[ecoop-info] Marie Curie ITN Fellowships at FORTH-ICS, Crete Island, GREECE

[Panagiota Fatourou]

  Two Early Stage Researcher (ESR) positions
are available at the Institute of Computer Science (ICS),
Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH),
Heraklion, Crete Island, Greece. These positions
are funded by the European Commission under
the Marie Curie Initial Training Network Programme
(project TransForm).

We address (pre-PhD) researchers aiming at
significantly improving their career perspectives
from both the PUBLIC and PRIVATE sector.

The duration of the appointment is 3 years. Applications
for smaller periods will also be considered (but applicants
interested to join the project for 3 years will be given
priority).

Applicants may also request to be considered as candidates
for the PhD program at the Department of Computer Science,
University of Crete, Greece.


RESEARCH TOPIC
***********************
The ESRs will pursue research on the general area
of concurrent computing and in particular on
the Theoretical Foundations of Transactional Memory.

Multicore architectures have come to stay; yet multicore
is useless without concurrent programming. The current
parallel programming approach of employing locks is
widely considered to be too difficult for any but a few
experts. Transactional Memory (TM) is a new programming
paradigm which is considered by many researchers as the
future of parallel programming. To understand properly
TM systems as well as be able to assess them and improve them,
a rigorous theoretical study of the approach,
its challenges and its benefits is badly needed.
This is the challenging research goal to be undertaken
by the recruited ESRs.

The recruited ESRs will work in close collaboration with
the other academic partners of the project:
* EPFL, Switzerland (Prof. Rachid Guerraoui)
* Technische Universitaet of Berlin, Germany (Prof. Anja Feldman & Dr. Petr
Kuznetsov)
* Technion, Department of Computer Science, Israel (Prof. Hagit Attiya)
* University of Rennes I, France (Prof. Michel Raynal)
and under the supervision of researchers from the industry:
* Deutsche Telekom, Germany (Prof. Dr. Anja Feldman & Dr. Petr Kuznetsov)
* Microsoft Research, Cambridge, UK (Dr. Tim Harris)
* Sun Microsystems Labs, Massachusetts, USA (Dr. Victor Luchangco)
* IBM T.J. Watson Research Center, USA  (Dr. Maged Michael and Dr. Eran
Yahav)


ELIGIBILITY
**************
The recruited researchers should be, at the time of selection,
in the first four years of their research careers (measured
from the date when they obtained the degree which would formally
entitle them to embark on a doctorate). Also:
 * ESRs should not already have a PhD
 * ESRs should be nationals of a country other than Greece, and
 * ESRs must not have resided or carried out their main activity
  (work, studies, etc.) in Greece for more than 12 months in the
  last 3 years.

(Some examples of eligible candidates are presented below.)


IMPORTANT DATES
************************
There are two cut-off dates:

1) 1st Cut-off Date: October 20, 2009
       Starting Date: January 1, 2010
       Ending Date: December 31, 2012

2) 2nd Cut-off Date: March 20, 2010
       Starting Date: September 1, 2010
       Ending Date: August 31, 2013

Priority will be given to applicants that can join the project in
January 2010. Applicants interested to join the project in September
of 2010 should send an e-mail of interest to Panagiota Fatourou
[faturu AT cs DOT uoi DOT gr] by October 20, 2009.

PhD students register at the Department of Computer Science twice
each year, every February and September. So, applicants interested
to pursue a PhD could potentially start their studies
either on February 2010 or on September 2010.


FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
******************************
Marie Curie ITNs provide competitive financial support
to the ESRs including:
* a fair monthly living and mobility allowance,
* a yearly travel allowance (i.e., a fixed amount of money
  based upon the direct distance between the location of origin
  of the researcher and Heraklion, Greece, where FORTH-ICS is located),
* a career exploratory allowance (i.e., a single payment for attending
  job interviews, additional courses, job fairs, etc.), and
* coverage of the expenses related to the participation of
  the ESRs in research and training activities (contribution to
  research-related costs, meetings, conference attendance,
  training actions, etc.).


