Job description
We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of nationality, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief, disability, or age. Selection is open, transparent, and merit-based.
About the E-CoRe project
E-CoRe (Energy-efficient Computing via Reversibility) is a Horizon Europe project funded under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks. The project advances the science and practice of reversible computing for a sustainable digital future, training the next generation of experts to make computing sustainable. Energy is a main concern in society: IT accounts for an estimated 10% of global energy consumption. Reversible computing avoids the fundamental energy lower bound imposed by Landauer's principle by discarding no information. E-CoRe aims to set the stage for the Reversible Computing revolution by forming a community of experts who will improve and popularize reversible languages, algorithms and architectures — in energy-intensive applications such as machine learning, blockchains and drones. For the full project description, see: Project Description.
About the environment: University of Bologna
The University of Bologna (UNIBO), founded in 1088, is the world's oldest university and one of Italy's leading research institutions. The Department of Computer Science and Engineering (DISI) conducts cutting-edge research in programming languages, formal methods, and distributed systems. Bologna offers a rich academic tradition, a vibrant student city, and strong connections to European research networks.
About the position topic
This doctoral position is part of Work Package 4: Applications. The successful candidate will work on Energy Efficiency in Blockchains.
The DC will study how to make algorithms used in blockchains reversible or partially reversible. The work will focus on blockchains (e.g. Bitcoin and Ethereum) to identify energy-critical parts, including SHA-256. The DC will rephrase those parts as partially reversible algorithms exploiting reversible programming languages, and will focus on decentralised applications (DAPPS) and smart contracts, investigating reversible bytecode and high-level languages.
For the full topic description, objectives, expected results, and planned secondments, see: Topic: Energy Efficiency in Blockchains.
MSCA Doctoral Candidate eligibility criteria
To be eligible, you must satisfy all of the following conditions at the date of recruitment:
- Doctoral candidate status: You must not hold a doctoral degree. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree are not eligible.
- Mobility rule: You must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Italy for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date. For more information about this refer to this link.
- Nationality: Researchers of any nationality may apply.
Other requirements
- Master's degree (or equivalent) in computer science, mathematics, electrical engineering, or a closely related field, obtained by the recruitment date.
- Strong academic record and motivation for doctoral research.
- Proficiency in written and spoken English.
- Ability to work in an international, collaborative environment.
- Willingness to undertake secondments to other project partners as specified in the topic description.
The candidate applying for the PhD position at the University of Bologna (Italy) shall take into account further requirements established by the Italian law:
- candidates must have been in possession of the master's degree or single-cycle degree for no more than six years;
- candidates who are permanent staff of the Italian research institutions or universities, or benefitted from Italian RTT, Rtd A or Rtd B contracts are not admitted.
Note: admission requirements must be met on the expiry date of the selection notice.
Remuneration
The remuneration is based on the MSCA Doctoral Network researcher allowances:
- Living allowance: 3,821.53 € per month (standard amount of €4,010 per month adjusted by country correction coefficient of the host country to match local cost of living)
- Mobility allowance: €710 per month
- Family allowance: €660 per month (if eligible, e.g. researcher with dependent spouse and/or children)
The exact net salary depends on compulsory social security contributions and taxes according to national law, which vary by host country, and may also depend on your personal circumstances, including additional income.
How to apply
Please click on the application link below to submit your application.