Netherlands: 2 PhD positons Mobile Cloud Networking in Cellular Systems

Deadline: 1st September 2012

University of Twente

Nationality: Any

De uitdaging / The challenge

The increasing use of smart phones, tablets, and other portable devices puts an increasing demand on mobile cellular systems. Today's mobile cellular systems are highly centralized and not optimized for high-volume data applications, which are expected to be dominant in LTE (Long Term Evolution) and other 4th generation cellular technologies. Operators typically use centralized network architectures that lead to very high bandwidth requirements on core network equipment and long communication paths between users and servers, which wastes network resources and increases delay. Shared, distributed mobile network architectures are needed to avoid bottlenecks, better utilize available resources, and minimize delay. The cloud computing model could be applied in such mobile cellular systems to solve this issue by offering decentralized computing, smart storage, on-demand, elastic and pay-as-you-go services to third party operators and users. One of the research areas of the DACS group (Design and Analysis of Communication Systems) at the University of Twente is wireless and mobile networking in cellular systems. Within the Mobile Cloud Networking project, the DACS group, together with partners from a number of European countries, will develop and prototype the network architecture and supporting technologies for a fully cloud-based mobile communication system, supporting on-demand and elastic provisioning of novel mobile services. We are looking for two PhD candidates who will research, design, implement, and evaluate methods, features, components, and protocols for (1) distributed mobility management in order to support flexible placement of the LTE core network mobility anchors, (2) mobility prediction, to dynamically derive the service requirements on the LTE access and core networks, and (3) mobility of services in an LTE based mobile cloud scenario such that service entities are always close to a mobile user. The results of the work will be integrated in a prototype platform and tested with applications such as mobile cloud enabled digital signage.

Ons aanbod / Our offer

Each of the PhD candidates will be appointed in a full-time position (38 hours/week) for a period of maximum four years and at the end each PhD candidate should have completed her/his PhD thesis. Gross monthly salary for each of the PhD position range from € 2.042,- gross per month in the first year up to € 2.612,- gross per month in the fourth year (in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities). In addition to this, we offer a holiday allowance (amounts to 8%), an end-of-year bonus (amounts to 8.3%), various sporting and cultural facilities at reduced rate, medical insurance at a reduced rate etc. The main responsibility of each PhD candidate main will be to carry out research, but she/he will be given the opportunity to acquire some teaching experience. We offer our PhD students the opportunity to broaden their knowledge by joining international exchange programs, by participating in national and international conferences and workshops, and by visiting other research institutes and universities worldwide.

Uw profiel / Your profile

We are looking for two PhD candidates on mobile cloud networking in cellular systems. We are looking for highly motivated researchers with an MSc degree in Computer Science, or a similar field, with adequate experimental and theoretical skills. Thorough knowledge of communication protocols and wireless networks, good programming skills, and fluency in English are required. Information and application For more information, please visit the website of the DACS group (http://www.utwente.nl/ewi/dacs/), or contact dr.ir. Georgios Karagiannis (g.karagiannis[remove]@utwente.nl, http://www.cs.utwente.nl/~karagian). Candidates are invited to upload their application by using the application link below, before September 1, 2012. Please include the following attachments in your application: 1. a motivation letter; 2. your curriculum vitae; 3. a completely filled out application form, which you can find here: http://dacs.ewi.utwente.nl/documents/app_form_MCN.pdf (pdf) http://dacs.ewi.utwente.nl/documents/app_form_MCN.doc (word) 4. transcript(s) of grades; 5. a copy of your master thesis, and (up to 5) publications you have written, if any; 6. if English is not your native language, a proof of your fluency in English (e.g., IELTS, TOEFL-iBT). FURTHER DETAILS.