Job Opening: Postdoc in Self-Organized Synchronization in Networks

The group of Christian Bettstetter at the University of Klagenfurt (Austria, Europe) has a long and successful track-record in research on self-organization in networked systems with applications to communications engineering and robotics. We are now searching for a postdoctoral researcher to extend our team in this domain.

Research Topic and Project

You will work in the project Self-Organizing Synchronization with Stochastic Coupling funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF). The project focuses on the phenomenon that unreliable channels or intentionally incomplete communication between network nodes can have beneficial effects in terms of synchronization guarantees and precision. Such stochastic coupling grants an unprecedented degree of freedom in the design of network synchronization algorithms. The objective of the project is to gain a deeper conceptual understanding of stochastic coupling in networked dynamical systems, integrate this novel concept into algorithm design, and prepare the ground for practical applications by implementing and testing it on programmable radios. The idea of stochastic coupling can also be extended and generalized to other forms of self-organization, like swarming.

Tasks
  • Perform fundamental research on self-organizing synchronization (and swarming)
  • Perform applied research to transfer the theory to wireless communication and multi-robotic or drone systems
  • Publish results in high-tier journals and conferences (one of our target venues is Physical Review E)
  • Contribute to follow-up proposals or write your own proposal
  • Closely collaborate with the principal investigator, Professor Christian Bettstetter, and other researchers
  • Co-advise students
  • Contribute to the interdisciplinary research cluster on self-organizing systems at the University of Klagenfurt
Requirements
  • Doctoral degree in electrical and computer engineering, robotics, computer science, physics, or related cross-disciplines
  • Successful research and publication record in networked systems, robotics, dynamical systems, network control, or wireless communications
  • Profound analytical and programming skills
  • Fluent in written and spoken English

We also expect German skills or the willingness to learn German, social and communicative competences, and relevant international experience.

Contract and Salary

The contract is initially concluded for one year and intended to be commenced as soon as possible. It will be based on an annual gross salary of about 60.000 € (40 hours weekly), the exact value depending on inflation adjustment.

Working Environment

The University of Klagenfurt is a young and vibrant campus university hosting 10,000 students. It is located in the southern part of Austria, a region with outstanding quality of life at the intersection of Alpine and Mediterranean culture. Offices and laboratories of the institute are located in the well-equipped Lakeside Science & Technology Park. The team is very international with English being the working language.

The university strives at raising the number of female scientific staff members and therefore specifically invites women to apply. In case of equal qualifications, women will receive priority consideration.

How to apply?

Applications should be submitted in English language electronically as a single PDF file to Ms. Kornelia Lienbacher (kornelia.lienbacher@aau.at) using the code [Application] in the subject line. They include a letter of motivation, the curriculum vitae (with photo and information about the degrees including date/place/grade, experience acquired, thesis title, list of publications), scan of the degree certificates and transcripts of the courses, and any certificate that can prove the fulfillment of the required qualifications.

Short-listed candidates will be invited to an interview.

Further Information

General information for applicants is available on www.aau.at/jobs/information. Additional information on the group or the Institute of Networked and Embedded Systems is available on nes.aau.at or by contacting Professor Christian Bettstetter, +43 463 2700 3640.