[compgeom-announce] PhD student opening at TU Eindhoven (the Netherlands)

Opening for PhD student at the TU Eindhoven (the Netherlands)

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The Algorithms group at the TU Eindhoven (the Netherlands) has an opening for a PhD student in the area of computational geometry and I/O-efficient algorithms.

THE PROJECT

Traditionally, in computational geometry the running time of an algorithm is analyzed as a function of n, the number of input elements. Unfortunately, such an analysis often fails to give a good prediction of the running time of the algorithm in practical situations. An important reason for this is that the shape and/or distribution of the input objects, as well as the I/O- and caching-behavior of the algorithm, can have a large influence on the actual efficiency of the algorithm.

The goal of the project "Towards a practical theory of geometric algorithms" is to develop and analyze geometric algorithms and data structures while taking these considerations into account. The PhD position is part of this project and will focus on algorithms for terrains.

THE ALGORITHMS GROUP

The Algorithms Group at the TU Eindhoven focuses on algorithms and data structures for spatial data. We perform research in computational geometry, I/O-efficient algorithms, and graph drawing, with applications to for instance GIS and cartography. Currently the group consists of four permanent members (Mark de Berg, Herman Haverkort, Bettina Speckmann, and Alexander Wolff) as well as a number of PhD students and postdocs, making it one of the largest groups world-wide in this area.

The group website can be found at: http://www.win.tue.nl/algo/

HOW TO APPLY

Send your CV together with a list of grades of masters courses (with an explanation of the grading scheme used), the names of one or two references, and an accompanying letter to prof. Mark de Berg (mdberg@win.tue.nl).

Candidates for this position should have a masters degree in computer science or mathematics, with a firm background in algorithms.

MORE INFORMATION

If you want to know more about the project or job conditions, please contact Mark de Berg (mdberg@win.tue.nl).

BEING A PhD STUDENT IN THE NETHERLANDS

In the Netherlands, every PhD student gets paid a salary; no additional grants are needed. Moreover, although PhD students sometimes take courses, there is no minimum requirement. Hence, PhD students are more like employees than like students. Indeed, the Dutch word for PhD student translates to "research trainee".

The work of a PhD student may include assisting in courses of BSc or MSc programs of the department. This amounts to at most 20% of the time; the remaining time is spent on research and research-related activities.

Foreign PhD students need not speak Dutch: it is easy to get by with English, not only at the university but also in everyday life.