PhD position Assurances for Decentralized Self-Adaptive Systems

Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Technology – Växjö Campus

Research Environment
The Department of Computer Science carries out research in three main subjects: Program Analysis and Information Quality, Software and Information Visualization, and Software Architecture and Self-Adaptive Systems. Currently, 30 staff members work at the Department, running various national and European projects that focus on both fundamental and applied research. The Department has a strong connection with the environment and in this capacity leads the Information Engineering Center (lnu.se/IEC) that provides an IT cluster and meeting place for research, industry and public actors.

Linnaeus University has adopted a strategy for achieving equal conditions for all its employees and students within the university’s fields of activity, which means e.g. a uniform gender distribution within the professorial staff.

Description of the position
The research project will be carried out in the group of Software Architecture and Self-Adaptive Systems under supervision of Prof. Danny Weyns. The goal of the research is to study and develop a formally founded approach to provide assurances for decentralized self-adaptive systems. The approach will combine formal methods with principles for control theory and learning. The research will be empirically validated in the domain of smart homes. The research is funded by the Swedish Research Council. For a short description of the project, see http://homepage.lnu.se/staff/daweaa/projects/projects.htm

In addition to the research, the position includes up to 20% teaching support at the Computer Science Department.

General entry requirements

A person meets the general entry requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if he or she:

- has been awarded a second-cycle qualification- has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle, or

- has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

The higher education institution may permit an exemption from the general entry requirements for an individual applicant, if there are special grounds. Ordinance (2010:1064).

Assessment criteria/Qualifications

Candidates should have Master degree in Computer Science or in a closely related subject. The successful candidate has excellent analytical skills, is a committed researcher with a drive for excellence; she or he is a team player, but can also work independently. Very good skills to express her- or himself scientifically in written and spoken English are a prerequisite. Prior research experience or the ability to readily get knowledgeable in one or more of the following topics is a significant plus: self-adaptive systems, formal methods, control theory, machine learning, and empirical validation.

Special weight is given to the applicant’s ability to contribute to an attractive interdisciplinary research environment (which is particularly relevant for the domain of smart homes) and perform research in cooperation with industry and public actors.

Terms of employment
The vacancy is a fully funded full-time appointment with the objective to obtain a PhD.

Information
Questions regarding the research area and the profile in particular should be directed to Prof. Danny Weyns, +46 (0)470 767548, danny.weyns@lnu.se

Head of the Department, Jesper Andersson +46 (0)470 708460, jesper.andersson@lnu.se

Union representatives can be accessed via the university switchboard, +46 (0)772 288000. Matters of employment will be answered by staff consultant Carina Axelsson, carina.axelsson@lnu.se

Your application (in English) must be registered no later than January 31, 2014. Ref.no is: PA 2013/567-2-2-1. More information can be found on the Linnaeus University homepage, under the heading Jobs and Vacancies, where you apply. The following appendices are mandatory with the application via the website: motivation letter (in which you motivate why you are an excellent candidate for the position), CV, degree certificates, and copies of up to three prior publications. The candidate should also organize at least two letters of recommendation (with the authors’ telephone number and e-mail) to be sent directly to Danny Weyns.