-CONN is to train a new cohort of researchers specialized in the developing field of Connectivity Science who will be capable of developing interdisciplinary approaches to connectivity across a range of disciplines and real-life applications in the next five to 10 years.

PhD Research project
The project will delve on classic and powerful techniques related to complex systems, such as graph theory, probability theory and statistics, as well as modern and promising ones such as Network Science, machine learning and data mining techniques and tools. The techniques will be explored together with application based specialized knowledge in order to provide a rigorous theoretical and algorithmic framework for the identification of semantics networks applicable to the data from different disciplines, such as Astrophysics, Neuroscience and Archaeology. For the astrophysics application, the project will address problems related to galaxy evolution and cosmology. For the neuroscience application, the project will utilize techniques for dynamic network analysis to extract detailed descriptions of early visual processing of the brain (first 200 milliseconds) and relate them to late processing where semantics become important. The archaeology work involves investigation of a possible relation of the evolution of ancient pottery images to how the visual system (of the central nervous system) analyses information.

Objectives: (1) To apply Bayesian inferencing and graph-theory based methodologies to facilitate the development of a powerful theoretical framework for the identification of semantics networks applicable to the data from different disciplines; (2) Development of efficient algorithms for automatically extracting the semantics networks from the data and the domain knowledge and their implementation in a unified software tool; (3) Application and adaptation of the software tool for the analysis of data in astrophysics, neuroscience and archaeology.

Expected Results: (1) Understanding the minimal common mathematical structures that can be used to derive identification of semantics networks that transform the data in each discipline into meaningful descriptions; (2) Translating the knowledge in (1) into software tools; (3) Apply these tools in the targeted disciplines.
The project includes research collaboration with Durham University (UK) and the company AAI Scientific Cultural Services Ltd (CY).

Applying for this position
To register your interest in applying for this position and to ask for any further information, please contact Dr Vicky Papadopoulou Lesta (email: mailto:v.papadopoulou@euc.ac.cy). To apply for this position, we require a copy of your CV, degree transcripts, motivation letter and the names of 2 referees. Please indicate in your motivation letter if you are interested in being considered for any of the other PhD positions in our network (and that you are happy for your data to be shared with the respective institution).

To apply for this position<https://ahpc.euc.ac.cy/i-conn-ESR7/> follow this link: https://ahpc.euc.ac.cy/i-conn-ESR7/
Context
This research fellowship programme (PhD) will be carried out within the context of the i-CONN network, a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions– Innovative Training Network (ITN) – project funded by the European Commission, under their H2020 program. Through the project activities, the Fellows/PhD students will have the opportunity to come in contact and collaborate with some of the best European research groups. English is the official language of the i-CONN project. Additional details are available in "Further particulars".

Responsibilities
1. Perform high quality research in the bespoke research project under the guidance of the supervisory team.
2. Meet the members of the supervisory team on a regular basis.
3. Participate in the activities of the Network as specified in the Grant Agreement and/or required by the node coordinator, including secondments in other network nodes and taking part in the network meetings and in the training activities.
4. Write up the results of the research activity and present research papers and publications at meetings and conferences, as advised by the supervisors, and contribute to the overall goals of the network.
5. Widen the personal knowledge in the research area and undertake complementary training.
6. Keep records of the activities, such as research, training, secondments, visits, leave of absence, etc.

Person Specification

The successful candidates must satisfy the eligibility criteria (see below ) and have:
1. An excellent academic record in a quantitative discipline, including, but not restricted to: Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Astrophysics, Neuroscience or related areas.
2. A keen interest in pursuing research in the development of Connectivity Science.
3. The ability to work independently and as a member of a research team.
4. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
5. A good command of English language, with excellent oral and written skills.
6. Good background in Algorithms, Graph Theory or/and Network Science.
7. Very good programming skills.

* Note that female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.

Eligibility Criteria
To satisfy the eligibility requirements set for an Early Stage Researcher funded by Marie Skłodowska-Curie and you must be eligible to be appointed as an Early Stage Researcher:
1. Should have — at the date of recruitment — less than 4 years of a research career, and not have a doctoral degree. The 4 years are measured from the date when they obtained the degree which would formally entitle them to embark on a PhD, either in the country where the degree was obtained or in the country where the PhD is provided.
2. Trans-national mobility: The applicant — at the date of recruitment— should not have resided in the country where the research training takes place for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to recruitment, and not have carried out their main activity (work ,studies, etc.) in that country. For refugees under the Geneva Convention (1951 Refugee Convention and the 1967 Protocol), the refugee procedure (i.e. before refugee status is conferred) will not be counted as 'period of residence/activity in the country of the beneficiary'.
3. Satisfy the eligibility requirements to enroll on a PhD degree. This includes acceptable English language requirements if English is not your first language.

