job description
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PhD candidate, AI-driven co-design for high-performance computing in radio astronomy
The Faculty of Science and the Leiden Institute for Advanced Computer Science (LIACS) are recruiting a..:
2 PhD candidates, AI-driven co-design for high-performance computing in radio astronomy
We are looking for two fully funded PhD candidates for a multidisciplinary project in the fields of Artificial Intelligence (AI), High Performance Computing (HPC) and Radio Astronomy. Data-intensive sciences such as radio astronomy will soon face difficult choices as the massive amounts of energy required to reduce data from large telescopes will become increasingly expensive and unsustainable. One way to address this problem is to use more efficient emerging technologies (e.g., dedicated AI processors, in-memory computing, neuromorphic chips, etc.). However, the effort required to port existing code is often prohibitive. The successful candidate will investigate whether AI can help generate code to address these challenges. This will involve adapting existing open Large Language Models (LLMs) to increase knowledge about the capabilities of existing radio astronomy codes and emerging technologies, and testing the performance, sustainability, and functional correctness of prototype codes generated by these models.
The specific focus of the research performed will be determined in collaboration with co-advisors Dr. P. Chris Broekema (ASTRON, LIACS) and Prof. Rob V. van Nieuw. Prof. Rob V. van Nieuwpoort (IAAST). The research focus will be on artificial intelligence and high performance computing, using radio astronomy as a use case to formulate requirements and test proposed solutions with real-world challenges. One candidate will focus on ground-based radio astronomy and the other will explore space-based radio astronomy applications. We expect the two candidates to work closely together on these two very different use cases.
This research is part of the SuperCode project, funded by the NWO Open Technology Programme. As such, it is applied research carried out in collaboration with a wide range of partners in science and industry. You can find a summary of the project proposal here: https://arxiv.org/abs/2412.08490.
Main responsibilities
Conduct original research in the areas of sustainable computing, high performance computing and artificial intelligence;
Publish scientific results in reputable peer-reviewed journals and/or present at top international conferences;
Completion of the PhD thesis within the required 4-year deadline;
Engage and collaborate with other researchers and developers within and outside LIACS, the program consortium;
Assisting in relevant teaching activities;
offer requirements
The successful candidate should have the following qualifications
A recently completed (or soon to be completed) Master’s degree in Computer Science or Artificial Intelligence with a specialization in Artificial Intelligence, Sustainable Computing, High-Performance Computing, Computer Systems, or other related fields;
Excellent grades in university computer science courses, especially those related to computer architecture
A desire to solve complex scientific challenges related to data-intensive science, sustainability, high-performance computing, and artificial intelligence;
A passion for collaborating with other researchers, scientists, and businesses;
A strong interest in the environmental impact of artificial intelligence and computing, and an affinity for astronomy, especially radio astronomy;
Experience in signal processing and/or numerical methods (i.e. numerical accuracy, solvers, linear algebra) is preferred;
Ability to communicate fluently in English, both orally and in writing;
Willingness to commute between Leiden and ASTRON in Drenthe on a regular basis (i.e., one day per month).
offer benefits/salary
We offer you a full-time position for a period of one year. The appointment will be extended for a further three years after a positive assessment of thesis progress, personal competence and compatibility. The monthly salary ranges from € 2,901 to € 3,707 gross (according to the salary scale P of the Dutch Universities Collective Labor Agreement).
Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package including additional vacation (8%) and year-end bonus (8.3%), training and professional development, and sabbatical leave. Our individual choice model offers you a degree of freedom to set your own terms and conditions. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for substantial tax breaks. All our PhD students are based at the Leiden University Graduate School of Science www.graduateschools.leidenuniv.nl. Our Graduate School offers several PhD training programs at three levels: specialized courses, skills training and personal effectiveness. In addition, the Graduate School offers advanced courses for deepening scientific knowledge.