PhD Research Fellow in Computer Science, on Computing for High Energy Physics

Arbeidsplassen; Bergen; On-site; NOK 480,000 - 540,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Good occupational pension

Teaching and training opportunities

Academic environment

Job summary

Western Norway University of Applied Sciences in Bergen invites applications for a PhD Research Fellow in Computer Science, focusing on Computing for High Energy Physics. The three-year position (with potential extension to four years) is based at Campus Bergen and tied to the PhD programme in Computer Science: Software Engineering, Sensor Networks and Engineering Computing.

The fellow will engage in GRID computing for ALICE data with JAliEn middleware and publish in international venues.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in computer science or closely related field.
• Candidates who have submitted a master’s thesis may qualify if degree is awarded within 4 weeks after the deadline.
• Experience with Grid computing and high-volume data processing.
• Experience with High Throughput Computing (HTC) and using cloud resources.
• Programming in Java and C++; knowledge of databases and SQL optimization.

Skills

Java programming

C++ programming

HTC

Grid computing

SQL optimization

Education

Master's degree in computer science

Tools

JAliEn middleware

Job description

PhD Research Fellow in Computer Science, on Computing for High Energy Physics

Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

Stillingstittel PhD Research Fellow in Computer Science, on Computing for High Energy Physics

The Department of Computer Science, Electrical Engineering and Mathematical Sciences at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, has a vacancy for a research fellow (PhD position) in Computer Science

About the position:

The PhD research fellow will be part of the PhD programme in Computer Science: Software Engineering, Sensor Networks and Engineering Computing (https://www.hvl.no/en/research/phd-programmes/phd-programme-in-computer-science/). The research programme in Computer Science currently includes 20 professors and associate professors, more than 30 PhD and post-doctoral fellows, and a large number of master’s students.

The position is offered for a three-year period, with the possibility of a one-year extension.

The place of employment is Campus Bergen.

About the PhD project:

Grid computing is a method for automatically distributing batch-style computing tasks on a global network of heterogeneous computing centers. ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment) – one of the four large experiments at the CERN LHC – uses Grid resources to process large quantities of its collected data. A grid middleware is the software stack used to interface with participating resources/clusters within the Grid. The ALICE experiment has developed its own middleware solution, JAliEn, the Java ALICE Environment. The JAliEn is deployed at CERN, and also on sites all around the world to manage the huge amount of data that is produced by the ALICE detector. The middleware is still under development. Urgent topics are concerned with the performance, stability and job scheduling in JAliEn. All these concerns will be topics for project. The goal of the project is better utilization of the limited computing resource available to manage the extreme amounts of data produced by the ALICE detector.

Research environment

The computer science research environment at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences has a strong focus on use-inspired and applied research, and on ICT as an enabling technology. The research environment has cooperation with many national and international research groups, and with national and regional industry partners. The research programme includes the research themes of software engineering, engineering computing, sensor networks and measurement technologies, grid computing and physics data analysis, machine learning, and interactive and collaborative systems. The prospective PhD candidate will work in close cooperation with staff, the JAliEn group at CERN and our current master and PhD students working on JAliEn and related topics. PhD research fellows receive an annual work expense funding which can be used for conference participation, research visits, and equipment.

Qualifications:

The PhD research fellow must hold a master's degree in computer science or in a closely related field. Candidates who have submitted a master’s thesis (but who has not yet been awarded a master’s degree) may also qualify for the position provided that the master`s degree is awarded within 4 weeks after the application deadline.

A solid background in one or more of the following fields will be considered an advantage when candidates are ranked:
Grid computing and experience with high volume data processing
High Throughput Computing (HTC) and using cloud resources for this purpose
Programming in Java and C++
Database- and SQL optimization

Candidates already holding a PhD within this field are not eligible for this position.

In addition to the required educational and scientific background, the following criteria will be evaluated: competence and grades on completed course work, quality of the master's thesis (excellent grade, equivalent of grade B or better on the ECTS grading system), publications (if any), research and teaching experience, practical software engineering skills and experience.

A possible outline of a research plan for a potential PhD project will also be taken into account.

The candidate must be diligent and display the ability to work independently, supplemented with regular guidance, and is expected to carry out high-quality research and to publish the results in international workshops, conferences, and journals.

The PhD research fellow must enrol in the PhD programme in Computer Science: Software Engineering, Sensor Networks and Engineering Computing at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, and must meet the formal admission requirements for admission into the PhD programme. The position is announced for a period of 3 years. During the first year of appointment, it will be possible to apply for an extension to 4 years, with 25% of the 4-year period to be designated to duties such as teaching, development and administrative tasks. The employment period may be reduced if the successful applicant has held previous employment as a research fellow.

The PhD candidate will be assigned two academic supervisor(s) at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. An application for enrolment should first be submitted after an appointment is made and the supervisor(s) will help with this procedure. The candidate must be enrolled as a PhD student within 3 months from the start of the employment. Western Norway University of Applied Sciences is subjected to the regulation for export control system. The regulation might be applied in the processing of the applications.

Salary:

• Good occupational pension, insurance and loan schemes from The Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Exciting academic environment with the possibility of competence enhancement and development
• Opportunities for training within the working hours

The Research Fellow position is compensated according to position code 1017 Research Fellow.

There is a compulsory 2 % deduction to the pension fund (see http://www.spk.no for more information). The successful applicant must comply with the guidelines that apply to the position at any time.

General information:

The appointment will be made in accordance with the regulations for State employees Law in Norway ("Lov om statens ansatte"). Organizational changes and changes in the duties and responsibilities associated with the position must be expected.

State employment shall reflect the multiplicity of the population at large to the highest possible degree. Western Norway University of Applied Sciences Bergen has therefore adopted a personnel policy objective to ensure that we achieve a balanced age and gender composition and the recruitment of persons of various ethnic backgrounds.

Information about the applicant may be made public even though the applicant has requested not to be named in the list of applicants. The applicant will be notified if his/her request is not respected.

Short-listed applicants will be called in for an interview.

Employed on condition that you are granted a work and residence permit (must be considered individually).

Western Norway University of Applied Sciences is subjected to The Export Control Regulation. The regulation will be applied in the processing of the applications.

Contacts:

1)Associate Professor Bjarte Wang-Kileng
phone: [phone]
e-mail: [e-mail]

2)Deputy institute leader Pål Ellingsen
phone: [phone]
e-mail: [e-mail]

Inclusion, challenging norms, collaboration

Homepage

With about 17,500 students, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences is one of the largest higher education institutions in Norway. A broad range of academic programmes are offered at Bachelor, Master and PhD levels, spread out on five campuses Førde, Sogndal, Bergen, Stord og Haugesund.

Our ambition is to build stronger and more solid academic and research environments that will interact nationally and internationally. The aim is to become a recognized actor on the international higher education arena. Increased international cooperation and engagement in externally funded projects will work towards this goal.

The Faculty of Engineering and Science has approximately 370 employees and approximately 3,260 students. The faculty has a broad educational offer at both bachelor's and master's level in engineering and science, as well as PhD education in computer technology. The Mohns Center for Innovation and Regional Development researches innovation and offers master's education in innovation and entrepreneurship. The diving education offers a one-year vocational school education.

The main part of the faculty's activities are in Haugesund, Bergen, Sogndal and Førde, but we also offer decentralized education in Florø, Kristiansund and Stord.
The faculty's activities are internationally based and take place in close collaboration with regional companies, clusters, health trusts and the public sector, including other institutions in the university and college sector. This applies to research, development, innovation and not least education with student projects at all levels.