3 PhD positions in Computer Science and Embedded Systems - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The Department of Information Technology has a leading position in research and education. The Department currently has about 300 employees, including 120 teachers and 110 PhD students. More than 4000 students study one or more courses at the department each year. You can find more information about us at the webpage of the department.

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Duties/project description
The functionality as well as economical value of many industrial systems and products, for instance cars, airplanes, drones/blimps, and medical devices, is today defined and realized by embedded software. A key challenge in the design of such systems is the ability to update software (e.g., to add new features, to customize a system, or to fix security vulnerabilities) without compromising the overall safety and security. This is extremely difficult due to the complexity of today’s software and hardware architectures, with the result that safe system updates after deployment become nearly impossible. Uppsala University has two new exciting projects about updatable, next-generation embedded systems: the project CUSTOMER, funded as an ERC Advanced Grant, and the project UPDATE, funded by the KA Wallenberg Foundation. The projects bring together world-leading research groups in several areas related to Embedded Systems Design and Implementation: the Uppsala Networked Objects group, the Verification and Testing group, and the Embedded Systems group. Please see Embedded systems for more details.

The project will develop the following: a new system architecture for embedded systems that supports the ability to deploy incremental updates, allowing components to be seamlessly integrated and updated, while guaranteeing the deterministic behavior of systems; scalable methods and verification tools that automatically verify, in-the-field, that intended updates preserve and ensure safety conditions; efficient scheduling algorithms for optimal resource utilization for state-of-the-art computing platforms to enable dynamic updates; robust protocols and run-time techniques for secure deployment and enforcement of verified and accepted updates even in safety- and security-critical environments such as drones/blimps.

We are therefore looking for motivated PhD students in the following areas:

• System architectures for Embedded Systems
• Formal modelling and verification
• Real-time scheduling and analysis
• Code generation for (multi-core) embedded target platforms
• Run-time systems, protocols, and monitoring

The position is for four years of research, but will typically include 20% teaching extending the time to five years. You will be expected to teach in Swedish or English.

Requirements
The candidate should have a Master of Science in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Embedded Systems, or equivalent, in a field which is relevant for the work. The candidate should have a good background in some of the fields of embedded systems, real-time systems, program analysis, model checking, formal verification, computer architectures, software engineering, as well as to be proficient in implementing non-trivial algorithms. We expect the candidate to be fluent in verbal and written English.
In addition to the above, applicants should be able to work well both on their own and with others in a diverse group, be comfortable giving and receiving constructive criticism, and have strong abilities for critical thinking and structured work.

Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University's rules and guidelines.

Application
The application must include a statement (at most 2 pages) of the applicant’s motivation for applying for this position, including the candidate’s research interests and preferred research direction. The application must also include a CV, degrees and grades (translated to English or Swedish), a copy of the MSc thesis (or a draft thereof), publications (and specific descriptions of the candidate’s own contributions), and other documents, e.g., links to online repositories of code (such as on GitHub), and the earliest possible starting date. Contact information for at least one reference should be provided.

The department is striving to achieve a more equal gender balance and female candidates are particularly invited to apply.

Working in Sweden
Sweden is a fantastic place for living and working. Swedes are friendly and speak excellent English. The quality of life is high, with a strong emphasis on outdoor activities. The Swedish working climate emphasizes an open atmosphere, with active discussions involving both junior and senior staff. PhD students are full employees, with competitive salaries, pension provision and five weeks of paid leave per year. Spouses of employees are entitled to work permits. Healthcare is free after a small co-pay and the university subsidizes athletic costs, such as a gym membership. The parental benefits in Sweden are among the best in the world, including extensive parental leave (for both parents), paid time off to care for sick children, and affordable daycare. 

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date as soon as possible or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala.

For further information about the position, please contact: Professor Wang Yi (wang.yi@it.uu.se), Bengt Jonsson (bengt.jonsson@it.uu.se), Philipp Rümmer (philipp.ruemmer@it.uu.se), or Thiemo Voigt (thiemo.voigt@it.uu.se).

Please submit your application by 1 March 2023, UFV-PA 2022/4781.

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