This Ph.D. student position is an opportunity to combine the latest advancements in networking with state-of-the-art techniques from programming languages and formal verification. Your research will advance the state-of-the-art in testing and verifying the safety and correctness of today's highly dynamic and complex networks. There are ample opportunities, covering a wide spectrum from purely theoretical to practical applications, to carve out a research project that best fits your skills and interests.

The position is based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. A successful candidate will be embedded in the VUSec (https://www.vusec.net/) and theory (https://www.cs.vu.nl/~tcs/) groups. VU offers a dynamic, open, and international working environment, where students can focus on becoming leading experts in their fields. The working language at VU is English.

If you have any further questions, feel free to contact Balakrishnan Chandrasekaran (b.chandrasekaran@vu.nl) and Klaus von Gleissenthall (k.freiherrvongleissenthal@vu.nl).

Your duties

• Learn and review the state-of-the-art on verification techniques for programmable networks as well as automatic repair
• Analyze state-of-the-art network deployments to derive dependencies and (performance as well as security) invariants between services running at different layers of the network
• Develop "correct-by-construction" designs leveraging the programmability available across the entire network stack
• Mentor bachelor and master students in related projects
• Support courses relevant to your field of study, such as Network Security and Verification for Security

Candidates must have an MSc. degree to be admitted into the doctoral program. In addition, an ideal candidate will satisfy the following requirements.

• Strong background in computer science or mathematics
• Experience in networking or formal methods or programming languages
• Speak and write fluently in English to communicate your ideas

A challenging position in a socially involved organization. The salary will be in accordance with university regulations for academic personnel and amounts €2,434 (PhD) per month during the first year and increases to €3,111 (PhD) per month during the fourth year, based on a full-time employment. The job profile: is based on the university job ranking system and is vacant for at least 0.8 FTE.

The appointment will initially be for 18 months. After a satisfactory evaluation of the initial appointment, the contract will be extended for a total duration of 4 years.
Additionally, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers excellent fringe benefits and various schemes and regulations to promote a good work/life balance, such as:

• a maximum of 41 days of annual leave based on full-time employment
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• solid pension scheme (ABP)
• possibility to save holiday hours, for sabbatical leave, child daycare facilities available on campus

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

The ambition of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is clear: to contribute to a better world through outstanding education and ground-breaking research. We strive to be a university where personal development and commitment to society play a leading role. A university where people from different disciplines and backgrounds collaborate to achieve innovations and to generate new knowledge. Our teaching and research encompass the entire spectrum of academic endeavor - from the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences through to the life sciences and the medical sciences.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is home to more than 26,000 students. We employ over 4,600 individuals. The VU campus is easily accessible and located in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas district, a truly inspiring environment for teaching and research.

Diversity
We are an inclusive university community. Diversity is one of our most important values. We believe that engaging in international activities and welcoming students and staff from a wide variety of backgrounds enhances the quality of our education and research. We are always looking for people who can enrich our world with their own unique perspectives and experiences.

The Faculty of Science
The Faculty of Science inspires researchers and students to find sustainable solutions for complex societal issues. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to medicines and from molecules to the moon: our teaching and research programmes cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. We share knowledge and experience with leading research institutes and industries, both here in the Netherlands and abroad.

Working at the Faculty of Science means working with students, PhD candidates and researchers, all with a clear focus on their field and a broad view of the world. We employ more than 1,250 staff members, and we are home to around 6,000 students.