HOW TO APPLY
********************
The applicant must submit the following documents together
with an application:
1) Curriculum Vitae
2) Statement of objectives
3) Official transcripts of diplomas and grades from
   all academic institutions of higher education listed
   in his/her application (after high-school)
4) Certified translations of diplomas and grades into English
   or Greek (if not originally in English or Greek)
5) Certificates showing all courses attended by the applicant
   with credit value (ECTS points) and grade for each course
6) Certificates proving fluency in English language
7) Copies (or electronic versions) of theses (diploma thesis,
   MSc thesis) and research papers published by the applicant
8) Three recommendation letters (as described in more detail below)
9) Other certificates, awards or documents that the applicant
   would like to submit
10) A copy of passport or official identity document showing
    the applicant's name in full

Each recommendation consists of two elements:
* A form to be filled out by the referee (contact Panagiota Fatourou
[faturu AT cs DOT uoi DOT gr] for obtaining the required forms).
* An additional letter with the referee's comments.

Recomendations must be sent directly to the following address:
Prof. Panagiota Fatourou
Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas
N. Plastira 100
Vassilika Vouton
GR-700 13 Heraklion
Crete Island
GREECE

Applicants that envisage a PhD will have to submit
additional documents to comply with the application procedure
of the Department of Computer Science of the University of Crete.
In this case please contact Panagiota Fatourou
[faturu AT cs DOT uoi DOT gr] for more information.

Selected applicants will be invited to undergo a (telephone) interview
(and possibly to give a presentation at FORTH ICS).


GENDER EQUALITY
*************************
FORTH is an equal opportunity employer.
Female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.
Panagiota Fatourou (the coordinator of TransForm) is a woman,
and the same is true for half of the rest of the project researchers.
This identifies the extra sensitivity of TransForm to gender
equality issues; all possible efforts will be made to increase
participation of women researchers in the project.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


THE TRAINING PROCESS
*******************************
TransForm aims at improving the career perspectives of researchers
by offering structured training in the challenging research area
of Transactional Memory, as well as providing complementary skills
and exposing the researchers to other sectors including private
companies. More specifically, the ESRs will work in close collaboration
with leading researchers in the field of concurrent computing over Europe;
five well-known universities and research institutes (listed below)
participate in the project:

1) Foundation of Research and Technology-Hellas,
   Institute of Computer Science, Greece (Prof. Panagiota Fatourou)
2) EPFL, Switzerland (Prof. Rachid Guerraoui)
3) Technische Universitaet of Berlin
   (Prof. Dr. Anja Feldman and Dr. Petr Kuznetsov)
4) Technion, Department of Computer Science (Prof. Hagit Attiya)
5) University of Rennes I, France (Prof. Michel Raynal)

Strong collaboration among the research teams is a must for Marie-Curie
Initial Training Netowrks and the ESRs will have the opportunity
of visits and secondments to the institutions of the other partners
of the network.

Additionally, the ESRs will be given the opportunity to come
in touch with strong industrial partners since researchers from
well-known companies, like Deutsche Telekom (Germany),
Microsoft Research, Cambridge (UK), the Sun Microsystems Labs,
and the IBM T.J. Watson Research Center in the US, stand at the
supervisory board of the project.

Training also includes network-wide training activities
with the long-term goal of providing a full-power training
to the ESRs. Examples of such activities are the attendance
of workshops and summer schools, courses that provide complementary
training (such as project management, presentation skills,
language courses, ethics, IPR, communication, etc.),
involvement in the organisation of network activities,
and other aspects such as proposal writing, task co-ordination, etc.


FORTH ICS & UNIVERSITY OF CRETE
**********************************************
The Institute of Computer Science (FORTH ICS) is one of the
leading research centres in Greece with well-organized facilities
and highly qualified staff. It has an internationally acknowledged
reputation in conducting basic and applied research, developing
applications and products, and providing services. FORTH ICS has strong
international collaborations, and has formed several alliances with
industrial partners both inside Greece and internationally.

