Field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) have a distinct advantage over fixed-function application-specific integrated circuits due to their reconfiguration capability. However, this reconfiguration comes at the cost of performance. This PhD position aims to bridge this performance gap through customizations, while maintaining substantial flexibility and scalability.

Organisation
Founded in 1614, the University of Groningen enjoys an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative institution of higher education, offering high-quality teaching and research. Flexible study programmes and academic career opportunities in a wide variety of disciplines encourage the 34,000 students and researchers alike to develop their own individual talents. As one of the best research universities in Europe, the University of Groningen has joined forces with other top universities and networks worldwide to become a truly global center of knowledge.

Within the Faculty of Science and Engineering, a 4-year interdisciplinary PhD position is available at the Bernoulli Institute for Mathematics, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence. The candidate will become a member of Dr. Farhad Merchant’s Research Group working on Innovative Computer Architectures and Hardware Security, and will be supervised by Dr Farhad Merchant.

- Master degree or equivalent in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field with excellent grades.
- Sound knowledge of computer hardware design and synthesis tools (ASIC, FPGA).
- Excellent programming and scripting skills.
- Excellent English communication, presentation, and writing skills.
- Must be a team player.
- Knowledge of FPGA-based system design is an added advantage.
- Knowledge of chiplets is an added advantage.

Fixed-term contract: 48 months.

We offer you in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities:

- A salary of € 2,770 (salary scale PhD candidates) gross per month in the first year, up to a maximum of € 3,539 gross per month in the fourth and final year, based on a full-time position.
- A holiday allowance of 8% gross annual income and an 8.3% year-end bonus.
- A temporary position of one year with the option of renewal for another three years; prolongation of the contract is contingent on sufficient progress in the first year to indicate that you will successfully complete your PhD thesis within the next three years. A PhD training programme is part of the agreement.

Intended start date: 1 November 2024