Further particulars

Allowance eligibility depends on the personal circumstances of the fellow:
Marie Sklodowska-Curie PhDs are paid a competitive gross salary of 3,270 € per month, adjusted for their host country, a Mobility Allowance of 600 € per month and, for researchers who have a family, a Family Allowance of 500 € per month. All amounts are subject to employers and employees deductions and taxes.
Family is defined as persons linked to the researcher by (i) marriage, or (ii) a relationship with equivalent status to a marriage recognised by the national legislation of the country of the beneficiary or of nationality of the researcher, or (iii) dependent children who are actually being maintained by the researcher; family status is determined at recruitment and does not evolve.

The i-CONN project
In recent years, parallel developments in disciplines as disparate as Ecology, Geomorphology, Neuroscience, Social Science and Systems Biology have focused on what is termed connectivity. In its simplest form, connectivity is a description of the level of connectedness within a system, and can be quantified in terms of structural connectivity (SC) which describes how elements within a system are physically or spatially connected, and functional connectivity (FC) which describes how the strength/presence of these connections varies over space and time.

In all of these disciplines, connectivity has been a transformative concept in understanding and describing what are considered to be complex systems, allowing unprecedented analysis of how such systems behave. Connectivity research is more than a way of grouping elements in a system together
based on their SC, but is driven by the notion that a structural network will systematically shape the dynamical processes (and hence the function) within this system. As a consequence, relationships between structural and functional connectivities need to be evaluated and studied on all topological scales. Whilst conceptualisations and approaches to quantify connectivity have evolved largely within their disciplinary boundaries, similarities in the concept and its application among disciplines are also evident.

i-CONN will exploit synergies among different conceptualisations and applications of connectivity. For example, we will evaluate statistical approaches and mathematical theories that have arisen across a range of disciplines in order that we might develop generic connectivity tools to understand better the characteristics of complex systems. i-CONN will provide interdisciplinary training integrating knowledge and methods from different disciplines and stakeholders from the public, private and NGO sectors, using a synthesis of approaches that will lead to transdisciplinarity, whereby a unity of intellectual frameworks will be created beyond the disciplinary perspectives.

i-CONN brings together leading academic and non-academic partners across Europe from those disciplines that have led advances in Connectivity Science with the goal of training a new generation of experts in the application of connectivity concepts to advance both research and practical understanding to address this need. i-CONN will train ESRs to become experts with a unique skill set that includes interdisciplinary scientific techniques and applications of Connectivity Science, to address real-world challenges through a bespoke series of specialized training courses and secondments.


The i-CONN network

Coordinator: Durham University, Durham UK.

i-CONN Beneficiaries
AAI Scientific Cultural Services Ltd. (Cyprus), Aix-Marseille University (France), BOKU (Austria), Durham University (UK), European University Cyprus (Cyprus), Jacobs University (Germany), Masaryk University (Czech Republic), MODUL University Vienna (Austria), Environment Agency (UK), University of Vienna (Austria).

i-CONN partners
IIASA (Austria), The University of Sheffield (UK), University of Groningan (Netherlands)

Data protection
The i-CONN Network is committed to respecting the confidentiality of the information provided by the applicant: personal data collected for the present proceeding will be processed for the sole purposes connected with and instrumental to the selection procedure and the eventual management of the job contact, in conformity with the current provisions. The person responsible for the Personal Data Handling is the principal investigator at the host institution.

Note
The announcement is available online here<https://ahpc.space/i-conn-esr7/>. More info for all the 15 PhD positions available in Connectivity Science as part of the i-CONN Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions ITN can be found here<../i-CONN%20joint%20job%20advert.pdf> or in Euraxess portal<https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/466601>.

Vicky Papadopoulou Lesta
Associate Professor,
Department of Computer Science and Engineering<cse.euc.ac.cy>
European University Cyprus<euc.ac.cy>

















________________________________

The information contained in this communication is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed and others authorized to receive it. It may contain confidential or legally privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by responding to this email and then delete it from your system. European University Cyprus & Cyprus College is neither liable for the proper and complete transmission of the information contained in this communication nor for any delay in its receipt. If based on the relationship with EUC or Cyprus College, received personal data of students or employees, these data can be kept for as long as the relationship exists or according to the contract signed. All personal data shared must be deleted as soon as the relationship is terminated.
**********************************************************
*
* Contributions to be spread via DMANET are submitted to
*
* DMANET@zpr.uni-koeln.de
*
* Replies to a message carried on DMANET should NOT be
* addressed to DMANET but to the original sender. The
* original sender, however, is invited to prepare an
* update of the replies received and to communicate it
* via DMANET.
*
* DISCRETE MATHEMATICS AND ALGORITHMS NETWORK (DMANET)
* http://www.zaik.uni-koeln.de/AFS/publications/dmanet/
*
**********************************************************