Subject: Adaptive indexing techniques for modern database systems.

The Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI) has a full time vacancy for a talented PhD candidate in the Database Architectures group (http://www.cwi.nl/en/research-groups/Database-Architectures).

The position is in the broad area of adaptive indexing techniques for modern database systems. Adaptive indexing is a major challenge in database research; it tries to completely alleviate the need for indexing and tuning steps leading to database systems that require no physical design set-up and can cope immediately with any workload. This leads to database systems that are instantly usable and thus more applicable to numerous new applications that now consider databases too slow, too complex and too old. This position will focus specifically on adaptive indexing for extremely large databases where traditional indexing represents a major bottleneck.

The Database Architectures group is one of the world-wide leading groups in system-oriented database research, e.g., it received the 10-year best paper award at VLDB 2009 for their pioneering research on hardware-aware database technology and the column-store model and the 2011 ACM SIGMOD Jim Gray Dissertation award for the database cracking work. The group has a unique methodology that combines fundamental database research with active participation of all group members in database engineering, centred around the open-source analytical database system MonetDB (http://www.monetdb.org/). An internship at one of the partnering database research labs world-wide is considered part of the PhD track.

REQUIREMENTS

The PhD candidates must have a master degree in computer science (or a 5 year diploma), (specialisation databases, distributed systems, software engineering) mathematics, or related fields. Preferable qualifications for candidates include proven research talent, system programming skills (C/C++), practical experience with using and implementing database systems, and software development in a team. Candidates are expected to have an excellent command of English, and good academic writing and presentation skills.

CENTRUM WISKUNDE & INFORMATICA (CWI)

Founded in 1946, the Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI) is the national research institute for mathematics and computer science in the Netherlands. It is located at the Science Park Amsterdam and is part of the “Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research” (NWO). The institute is internationally focused and renowned for its high quality research, a substantial fraction of which is carried out in the framework of (inter)national programs. Over 160 researchers conduct pioneering research and share their acquired knowledge with society. More than 30 researchers are employed as professors at universities. The institute has generated twenty-one spin-off companies.

CWI maintains excellent relations with industry and the academic world, both in the Netherlands as well as abroad. After their research careers at CWI, an increasing number of young staff members find employment in these sectors or in spin-off companies that are based on research results from CWI. Of course, library and computing facilities are first-rate. CWI's non-scientific services to its personnel include career planning, training and courses, assistance in finding housing, and tailor-made solutions to problems that may occasionally arise.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The terms of employment are in accordance with the Dutch Collective Labour Agreement for Research Institutes ("CAO-onderzoeksinstellingen"). Moreover CWI offers attractive working conditions, including flexible scheduling and help with housing for expat employees.

The gross monthly salary, for an employee on a full time basis, is €2,037 during the first year and increases to €2,610 over a four year period. CWI also offers excellent and flexible terms of employment, including an employee pension fund.

INFORMATION

Additional information can be obtained from:

dr. Stratos Idreos, email stratos.idreos@cwi.nl, telephone +31(0)20 592 4169.

or dr. Stefan Manegold, email stefan.manegold@cwi.nl, telephone +31(0)20 592 4212,

or prof. dr. Martin Kersten, email martin.kersten@cwi.nl, telephone +31(0)20 592 4066.

APPLICATION

Please send your application before 31 July 2011 to: pd@cwi.nl.

Applications should include a detailed CV, a motivation letter, a list of your M.SC. courses and grades, a copy of your master thesis, and preferably a list of publications.