PhD Fellow in Computer Science - Accurate and Scalable Simulation of Edge Systems

Arbeidsplassen; Tromsø; On-site; NOK 600,000 - 800,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research university in Norway is offering a PhD Fellowship in Computer Science, focusing on accurate and scalable simulation of edge systems. Candidates should have a Master's degree and strong knowledge of computer systems. The role includes conducting research, literature studies, and publishing results. The position offers flexible working hours and involvement in an intriguing research project.

Benefits

Good career opportunities

Flexible working hours

Pension scheme through the state pension fund

Relocation reimbursement if needed

Qualifications

• Master's degree or equivalent required.
• Good understanding of Linux-based operating systems.
• Experience with edge systems and distributed systems is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Conduct literature studies on edge systems and distributed systems.
• Perform experimental studies with emphasis on time and energy predictions.
• Document research work and publish in Computer Science conferences.

Skills

Strong knowledge in computer systems

Good English communication skills

Familiarity with low-level system programming

Education

Master's degree in Computer Science or related fields

Job description

Overview

PhD Fellow in Computer Science - Accurate and Scalable Simulation of Edge Systems

Are you interested in doing Computer Science research and developing your expertise? A PhD position is available at the Department of Computer Science at UiT The Arctic University of Norway. The research topic is Accurate and Scalable Simulation of Edge Systems. You will be part of the Cyber-Physical Systems group.

The position

The position is for a period of four years. The nominal length of the PhD programme is three years; the fourth year is distributed as 25% teaching and other duties. The objective is to complete research training to the level of a doctoral degree. Admission to the PhD programme is a prerequisite for employment, and the programme period starts with the position.

The workplace is UiT in Tromsø. You must be able to start within a reasonable time after receiving the offer. Preferably Winter/Spring 2026.

The project

Edge systems play an important role within the computing continuum and are central to applications in environmental monitoring, Smart Cities, industrial logistics and smart grids, and health care.

Edge systems are complex and heterogeneous, with distributed nodes that may be mobile and experience connection drops or failures. They use diverse hardware and communication technologies, and must coordinate locally and remotely with other systems (e.g., Cloud). Simulation is a key approach to study distributed systems and can be part of Digital Twins.

This PhD project focuses on proposing a simulation approach that leverages distributed memory architecture to perform distributed simulations on heterogeneous clusters. It requires rigorous parallelization of code and extensive validation experiments. Ultimately, distributed simulation would enable running simulations at scale on cluster nodes, with monitoring and benchmarking integrated into the workflow, to address limitations of state-of-the-art shared-memory approaches.

Duties of the position:

• Conduct an in-depth literature study of edge systems, distributed systems and simulation.
• Perform experimental studies of computer systems with emphasis on time and energy consumption predictions and derive requirements and challenges from the problem statement.
• Design and evaluate a first prototype and perform extensive experiments to identify weaknesses and strengths.
• Investigate and evaluate strategies to overcome weaknesses through numerous experiments.
• Compare predictions of current state-of-the-art simulators with the proposed solution.
• Document research work and publish in Computer Science conferences and journals.
• Opportunity to perform teaching assignments and collaborate with researchers in the area.

Want to know more about the position?

For more information, contact:

• Associate Professor Loïc Guégan: phone [phone], email [e-mail]
• Administrative questions: Martin Fjellvang Osima: phone [phone], email [e-mail]

Qualifications

This position requires:

• A master's degree or equivalent in Computer Science or related fields.
• Strong knowledge and interest in computer systems and research.
• A good understanding of Linux-based operating systems.
• Familiarity with low-level system programming.
• Good English communication skills; proficiency should be documented as equivalent to Norwegian Higher Education Entrance Qualification.
• Documented fluency in English and ability to work in an international environment. Nordic applicants may document English capabilities via high school diploma.

Candidates in the final phase of their Master studies may apply, as explained in the Application section below.

Beneficial if you have:

• Background in distributed systems and simulation.
• Working knowledge of Norwegian or a Scandinavian language.

The assessment emphasizes the applicant’s potential to complete a research education based on the master's thesis or equivalent, and other significant scientific work. Motivation and personal suitability are important.

We are looking for candidates who:

• Have good collaboration skills and effective communication with colleagues and students.
• Want to contribute to a positive working environment.

If you already hold a PhD or have equivalent competence, we will not appoint you to this position.

Admission to the PhD programme

To be employed as a PhD Fellow you must be qualified for admission to the PhD programme and participate in organized doctoral studies within the employment period.

Normal requirements include:

• A bachelor's degree (180 ECTS) and a master's degree (120 ECTS), or an integrated master's degree (300 ECTS).
• Documentation of sufficient potential for research and a master’s degree GPA of C (strong 3.0) or better, including an independent work. Details are available in the admission description.

If employed, you will be provisionally admitted to the PhD programme. Final admission must be submitted within two months after starting the position.

Applicants with foreign education will be evaluated for equivalence to Norwegian higher education following national guidelines. Depending on the country, additional years of study may be required. UiT normally accepts education from Lisbon Recognition Convention countries.

Inclusion and diversity

UiT actively promotes equality, gender balance and diversity and aims to create an inclusive and safe working environment. We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply and will adapt working conditions if needed.

We offer

• Involvement in an interesting research project
• Good career opportunities
• A strong academic environment with dedicated colleagues
• Flexible working hours and a state collective pay agreement
• Pension scheme through the state pension fund
• Salary around 550 800 NOK/year with 3% annual increase
• Relocation reimbursement if needed

Norwegian health policy provides access to health care; employment includes National Insurance Scheme membership with health coverage.

More practical information about working and living in Norway is available at the university site.

How to apply

Your application must include:

• Cover letter outlining motivation and research interests
• CV
• Diploma for bachelor’s and master’s degrees
• Official transcripts of grades for bachelor’s and master’s degrees
• Grading system explanation for foreign education (Diploma Supplement if available)
• Documentation of English proficiency
• References with contact information
• Master’s thesis or other academic works

Qualification with a master’s degree is required before commencement. Applications in progress may be considered with a draft thesis and supervisor statement indicating when degree will be obtained. Transcripts for the master’s degree must be submitted with the application.

All documentation must be in a Scandinavian language or English. Diplomas and transcripts must be in the original language if not in English or Scandinavian. English proficiency must be documented if not already. Applications and documents are accepted via Jobbnorge within the deadline.

General information

The appointment follows State regulations and UiT guidelines. The engagement may be subject to Export Control considerations. After appointment, changes in the area of work are possible.

Remuneration follows the State salary scale code 1017. A 2% compulsory contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund is deducted. You become a member of the pension fund with related benefits and protections. More employee benefits are described by the employer.

The PhD period may be shorter if parts of the research training have already been completed or if there is a related prior qualifying position.

Personal data in applications will be processed in accordance with the Personal Data Act. Applicants may be included in the public applicant list unless a non-disclosure request is made; you will be notified if publication occurs.

Assessment

Applicants will be assessed by an expert committee based on written material and the description for the position. Best-qualified applicants will be invited to an interview to assess motivation and suitability.

About the University

UiT The Arctic University of Norway is a multi-campus, internationally oriented university at the forefront of research in the High North. Our mission includes providing research-based education, high-quality research and strong collaboration with industry and international partners. We value inclusion, diversity and academic integrity in all activities.