The advent of programmable network switch ASICs and recent developments on other programmable data planes (NPUs, FPGAs) drive the renewed interest in network data plane programmability. The P4 language has emerged as a strong candidate to describe a protocol independent datapath pipeline. With its supported architectures, the P4 language provides an efficient way to define the packet processing and forwarding behaviour. Exploiting the recent advances in programmable switching hardware, in-band network telemetry (INT) provides a more viable approach to network monitoring and telemetry analysis.

The objective of the PhD project is to understand how data-plane programmability can facilitate the design of the 'Responsible Interne', addressed within the scope of the project CATRIN (Controllable, Accountable, Transparent: The Responsible Internet). The goal of CATRIN is to propose and prototype a novel security-by-design concept and extension to the Internet that enhances Digital sovereignty; that is the ability for end users to have control over their own digital destiny – the data, hardware, and software that they rely upon. Specifically, the candidate will investigate how programmable data-plane solutions can address related problems (e.g., communication transparency) in a multi-operator environment, including but not restricted to telemetry and route optimization and control, adhering to transparency, reliability and controllability requirements imposed by CATRIN.

This position is one of the seven PhD vacancies available in the CATRIN project at TU/Twente, TU/Delft, TU/Eindhoven and University of Amsterdam (UvA). The goal of CATRIN is to startup the Responsible Internet, a novel security-by-design concept and extension to the Internet that enables higher levels of trust and sovereignty. CATRIN integrates technology, economics, and policy research to deliver a first operational multi-operator Responsible Internet. All the PhDs hired in the project contribute to this effort from different expertise angles.

You will be employed by the Informatics Institute (IvI) and embedded in the MNS group. The group focuses its research on the fundamental architectural problems that arise from the interconnection of systems and of data flows. We look at the emerging architectures that can support the operations of the future Internet.

What are you going to do

You will:

• Focus on the development and evaluation of a scalable system including an effective data-plane telemetry system to allow for user-driven programmable path control considering accountability aspects.
• Design and perform controlled experiments in a simulation environment or develop appropriate proof of concept(s) to benchmark the performance or validate the applicability of proposed approaches.
• Implement your solution and experiment with it on the national P4-programmable network operated by the 2STiC consortium.
• Become active in the research community and collaborate with other institutes and/or companies that are part of the project.
• Publish and present work regularly at international conferences, workshops, and journals.
• Assist in teaching activities (labs) and in supervising Bachelor and Master students.

What do we require of you

• A Master's degree or equivalent program (completed or near completion) in a relevant discipline, such as computer science, electrical and computer engineering, security and network engineering etc.
• Prior experience in programmable networking protocols, such as P4 and sufficient programming skills (python, C/C++).
• A strong scientific interest in network architectures and Future Internet.
• The willingness to be part of an international research team.
• Fluency in oral and written English and good presentation skills.
• Commitment to maintaining an inclusive, collaborative, diverse, supportive work environment.

Fixed-term contract: 18 months.

Our offer

A temporary contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of four years (the initial contract will be for a period of 18 months and after satisfactory evaluation it will be extended for a total duration of four years). This should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. We also expect you to assist in teaching undergraduates and Master students.

The salary will be €2,434 gross per month during the first year, with a fixed yearly upgrade to the next higher salary scale until €3,111 (P0 until P3) per year, based on a fulltime contract (38 hours a week). This is exclusive 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

Are you curious about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits like our excellent opportunities for study and development? Take a look here.

University of Amsterdam

With over 6,000 employees, 30,000 students and a budget of more than 600 million euros, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) is an intellectual hub within the Netherlands. Teaching and research at the UvA are conducted within seven faculties: Humanities, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Economics and Business, Law, Science, Medicine and Dentistry. Housed on four city campuses in or near the heart of Amsterdam, where disciplines come together and interact, the faculties have close links with thousands of researchers and hundreds of institutions at home and abroad.  

The UvA’s students and employees are independent thinkers, competent rebels who dare to question dogmas and aren’t satisfied with easy answers and standard solutions. To work at the UvA is to work in an independent, creative, innovative and international climate characterised by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with the city of Amsterdam and society.

Faculty of Science - Informatics Institute

The Faculty of Science (FNWI) has a student body of around 7,000, as well as 1,600 members of staff working in education, research or support services. Researchers and students at the Faculty of Science are fascinated by every aspect of how the world works, be it elementary particles, the birth of the universe or the functioning of the brain.

The mission of the Informatics Institute (IvI) is to perform curiosity-driven and use-inspired fundamental research in Computer Science. The main research themes are Artificial Intelligence, Computational Science and Systems and Network Engineering. Our research involves complex information systems at large, with a focus on collaborative, data driven, computational and intelligent systems, all with a strong interactive component.