Current advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and network programmability – including software-defined networking, P4-programmable data-planes, and network functions virtualization – are opening up new opportunities in realizing the telecommunications industry’s quest for autonomous, self-healing networks. Contrary to legacy networking equipment, programmable networks have decoupled the control and data planes, thereby effectively allowing (virtual) services and network components to dynamically move or scale. However, programmability alone is insufficient to realize autonomous networking, as the question remains of how to program the network. Through fine-grained network monitoring and AI techniques, a closed-loop system should be developed to provide the intelligence needed to deploy and program a secure and resilient self-healing network.

This PhD project is part of NExTWORKx, a cooperation between TU Delft and KPN, and will focus on developing algorithms and tools to support 5G resilience through programmable networks. 

The successful candidate has obtained a master's degree with excellent marks in computer science, is proficient in networking and programming, has an affinity for algorithm design and artificial intelligence, and enjoys working in a multi-disciplinary project. In particular, experience in software-defined networking and P4 is considered to be an advantage. The candidate is a team player, able to cooperate with KPN and the other PhD candidates working on related research topics at TU Delft.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, a discount for health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. An International Children’s Centre offers childcare and an international primary school. Dual Career Services offers support to accompanying partners. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.

As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment; an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor; and a Doctoral Education Programme aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills. Please visit www.tudelft.nl/phd for more information.

Faculty Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) is known worldwide for its high academic quality and the social relevance of its research programmes. The faculty’s excellent facilities accentuate its international position in teaching and research. Within this interdisciplinary and international setting the faculty employs more than 1100 employees, including about 400 graduate students and about 2100 students. Together they work on a broad range of technical innovations in the fields of sustainable energy, telecommunications, microelectronics, embedded systems, computer and software engineering, interactive multimedia and applied mathematics.

The successful candidate will become part of the Lab on Internet Science (https://www.fernandokuipers.nl) of the Embedded & Networked Systems (ENS: www.es.ewi.tudelft.nl) group at EEMCS. ENS is interested in improving the software development and maintenance process of embedded systems, ranging from simple, stand-alone microcontrollers in consumer products, to complex, networked controllers in industrial applications. Our first research objective is to comprehend the fundamental trade-offs between complexity cost and functionality underlying typical embedded & networked systems, with a keen eye on new technologies that have the potential to become game changers by offering major performance or cost benefits. Our second objective is to advance the state of the art by designing and implementing novel solutions, based on the new technologies, and evaluating them in real-world scenarios.

https://www.tudelft.nl/en/eemcs/the-faculty/