Research Fellow Business & Law

Location: Highfield Campus

Salary:  £29,301 to £34,956 per annum

Full Time - Fixed Term for 15 months

Closing Date:  Tuesday 13 December 2016

Interview Date:  To be confirmed

Reference: 740916F1-R

Research Fellow in Network Systems

University of Southampton - Southampton Business School

Centre of Excellence for Decision Analytics & Risk Research (CEDARR) at the University of Southampton offers an exciting opportunity to work on a research project collaborated with one of world largest Telecom companies. The position offers an exciting opportunity for conducting internationally leading and impactful research, which aims to solve real-world challenge on improving the dependability and quality-of-service of future software-defined network. The research associate will work on improving the resilience of future software defined network.  The project will involve setup software define network testbed (e.g. openflow or equivalent virtualized cloud system), design and implement scalable fault tolerant algorithms with quality of service awareness.  You will be employed by the University of Southampton on a 15 months fixed term contract, but with possible extension with future projects with the industry partner.  You will receive training within Centre of Excellence for Decision Analytics & Risk Research, and have opportunities to visit the global headquarters of the industry partner to represent your research output. 

Project background:

Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualisation (NFV) are emerging architectures purporting to be dynamic and adaptable to be suitable for future data-driven virtualised networks (e.g. content distribution networks). Similar to the concept of Cloud computing, SDN architectures decouple network control and forwarding functions, enabling network control to become directly programmable and the underlying infrastructure to be abstracted from applications and network services. Network dependability is one of the most important and challenging aspects of SDN to ensure a qualified network service delivery and availability. Nowadays, many commercial venders’ aims to provide 99.999+% service availability yet still ensure the flexible SDN service adaptation and low operational management costs. Therefore, effective fault-tolerance designs become absolutely essential for SDN.

University of Southampton

This project will require a complex set of skills to be integrated in order to achieve the final product outcome.  The Associate will be required to access different skills sets and knowledge within the University of Southampton in order to develop elements of the project such that market launch can be achieved. In this respect it is anticipated that the team will need to utilize leading expertise from the Centre of Excellence for Decision Analytics & Risk Research (CEDARR).

The candidate

The candidate should also have quantitative experience, including a proven publication track record, in one or more of the following areas: fault tolerant systems, distributed systems, cloud computing, virtualised systems, network systems, quality of service aware systems, computer simulation. You should have a PhD (or equivalent experience and/or qualifications) in computer science, software engineering, electronic engineering, applied mathematics or a related area. Applications will be considered from candidates who are working towards or nearing completion of a relevant PhD qualification. The title of Research Fellow will be applied upon completion of PhD.  Prior to the qualification being awarded the title of Senior Research Assistant will be given.

You must have excellent communication skills and be able to organise your own work and prioritise work to meet conference and project deadlines. All applicants must be fluent in spoken and written English. You will be part of the Centre of Excellence for Decision Analytics & Risk Research (CEDARR). Evidence of satisfactory knowledge in computer programming/simulation (especially MATLAB or C/C++), software define network (e.g. openflow), fault tolerant algorithms and quality of services would be an advantage. Previous experience of telecom, network and reliability industry, through direct former employment or student placement or previous post-Doctoral position, would be helpful. Ideally the Associate would have some knowledge of fault tolerant algorithms, network testbed setup/deployment, network level programming and software define networks or quantitative quality of service evaluation would be advantageous. Prospective research associate will be a logical thinker, a good communicator with the ability to understand and solve complex problems and to work to deadlines and high quality standards. Other skills required include: ability to write academic reports, good presentational skills, and good time management.

For more information please contact the academic supervisor for this project, Dr. Tiejun Ma tiejun.ma@soton.ac.uk.

Application Procedure

You should submit your completed application form online at www.jobs.soton.ac.uk. The application deadline will be midnight on the closing date stated above. References are requested along with your application, so please allow time for these to be received prior to the close date, to assist the department with shortlisting. If you need any assistance, please call Geraldine Lewis (Recruitment Team) on +44 (0) 23 8059 2507.Please quote vacancy reference number 740916F1-R on all correspondence.