6G wireless technologies supporting mobile data networks are currently being developed and are expected to provide unprecedented performance and enable new applications such as virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), ubiquitous real-time communications, and the Internet of Things. Several companies and countries are currently interested in 6G network technologies. Germany has recently funded several large research hubs developing 6G solutions, of which our research group is one. Our research focus will be on campus networks.

Your Tasks:

• Develop models for 6G networks, their applications and performance requirements, as well as algorithms and optimization frameworks to run 6G networks in a highly reliable and efficient way;
• Design solutions to make the best use of a given infrastructure, from centralized cloud to virtualized edge cloud to programmable hardware (programmable switches such as Tofinao, SmartNICs, NetFPGAs, etc.);
• Analytically evaluate your approaches and, where appropriate, build simulations in a realistic experimental environment;
• Contribute to the dissemination of research results and present results in scientific publications and posters at international conferences and workshops or to industry partners.

The possibility to pursue a PhD is given.

We are looking for a very motivated and excellent PhD student with excellent expertise and interest in networks (Software-Defined Networks (SDN), programmable data planes, smartNICs) who will contribute to the foundations of efficient and reliable 6G telecommunication networks.

Expected Qualifications:

• Successfully completed academic university degree (Master's, Diploma or equivalent) in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or related field.
• Profound conceptual and technical understanding of communication networks, especially wireless and mobile networks, is required.
• Strong knowledge of and interest in optimization techniques and algorithms, especially linear programming, approximation algorithms, and online algorithms is essential.
• Solid knowledge of distributed systems is expected.
• Basic knowledge of programmable networks and cloud computing is expected.
• Basic programming skills are expected.
• Excellent written and oral English skills are required. A high level of oral and written fluency is expected.
• The ability to work in a team of international scientists is expected.
• Experience in programming smartNICs is an advantage.
• Experience with optimization methods and tools (e.g., linear programming tools such as CPLEX and Gurobi) is desired.
• Basic experience in research methods and scientific writing is a plus.
• Basic knowledge of the German language or willingness to learn German is an advantage.

Please send your application, quoting the reference number and together with your curriculum vitae, degree certificates and transcripts including grade transcripts, and other supporting documents by e-mail to Prof. Anja Feldmann, Ph.D., at inet-jobs@mpi-inf.mpg.de.

The Max Planck Society has set itself the goal of employing more severely disabled people. Applications from severely disabled people are expressly encouraged.

Likewise, we would like to increase the proportion of women in areas where they are underrepresented. Women are therefore expressly encouraged to apply.

By applying for the job description, you consent to the processing and storage of your personal data as part of this application process.

Dr. Yiting Xia at Max Planck Institute for Informatics (MPI-INF) has open positions for a postdoctoral researcher on optical networking and a PhD student on computer network and systems. These positions are fully funded and located in Saarbrücken, Germany. The program is English-based.

Dr. Xia is a tenure-track faculty (equivalent to assistant professor) at MPI-INF, where she leads the network and cloud systems research group as part of the Research Group on Internet Architecture lead by Prof. Anja Feldmann. Dr. Xia’s work is to build network infrastructure and software systems for the future cloud environment shaped by emerging applications such as machine learning and IoT. Her previous work was published on top conferences including SIGCOMM, INFOCOM, HotNets, ICNP, etc. She was a research scientist at Facebook before joining MPI-INF. She has rich production experience and close collaborations with the industry. Please refer to https://www.mpi-inf.mpg.de/departments/inet/people/yiting-xia  and https://sites.google.com/view/yitingxia/ for more information.

The details of the positions are as follows. Please send the CV, transcript, and previous publications (optional) to yxia@mpi-inf.mpg.de for the application.

Position 1: postdoctoral researcher on optical networking (m/f/d)

The traditional data center network based on electrical switches cannot keep up with the growth of cloud traffic due to the fundamental limits on port density and power consumption. We aim to explore alternative data center network architectures using optical switching technologies. Our ongoing projects involve the design of optical network interconnects and switch fabric for intra- and inter- data center communications. The candidate should have deep understanding and hands-on experience with optical components and systems, being able to build optical testbeds to prototype the designs. Knowledge about communication networks is a big plus. There are opportunities to work with Facebook and Huawei, which are our project partners.

Depending on the interests of the candidate, there are also opportunities to drive research directions, mentor students, and apply for research grants.

Position 2: PhD student on computer network and systems

The landscape of cloud computing is evolving rapidly driven by emerging applications such as machine learning and IoT. It is time to rethink the design of cloud systems to support these applications. We are interested in exploring two directions: (1) cross-layer design of data center networks and cloud systems to accelerate distributed machine learning; and (2) leveraging programmable network components, such as programmable switches and smart NICs, to enable better performance and manageability of the cloud infrastructure. The candidate should have taken some courses related to computer systems and have strong programming skills to implement distributed systems. Knowledge about machine learning is a plus.

MPI is the most prestigious government-funded research institute in Germany. It has a world-leading reputation on fundamental, applied and social sciences. Recent examples are the two Nobel Prize winners in 2020. MPI-INF is at the regional tech hub, on the same campus with several other research institutes featuring computer science research, including Max Planck Institute for Software Systems (MPI-SWS), German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), and Helmholtz Center for Information Security (CISPA). MPI-INF has the tradition of collaborating with these local resources and other top universities and research institutes in Europe and the US.

Saarbrücken is a small cozy city in western Germany at the French border. It is located centrally in Europe, with a short distance to many world-class travel destinations, e.g. 2 hours away from Paris, 1.5 hours from Luxembourg, 1.5 hours from Frankfurt, 3.5 hours from Zurich, etc. It is surrounded by many scenic towns in Germany and France, making weekend trips very convenient. For more information, please visit the webpage of the institute’s International Office: https://www.mpi-inf.mpg.de/services/int-office.

About COVID: MPI has friendly policies to alleviate the visa and travel difficulties caused by COVID. The start date of these positions is flexible. A postdoc contract can start right away, and working remotely is possible. If a PhD student wants to join before a regular semester begins, a full-time research engineer position can be offered, which allows the student to start working immediately. It will later be transferred to the PhD position, and graduation will not be delayed.