MSc | Scholarship for Nigerians and Africans - Part 25

PhD Student in Autonomic Optical Networks, Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands

The Department of Electrical Engineering covers the application of electrical phenomena with respect to energy transfer, telecommunication, and calculation and processing of information and the technology involved. Both hardware, in the form of electronic and/or optical circuits and accessories, and software, in the form of system software for electro-technical application, are the subject of study. Existing and new electrical and/or optical components and systems are analyzed, designed and realized. In addition, the maintenance of these systems is the subject of research, as is the relevance for society of electrical engineering and informatics.

This full-time position is within the Electro-Optical Communication Systems (ECO) group, part of the COBRA Research Institute, in the Department of Electrical Engineering. In the ECO group, research is done in the area of optical fiber communication networks and their supporting techniques, ranging from ultra-high capacity long distance transport and ultra-fast optical signal processing, to optical fiber techniques for providing broadband services to the user in access networks and in-home networks. Particularly relevant to this vacancy is the work on fiber-wireless communication, which we want to explore in the context of autonomic networking techniques.

The group is participating in the Netherlands Institute for Research on ICT (NIRICT). NIRICT comprises all ICT research of the three technical universities in the Netherlands: Delft University of Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology, and the University of Twente. NIRICT brings together over 70 research groups from the disciplines of Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and several ICT application domains. More than 1200 researchers collaborate, which makes NIRICT the most important ICT academic research partner in the Netherlands.

Requirements

Candidates for this position should have a strong MSc degree in electrical engineering or computer science (with hardware orientation), with emphasis on networking and/or network management. He/she should have a strong affinity with data communication techniques (optical and/or wireless) and some hands-on experience with computer programming.

Previous experience in any of the following areas will be considered as an advantage:

* reconfigurable networks (e.g., optical, wireless or ad-hoc networks)
* FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) programming
* virtual and/or overlay networks (e.g., peer-to-peer networks)
* control theory
* machine learning (e.g. statistics)
* context-aware systems (e.g., context modeling and management)
* network performance analysis, characterization, optimization and simulation
* track record of scientific publications

The ability to collaborate with members of an interdisciplinary team is of paramount importance, since autonomic networks require a close interaction with computer scientists and electrical engineers. Priority will be given to candidates who can demonstrate excellent team-working.

Application Deadline 05-09-2010

The Department of Electrical Engineering covers the application of electrical phenomena with respect to energy transfer, telecommunication, and calculation and processing of information and the technology involved. Both hardware, in the form of electronic and/or optical circuits and accessories, and software, in the form of system software for electro-technical application, are the subject of study. Existing and new electrical and/or optical components and systems are analyzed, designed and realized. In addition, the maintenance of these systems is the subject of research, as is the relevance for society of electrical engineering and informatics.

This full-time position is within the Electro-Optical Communication Systems (ECO) group, part of the COBRA Research Institute, in the Department of Electrical Engineering. In the ECO group, research is done in the area of optical fiber communication networks and their supporting techniques, ranging from ultra-high capacity long distance transport and ultra-fast optical signal processing, to optical fiber techniques for providing broadband services to the user in access networks and in-home networks. Particularly relevant to this vacancy is the work on fiber-wireless communication, which we want to explore in the context of autonomic networking techniques.

The group is participating in the Netherlands Institute for Research on ICT (NIRICT). NIRICT comprises all ICT research of the three technical universities in the Netherlands: Delft University of Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology, and the University of Twente. NIRICT brings together over 70 research groups from the disciplines of Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and several ICT application domains. More than 1200 researchers collaborate, which makes NIRICT the most important ICT academic research partner in the Netherlands.

Requirements

Candidates for this position should have a strong MSc degree in electrical engineering or computer science (with hardware orientation), with emphasis on networking and/or network management. He/she should have a strong affinity with data communication techniques (optical and/or wireless) and some hands-on experience with computer programming.

Previous experience in any of the following areas will be considered as an advantage:

* reconfigurable networks (e.g., optical, wireless or ad-hoc networks)
* FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) programming
* virtual and/or overlay networks (e.g., peer-to-peer networks)
* control theory
* machine learning (e.g. statistics)
* context-aware systems (e.g., context modeling and management)
* network performance analysis, characterization, optimization and simulation
* track record of scientific publications

The ability to collaborate with members of an interdisciplinary team is of paramount importance, since autonomic networks require a close interaction with computer scientists and electrical engineers. Priority will be given to candidates who can demonstrate excellent team-working.

