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PhD student position Formal Systems at CWI (Amsterdam)

Position Description
====================

The Coordination and Component Based Software group in SEN3 at CWI has an
open position for a PhD student (OIO) for four years.

The PhD student will perform research in the context of the BSIK project
BRICKS (Basic Research in Informatics for Creating the Knowledge Society).
BRICKS addresses the need for a strong impulse in fundamental research in
informatics.

The participation of SEN3 in BRICKS focuses on the component-based
development of large software systems. These components can be viewed as
the basic building blocks out of which larger software systems can be
constructed, by composing the components together within large networks.
Since components in an application are supposed to be highly independent
of each other and of their environment, it is the responsibility of their
connecting network to coordinate their individual activities to ensure
their proper co-operation with one another to form a coherent whole.

Aside from its clear advantages in construction of traditional complex
software, this approach is a vital necessity in the development and
deployment of software for an emerging class of systems that cater to
ubiquitous computing and mobile applications. These systems must always be
on and cannot be shut down or rebooted for software upgrade or
configuration adjustments. On the other hand, they must change in reaction
to the changes in their environment, such as evolving user requirements or
relocation. Incremental, dynamic composition of software out of components
is the only way to accommodate the requirements of such systems. The
component networks of these applications are typically active in that
their various connections will vary and change at run time, reflecting the
dynamic changes in the communication structure of their components.

The main aim of the present PhD research project is the development of
compositional methods, tools, and formal techniques for the dynamic
composition of components, the validation of their composition, and the
validation of components themselves.

The candidate for the PhD position should have a masters degree in
computer science or mathematics, with a clear interest in questions in the
field of theoretical computer science. Ideally, the candidate has a
background in such topics in theoretical computer science as automata
theory, semantics and proof theory.

The Theme SEN3 (http://www.cwi.nl/sen3) at CWI is a dynamic group of
internationally recognized researchers who work on Coordination Models and
Languages and Component-Based Software Composition.  The activity in SEN3
is a productive, healthy mix of theoretical, foundational, and
experimental work in Computer Science, ranging in a spectrum covering
mathematical foundations of models of computation, formal methods and
semantics, implementation of advanced research software systems, as well
as their real-life applications.


General information ===================

CWI is an internationally renowned research institute in mathematics and
computer science, located in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The focus is on
fundamental research problems, derived from societal needs. Research is
carried out in 15 research themes. More information about these themes can
be found on the website www.cwi.nl where you can also take a look at our
Annual Reports. A substantial part of this research is carried out in the
framework of national or international programs.

CWI maintains excellent relations with industry and the academic world, at
home as well as abroad. After their research careers at CWI, an increasing
number of young staff members find employment in these sectors, for
example in spin-off companies that are based on research results from CWI.
Of course, library and computing facilities at CWI are first-rate. CWI's
non-scientific services to its personnel include career planning, training
& courses, assistance in finding housing, and tailor-made solutions to
problems that may occasionally arise.

Terms of employment
===================

The salary is in accordance with the "CAO-onderzoekinstellingen" and is
commensurate with experience.  Effective October 2004, the starting salary
for a first year PhD student is around 1750 Euros/month with an
incremental raise for each subsequent year.

Besides the salary, CWI offers very attractive and flexible terms of
employment, like a collective health insurance, pension-fund, etc.

Application
===========

For more information on these vacancies you can contact either of the
PIs:

     F. Arbab, telephone +31-20-5924056, e-mail Farhad.Arbab@cwi.nl
     F.S. de Boer, telephone +31-20-592-4139, email F.S.de.Boer@cwi.nl

Official applications, together with curriculum vitae, letters of
references, and lists of publications must be sent to Mrs. J. Koster,
head of Personnel Department, P.O. box 94079, 1090 GB Amsterdam,
The Netherlands.