FORTH ICS provides all the required facilities for a successful career
in computer science. It is located at the relatively-new, modern building
of FORTH which provides all required infrastructure. Some of its
facilities include several computer labs, fully equipped seminar halls,
access to auditorium, and a library with a rich collection
to support the research and educational needs of the project.

More information about FORTH ICS can be found at
http://www.ics.forth.gr/

ESRs that envision a PhD in computer science,
will have to follow the PhD mechanisms of the Department of Computer Science
of the University of Crete, one of the top universities in Greece
(see http://www.csd.uoc.gr and http://www.uoc.gr/ for more information
on the Department of Computer Science and the University of Crete,
respectively).


THE BEAUTIFUL ISLAND OF CRETE
********************************************
Living in Crete, the biggest (and one of the most beautiful) island
in Greece, can become an exciting experience. Crete is a multicolored
mosaic of mythology, history, culture, friendly and proud people,
rough and stony mountains, gorges, the always bright cretan sun
and the deep sea that surrounds the island. In addition to
the facilities offered by its big cities, one can really enjoy
the beauty of the landscape and the mountains.

The island offers a wide range of outdoor activites,
from mountaineering to all kind of watersports, to tennis,
basketball and footbal. Rock climbing, paragliding, parapente,
parachute, hiking (i.e., through the spectacular Europe's longest
Samaria Gorge as well as through many other smaller but well-known
gorgeous gorges of the island), mountain bike, all kind of sea sports
(from swiming to diving at a wonderful undersea world, to sailing,
etc.), cave exploration, as well as a plethora of other activites
(like horse riding, participation in local feasts, etc.) are only
some of the adventurous choices offered on the island.

Other attractions are in plentiful supply and include
the remains of the Minoan civilisation at Knossos
as well as a wide collection of other archeological sites
of interest, the astonishing Archaeological Museum in Iraklio,
pictersque villages spread all around the island,
the well-known traditional Cretan food, and
the wonderful beaches on the southern side of Crete.

Several beautiful small islands (like Gavdos, Chrissi, etc.)
are very close to Crete and are popular destinations for one day cruises.
Moreover, Crete is just two hours sailing away from the magnificent island
of Santorini (Thira) in Cyclades from which most of the Cyclades islands
can be reached.

Any discussion of Crete without mentioning its people would not be
complete. Cretans are a proud and independent people and their behavior
reflects their long history and their struggles against occupying forces:
"They are a truly admirable people who learnt to hold on stubbornly
throughout the tumultuous events of fourty centuries to their native
character
and local speech. Courage, mingled with an independent spirit that is often
close to downright disobedience, a lively wit, vivid imagination, and a
language
full of images, spontaneous and unaffected, love for every kind of
adventure,
an indefatigable urge for freedom, that goes hand in hand with an insatiable
desire for bravado... A fertile land that has always given birth to the
worthiest
of men both ..., in science and letters, in the economy and in war..."
("History of Crete" by Theoharis Theotokis).


ELIGIBILITY EXAMPLES
*****************************
Example A:
A researcher has already been working as a researcher in industry
for two years since graduating with his/her first degree in computer
science.
S/he would be able to benefit from participation in an ITN as an ESR even
without
pursuing a Ph.D. degree.

Example B:
A researcher has graduated with his/her MSc degree in computer science
in 2007 and would like to start his/her Ph.D. studies in 2010.
S/he is eligible as an ESR within the ITN as s/he has less
than 4 years of research experience and no PhD.

Example C:
A researcher obtained his/her PhD after 3 ½ years. S/he is NOT eligible
as an ESR within an ITN even though s/he has less than 4 years of
research experience.


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FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Panagiota Fatourou [faturu AT cs DOT uoi DOT gr]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Apologies for multiple copies of this opening.
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