Application Deadline 05-09-2010

PhD Researcher for “Heterogeneity in Studies with Discrete-Time Survival Endpoints: Implications for Optimal Designs and Statistical Power Analysis”, Netherlands

This project is funded by a VIDI grant from the Netherlands’ Organization for Scientific Research (NWO). The PhD student will spend time on doing research, following mathematics and statistics courses of IOPS and other institutes, and spend about 10% of the time on teaching courses at the BSc level. The PhD student will be supervised by Dr M. Moerbeek.

The aim of trials on event occurrence is to study if and when a particular event, such as onset of daily smoking or entry into parenthood, occurs. The timing of events may be in thin and precise units or in coarser intervals. In the second case one does not know the exact timing of the event; one only knows that it occurred within a particular time interval. Such discrete-time survival data are typically analyzed on basis of a generalized linear model, such as a logistic regression model.

The main research question in any trial is whether an experimental treatment differs from a control with respect some outcome variable. As many covariates or background variables, such as age and socio-economic status, may have an effect on the outcome they should be measured and included in the statistical model. Ignoring such variables may result in biased estimates of the treatment effect estimator and hence incorrect conclusions with respect to the effect of treatment.

The aim of this project is to investigate to what extent such biases occur and how they can be corrected for in the statistical model. We will also focus on the optimal design of trials with covariates and discrete-time survival data. The PhD student will write papers in international scientific journals, contribute to international conferences and write a PhD thesis.

Qualifications:

  • MSc in applied statistics, biometrics, biostatistics, econometrics, psychometrics or a related field with a solid background in applied statistics.
  • Applicants should be familiar with the generalised linear model, matrix algebra, research designs and have some experience with computer programming.
  • The applicant communicates easily in English, both verbally and in writing.
  • The starting date is January 2011.

    Contact Person: ms. Dr M. Moerbeek (supervisor), phone (+31) 30 253 1450,
    email: M.Moerbeek@uu.nl, website: http://www.fss.uu.nl/ms/moerbeek.

    How to apply:

    Please send your written application, with motivation, curriculum vitae, list of courses and grades and contact information of two referees before August 25th, 2010 and specifying vacancy number 691021.

    Applications can be emailed to: PenO.FSW@uu.nl or be sent to:
    Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Personnel Department, attn. Mr. M. Azdoufal, P.O Box 80140, 3508 TC Utrecht, The Netherlands.

    PhD Researcher in Palaeoecology, Utrecht University, Netherlands

    The PhD student will be employed within the project “Plants in a low CO2 world: proxy development for the Pleistocene plant record and reconstructed feedbacks on the carbon cycle”. The project will provide important constraints on the impact of glacial low CO2 conditions on plant growth and development. Furthermore, results will allow for determining the consequences for the terrestrial carbon cycle.
    Low CO2 levels prevailed during most of the Pleistocene. For most modern plants a minimum concentration of about 160 ppmv atm. CO2 represents the limit of natural growth conditions. It has been suggested that CO2 starvation has had a direct effect on plants, limiting growth and water use efficiency. Low CO2 and associated water stress may have caused extinctions of plant species during the Pleistocene. However, little is known about the impact of these extreme environmental conditions. The main aims of the present project are to perform growth experiments at a series of (sub)ambient CO2, in order to validate botanical (pollen and seed productivity, stomatal frequency) and organic geochemical proxies (stable isotopes). Moreover we will study glacial plant macro and pollen records. The combination will allow us a better understanding of the impact of low CO2 on plants during the Pleistocene.
    The project is a collaborative project of the Department of Biology at Utrecht University and the Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences at the VU University Amsterdam. The project is sponsored by the Darwin Center for Biogeology. The place of work is Utrecht, The Netherlands.

    Qualifications:

    We seek a highly motivated candidate with excellent communication skills and qualifications (MSc or equivalent) in the fields of environmental biology, plant ecology/-ecophysiology or palaeoecology. Experience in laboratory techniques necessary to work with plants in growth chambers would be an advantage. Candidates are expected to communicate easily in English, both verbally and in writing.

    Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from: Dr Wolfram Kuerschner, email: w.m.kuerschner@uu.nl, tel. (+31) 30 253 2630, and from the websites of the Darwin Center and the Palaeoecology group.

    How to apply:

    Please send your application (including a letter of motivation, curriculum vitae and contact details of at least two references) before September 15th 2010 to email: Science.PenO@uu.nl. Please mention vacancy number 66007.