PhD on dataflow-driven mapping of edge AI applications on neuromorphic platforms

11 May 2023
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e)

Research Field

Technology

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Netherlands

Application Deadline

28 Jun 2023 - 22:00 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Not Applicable

Hours Per Week

38.0

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

We are entering an era where Artificial Intelligence (AI) is embedded in every edge device, creating an urgent need for techniques to implement time-constrained applications on energy and resource-constrained edge hardware. As such, we are seeking a highly motivated individual to join our team and take on the challenge of developing the next-generation compilers for edge AI platforms with a particular focus on neuromorphic computing. This is a unique opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology and make a significant impact in the field of AI and edge computing.

Job Description

Cyber-physical systems (CPS) are a key enabling technology for Industry 4.0 (smart production, smart energy, transportation, etc.). CPS are a tight integration of computation with physical processes whose behavior is defined by both cyber and physical parts of the system. The computation part has stringent latency constraints that must be met to close the control loop and to guarantee the safety and stability of the system. Platforms that are used to run these computations do not offer timing guarantees. To ensure that the timing constraints of the computation are not violated, designers, therefore, resort to over-dimensioning and overprovisioning of the resources assigned to the computation.

Neuromorphic computing is an emerging technology that offers the potential to address these challenges in a more efficient and effective way. By leveraging the principles of neural processing found in biological systems, neuromorphic computing architectures can enable ultra-low power, high-performance computing that is well-suited to real-time control and decision-making tasks in CPS. With the advent of edge AI, cyber-physical systems will become even more distributed than today, and the computational load of the algorithms running in CPS will increase drastically. Moving applications to the edge reduces latency and saves communication energy, making neuromorphic computing a promising technology for the development of energy-efficient and high-performance CPS platforms.

With the advent of edge AI, cyber-physical systems will become even more distributed than today, and the computational load of the algorithms running in CPS will increase drastically. Moving applications to the edge reduces latency and saves communication energy, making neuromorphic computing a promising technology for the development of energy-efficient and high-performance CPS platforms. However, these edge AI platforms have extremely limited compute resources and are often battery-powered increasing the need for energy-efficiency. A radically innovative approach is needed to map latency-constrained applications onto these novel edge AI platforms hereby guaranteeing that timing constraints are met without unnecessary resource consumption. In this project, you will research a novel mapping and design-space exploration framework that uses dataflow analysis techniques to study the timing behavior of energy-efficient applications running on edge AI hardware. The focus will be on minimizing the energy consumption of applications through innovations at the programming and system architecture level. To maximize the impact of these savings, innovative computing architectures such as in-memory computation, neuromorphic processors, and electro-photonic accelerators will be considered as target platforms for our framework. Your work will result in breakthroughs in the programming and design of distributed edge AI applications running on ultra-low power platforms through a programming flow that provides latency guarantees to applications when running on heterogeneous edge AI platforms. This reduces the overprovisioning of resources needed to meet the timing constraints of these applications. A prospective outcome of this project is that applications can run more efficiently on edge AI platforms allowing them to save energy. They can be applied to the development of Cyber-Physical Systems as used for example in the high-tech industry or in smart energy grids. Application in other areas with distributed computing (e.g., autonomous vehicles, patient monitoring) is also within reach.

Requirements
Specific Requirements

• A master's degree (or an equivalent university degree) in Electrical Engineering or related background and strong hardware/software design skills. Applications from computer science and AI MSc students with affinity for hardware implementation are also welcomed.
• A research-oriented attitude.
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team and interested in collaborating with industrial partners.
• Motivated to develop your teaching skills and coach students.
• Fluent in spoken and written English (C1 level).

Additional Information
Benefits

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation (go/no-go) after nine months. You will spend 10% of your employment on teaching tasks.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy, and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale 27 (min. €2,541 max. €3,247).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process .
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates.

Additional comments

About us

Eindhoven University of Technology is an internationally top-ranking university in the Netherlands that combines scientific curiosity with a hands-on attitude. Our spirit of collaboration translates into an open culture and a top-five position in collaborating with advanced industries. Fundamental knowledge enables us to design solutions for the highly complex problems of today and tomorrow.

The Electronic Systems (ES) group (tue.nl/es) is a top research group consisting of five full professors, two associate professors, seven assistant professors, several postdocs, about 40 EngD and PhD candidates, and support staff. The ES group is world-renowned for its design automation and embedded systems research. It is our ambition to provide a scientific basis for design trajectories of electronic systems, ranging from digital circuits to cyber-physical systems. The trajectories are constructive and lead to high-quality, cost-effective systems with predictable properties (functionality, timing, reliability, power dissipation, and cost). Design trajectories for applications that have strict real-time requirements and stringent power constraints are an explicit focus point of the group.

Curious to hear more about what it is like as a PhD candidate at TU/e? Please view the video.

Information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more?
Please contact the hiring manager Sander Stuijk, associate professor, s.stuijk[at]tue.nl.

Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. You can also contact Linda van den Boomen, HR advisor, l.j.c.v.d.boomen[at]tue.nl.

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page .

Application

We invite you to submit a complete application by using the apply button.
The application should include a:

• Cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications and the contact information of three references.
• Transcript of master's and bachelor's degrees.
• Copies of your final MSc thesis, including English abstracts, and (if applicable) published papers (PDF files). Submit at least one document written in English of which you are the main author.
• Results of your IELTS or TOEFL test (or equivalent).

We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible. The vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.

Website for additional job details

https://www.academictransfer.com/327617/

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e)

Country

Netherlands

City

Eindhoven

Postal Code

5612 AP

Street

De Rondom 70

Where to apply

Website

https://www.academictransfer.com/327617/phd-on-dataflow-driven-mapping-of-edge-…

Contact

City

Eindhoven

Website

http://www.tue.nl/

Street

De Rondom 70

Postal Code

5612 AP

STATUS: EXPIRED