Postdoc position on energy-efficient scheduling in datacenters

Job description

The position is embedded in the MISD project which is part of the Important Project of Common European Interest Next Generation Cloud Infrastructure and Services (IPCEI-CIS).

MISD (Modular & Integrated Sustainable Datacenter) focuses on the development of a unique field lab ecosystem, the “decentralized network of data centers of the future”, where innovations in the field of modularity, advanced cooling, energy, communication, network, and cybersecurity technology come together. The field lab ensures data centers to innovate more rapidly and share knowledge in the societal impactful areas of energy efficiency, sustainability, and security. With the decentralized network of data centers of the future through a decentral modular data center design, data can be brought to the user with a lower latency while increasing security for the user to fend off cyber-attacks and maximizing the integration into the energy network. The major goal of MISD is achieving energy savings of over 50%. This will be aided by (i) realizing and managing a staging lab in which various innovations and technologies can be tested, (ii) developing technology and ICT solutions for optimizing data processing in and between data centers as well as energy consumption, (iii) developing new structures that enable cloud architecture and orchestration while guaranteeing availability and increasing cybersecurity, (iv) developing and automating advanced cooling systems and innovative heat reuse as well as exploring cleantech solutions, and (v) developing an Innovations and Expertise center for sharing expertise in the Netherlands and the EU. 

In addition to this position a PhD researcher works on the same topic. If you are interested, you can collaborate with them and/or be involved in their supervision. Additionally, you will be part of the MISD and can be part of the more extensive IPCEI network, spanning 109 companies in Europe across 12 countries and seek further collaborations within the context of this project.

Partners in the MISD project include Aecorsis BV (Asperitas), TNO,  BetterBe, NBIP, Eurofiber and Deerns. See IPCEI-CIS.

Your profile

• You hold a PhD in Applied Mathematics, Computer Science or a related field by the date of appointment. 
• You are an expert in task scheduling in datacenters and ideally also have a background in stochastics, algorithm theory and/or discrete mathematics.
• You are independent and can take the lead in meetings with partners of the project.
• You are proficient in English.

Our offer

• You will be appointed for a period of maximum 3 years full-time within a very stimulating scientific environment. The university offers a dynamic ecosystem with enthusiastic colleagues.
• Your salary and associated conditions are in accordance with the collective labour agreement for Dutch universities (CAO-NU);
• Gross salary between € 4.020,- and € 5.278,- per month depending on experience and qualifications;
• Excellent benefits including a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary, a year-end bonus of 8.3% and a solid pension scheme;
• The flexibility to work (partially) from home;
• Free access to sports facilities on campus
• A minimum of 232 leave hours in case of full-time employment based on a formal workweek of 38 hours. A full-time employment in practice means 40 hours a week, therefore resulting in 96 extra leave hours on an annual basis.
• Excellent support for research and facilities for professional and personal development.
• We encourage a high degree of responsibility and independence, while collaborating with close colleagues, researchers and other university staff.
• We are also a family-friendly institution that offers parental leave (both paid and unpaid) and career support for partners.

Information and application

Are you interested in this position? Please send your application via the 'Apply now' button below before November 30th, 2024, and include:

• CV
• Cover letter
• Research Statement
• Contact information for two referees

For more information regarding this position, you are welcome to contact Maria Vlasiou (m.vlasiou@utwente.nl)

Pre-interviews can take place at the 2024 INFORMS annual conference in Seattle (October 20-23, 2024)

About the department

You will work in the Mathematics of Operations Research (MOR) group within the Applied Mathematics department. The Applied Mathematics department has an active research portfolio in stochastic operations research, algorithmic discrete mathematics, complex networks, statistics, systems theory, computational science, and artificial intelligence with applications in health care, energy systems, traffic, and imaging. See MOR and SACS, and MDS for information.

The MOR group conducts mathematical research and provides education of high international standards in the areas of stochastic and discrete mathematics of operations research, contributing to the development of mathematics in multidisciplinary engineering environments and a better understanding and functioning of our increasingly complex society. See MOR.

About the organisation

The faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) uses mathematics, electronics and computer technology to contribute to the development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). With ICT present in almost every device and product we use nowadays, we embrace our role as contributors to a broad range of societal activities and as pioneers of tomorrow's digital society. As part of a people-first tech university that aims to shape society, individuals and connections, our faculty works together intensively with industrial partners and researchers in the Netherlands and abroad, and conducts extensive research for external commissioning parties and funders. Our research has a high profile both in the Netherlands and internationally. It has been accommodated in three multidisciplinary UT research institutes: Mesa+ Institute, TechMed Centre and Digital Society Institute.