PhD research fellow position in Intelligent Model Management (IMoMa)
Deadline: 12.04.2020
Western Norway University of Applied Sciences
With about 16,000 students, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences is one of the largest higher education institutions in Norway. A broad range of academic programmes are offered at Bachelor, Master and PhD levels, spread out on five campuses Førde, Sogndal, Bergen, Stord og Haugesund.
Our ambition is to build stronger and more solid academic and research environments that will interact nationally and internationally. The aim is to become a recognized actor on the international higher education arena. Increased international cooperation and engagement in externally funded projects will work towards this goal.
Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL), Faculty of Engineering and Science, Campus Bergen, has one open position for a PhD research fellow in computer science/software engineering on Intelligent Model Management (IMoMa)
IMoMa aims at determining appropriate mathematical theories to support the development of formal software frameworks for multi-model driven software engineering (MMDSE) and diagrammatic modelling. The upcoming ubiquity of distributed systems requires intelligent synchronization and consistency management of different interrelated modelling artifacts. Whereas a single model usually circumscribes only one perspective of a comprehensive heterogeneous system landscape, it is of paramount importance to ensure that all these models are not contradictory, which includes the necessity to continuously diagnose and handle inconsistencies within and across models along their lifecycle. Whereas there is a recently developed theoretical foundation as well as tooling for (semi-)automatic consistency management of static models, the present PhD project's objective is to establish a corresponding framework for behavioural state-based models: To meet the practical needs in software engineering, the essential goal is to investigate, how existing (theoretical) methods have to be adapted to incorporate behavior and temporality.
The PhD project will span one or more of the following areas, depending on the qualifications and interests of the successful applicant:
Identify mathematical models for the specification of behaviour and estimate the impact of temporality to existing research results
Identify the category theoretical methods for understanding the interplay of changes, type conformance, and correspondence within different reactive systems
Demonstrate the use of these methods for MMDSE techniques such as UML, MOF and other Multi-Paradigm Modeling techniques
Investigate the evolution and the transformation of model transformations
Develop a framework in an object-oriented language for evaluating the proposed methodologies using modern MMDSE tools like EMF or MPS
Knowledge of tools like EMF, MPS, Alloy, and Yakindu is considered an advantage while evaluating the candidates.
Research environment
The successful candidate will become part of the software engineering research group at HVL (https://www.hvl.no/en/research/group/software-engineering). The group is conducting research in model-driven software engineering research ranging from theoretical foundations to computer tools. The software engineering research group is part of the faculty’s research environment in information and communication technology which currently includes 25 professors and associate professors, 20 PhD students, and more than 50 master’s students. Researchers at the faculty are active in international, national and regional research, and research projects in collaboration with many universities and companies internationally and nationally. The main research focus in computer science is on software engineering, engineering computing, and sensor networks.
Qualifications:
The PhD research fellow should have master's degree in computer science/informatics/software engineering, or have submitted the master's thesis before the application deadline. A solid background in model driven software engineering, formal foundations for software modelling and verification, combined with practical software development skills and experience will be considered an advantage when candidates are ranked.
In addition to the required educational background, the following criteria will be evaluated: competence and grades on completed course work, quality of the master's thesis (equivalent of grade B or better in the Norwegian Grading System is required), publications (if any), research and teaching experience, practical software development skills and experience. Candidates are strongly encouraged to submit a possible outline (max. 2 pages) of a research plan within their interests for a potential PhD project.
The candidate must be diligent and display the ability to work independently, supplemented with regular guidance, and is expected to carry out high-quality research and to publish the results in international workshops, conferences, and journals.
The PhD research fellow must enroll in the PhD programme in Computer Science: Software Engineering, Sensor Networks and Engineering Computing at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, and must meet the formal admission requirements for admission into the PhD programme. 25% of the 4-year period will be designated to duties such as teaching, development and administrative tasks. The employment period may be reduced if the successful applicant has held previous employment as a research fellow. The PhD candidate will be assigned two academic supervisors at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. An application for enrolment should first be submitted after an appointment is made and the supervisors will help with this procedure. The candidate must be enrolled as a PhD student within 3 months from the start of the employment.
Application procedure:
Applications will be evaluated by an expert panel of three members.
Applicants are asked to submit their application and CV online. Please use the link “Apply for this job” (“Søk stillingen”).
The following documentation should be uploaded as an attachment to the online application:
copies of selected academic publications
copy of master thesis
a CV with a complete list of academic publications
diplomas and certificates
Applicants should indicate which publications or parts of publications should be given special consideration in the evaluation. If the documents submitted are not in a Scandinavian language or in English, the applicants must submit certified translations of these. The transcripts must specify the topics, the course works, and the grades at the bachelor`s and master`s degree levels.
Applicants should note that the evaluation will be based on the documentation submitted electronically via Jobbnorge within the submission deadline. The applicants are responsible for ensuring that all the documentation is submitted before the closing date. It is of utmost importance that all publications to be considered in the evaluation are uploaded as an attachment with the application, since these are sent electronically to the expert panel. Applications cannot be sent by e-mail or to individuals at the department.
Salary:
Good occupational pension, insurance and loan schemes from The Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
Exciting academic environment with the possibility of competence enhancement and development
Opportunities for training within the working hours
Initial salaries will be offered at grade 54 (code 1017) in the Civil Service pay grade table scale.
There is a compulsory 2 % deduction to the pension fund (see http://www.spk.no for more information). The successful applicant must comply with the guidelines that apply to the position at any time.
General information:
The appointment will be made in accordance with the regulations for State employees Law in Norway ("Lov om statens ansatte)". Organizational changes and changes in the duties and responsibilities associated with the position must be expected.
State employment shall reflect the multiplicity of the population at large to the highest possible degree. Western Norway University of Applied Sciences Bergen has therefore adopted a personnel policy objective to ensure that we achieve a balanced age and gender composition and the recruitment of persons of various ethnic backgrounds.
Information about the applicant may be made public even though the applicant has requested not to be named in the list of applicants. The applicant will be notified if his/her request is not respected.
Short-listed applicants will be called in for an interview and a presentation of previous work, e.g. based on their master’s thesis.
