PhD position: Designing high-performance techniques for mobile computing (applications on IoT/drones)

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PhD position: Designing high-performance techniques for mobile computing (applications on IoT/drones)

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Offer DescriptionKeywords. Distributed algorithms; replication; graph algorithms; computational fluid dynamics; edge computing; dynamic networks; replicated state machine (RSM)1 Context The design of distributed systems has become increasingly important to provide reliable services with high availability. Most internet services rely on large amounts of resources of cloud-centric infrastructures to tolerate failures and enhance data availability to users. While such a cloud-centric design has been widely used to implement popular services, like video stores and social networking, this computing model alone is unlikely to fit well to emerging latency-critical applications on dynamic networks, such as mobile networks and wireless networks.
The growing popularity of cloud-centric distributed systems strongly relies on advances in hardware and software components of datacenters. For instance, Li et al. [1] propose a new high-performance replication protocol based on the assumptions that packet losses and reordering are rare inside datacenters. However, these assumptions are likely to be incorrect in dynamic networks.
In a dynamic network, such as a swarm of drones, the design of reliable distributed systems with high performance is challenging. System designers should cope with unstable, heterogeneous resources availability, eventually frequent network partitions and fast-changing data availability requirements. These limitations can lead to a dramatic performance degradation of the distributed system for clients of edge, mobile services.
Suitable techniques and algorithms are therefore required in order to guarantee high throughput and low latency for emerging distributed systems on dynamic networks.2 Proposed research This research project focuses on load balancing techniques and scheduling protocols for achieving high-performance, reliable distributed systems in dynamic networks.
The availability and fault tolerance of a reliable distributed system are commonly guaranteed by a replication protocol based on replicated state machine (RSM). Such a protocol implements a consensus algorithm, like Fast Paxos [2] and Raft [3], in order to provide strong consistency throughout distributed, replicated data. In fact, strongly consistent replication is key to efficient implementation of critical distributed systems’ building blocks, like distributed lock manager or transactional key-value store.
The body of research effort on load balancing techniques and scheduling protocols has yielded significant performance gains in cloud-centric systems. Aspnes et al. [4] develop on-line load balancing techniques to minimize the maximum load of requests in distributed computing clusters. Regarding RSM, Alchieri et al. [5] propose a scheduling protocol that simplifies the work done by the scheduler while improving the performance of the system. Yet, further research is needed for evaluating these techniques and protocols in dynamic edge computing, where the availability of nodes’ resources is barely unpredictable and the network topologies evolve continuously.
In order to provide a valuable trade-off between enforcing strong consistency and providing high-performance, we are highly interested in investigating new load balancing techniques and scheduling protocols for emerging mobile distributed systems. To conduct this exciting, promising research, we will combine ideas from two disciplines: distributed algorithms and computational fluid dynamics. Therefore, we intend to review the techniques to dynamically handle operations throughout moving replicas based on fast, advanced simulation of system messages flows to enforce ordering and timing constraints. References [1] Li, J., Michael, E., Sharma, N. K., Szekeres, A., & Ports, D. R. (2016). Just say NO to Paxos overhead: replacing consensus with network ordering. In 12th USENIX Symposium on Operating Systems Design and Implementation (OSDI 16) (pp. 467-483).
[2] L. Lamport. Fast Paxos. (2006). Distributed Computing, 19(2).
[3] Ongaro, D., & Ousterhout, J. (2014). In search of an understandable consensus algorithm. In 2014 USENIX Annual Technical Conference (USENIX ATC 14) (pp. 305-319).
[4] Aspnes, J., Azar, Y., Fiat, A., Plotkin, S., & Waarts, O. (1997). On-line routing of virtual circuits with applications to load balancing and machine scheduling. Journal of the ACM (JACM), 44(3), 486-504.
[5] Alchieri, E., Dotti, F., & Pedone, F. (2018). Early scheduling in parallel state machine replication. In Proceedings of the ACM Symposium on Cloud Computing (pp. 82-94).RequirementsResearch Field Computer science » Informatics Education Level Master Degree or equivalentResearch Field Computer science » Systems design Education Level Master Degree or equivalentResearch Field Physics » Mathematical physics Education Level Master Degree or equivalentSkills/QualificationsCandidates to this position should hold a Master’s degree in Computer Science/Informatics, Mathematics, Physics or a related field by the starting date of the PhD. They must be excited by research in distributed systems, distributed algorithms, computational fluid dynamics, and/or programming languages, and should have an excellent academic record in one of these areas.Specific RequirementsFamiliarity with queueing network model and differential equations would be appreciated. Teamwork and communication skills are key to this position, and industrial experience is a plus.
Excellent proficiency in English is required (CECR : C1; IELTS : 7.0; Cambridge English Scale : 185; or equivalent). Knowledge of French is not required.Languages ENGLISH Level ExcellentResearch Field Computer science » InformaticsComputer science » Modelling toolsComputer science » Systems designMathematics » Algorithms Years of Research Experience 1 – 4Additional InformationBenefitsThe project starts on October 2024 (or eventually earlier, depending on the recruitment process). The duration of the contract/scholarship is 3 years.Benefits include:

• French government strongly subsidizes its higher education system, therefore the tuition fees are among the more competitive in Europe
• Doctoral students are eligible for an accommodation in our own campus which contributes significantly to reduce the total cost of living (already much cheaper than bigger European cities)
• Social security coverage
• Subsidized meals
• Partial reimbursement of public transport costs
• Social, cultural and sports events and activities

Eligibility criteria

• Applicants of any nationality can apply
• Applicants must not have a doctoral degree already or been enrolled in a PhD/doctoral program

Selection processTo apply, please provide the following information:

• Curriculum Vitæ
• Letter of motivation that should describe the applicant’s background in the areas of the project, reason for interest in the project, and future plans
• A list of courses and grades of the last three years of study (an informal transcript is OK).
• Names and contact details of at least two references (people who can recommend you), whom we will contact directly.
• If relevant, a link to your publications and/or open-source developments.

Applications will be considered on a first-come-first-served basis.Additional commentsAbout ENAC, Onera and the European aerospace industry in ToulouseThe proposed research will be developed in the ENAC research laboratory in close cooperation with Onera. , the French Aerospace Lab, and , National School of Civil Aviation, are both located in Toulouse, France, the centre of the European aerospace industry. Our research laboratories offer ideal working environments, where researchers can focus on developing new ideas, collaborations and projects.Our research topics at ENAC Lab include emerging CPS design (e.g., drones and nanosatellites), aviation safety and security, sustainable transportation development, and aeronautical computer-human interactions. For further information, please refer to . Website for additional job detailsWork Location(s)Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute ENAC, Université de Toulouse Country France City Toulouse Postal Code 31055 Street 7 avenue Edouard-Belin GeofieldWhere to apply E-mail[email protected]Contact State/ProvinceOccitanie CityToulouse WebsiteStreet7 avenue Edouard-Belin Postal Code31055 E-Mail[email protected]STATUS: EXPIRED

Expected salary

Location

Toulouse

Job date

Sat, 06 Apr 2024 04:31:48 GMT

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