Netherlands : PhD student in the area of computational geometry

The faculty of mathematics and computer science offers bachelor and master programs, all of which are taught in English. Currently the faculty has more than 600 BSc and MSc students and employs more than 300 scientists, including more than 100 PhD students. The faculty contains well-established research groups in diverse areas such as algorithms, visualization, information systems, combinatorial optimization, model-driven software engineering, security, and stochastics.

The algorithms group, headed by prof. Mark de Berg, focuses on algorithms and data structures for spatial data. We perform fundamental research in computational geometry, I/O-efficient algorithms, and graph drawing, with applications to, for instance, geographic information systems and automated cartography. Currently the group consists of Mark de Berg, Kevin Buchin, Maike Buchin, Herman Haverkort, Bettina Speckmann, and several PhD students, making it one of the largest groups world-wide in this area. The group collaborates closely with the visualization group headed by prof. Jack van Wijk.

For more information on the group, see: http://www.win.tue.nl/algo/

THE PROJECT

Maps help people to make decisions in, for example, navigation, spatial planning, or risk and disaster management. Effective maps immediately convey the relevant information and hence are as simple as possible.

Therefore, in many cases, schematized maps are best: schematization makes maps more readable by using a simplified representation of the original data, while omitting details that are irrelevant to the purpose of the map.

In traditional schematized maps, features such as roads, rivers, and the boundaries of regions are often drawn using only a few simple curves. However, by lack of algorithms that can work with curves, current automated schematization methods produce maps that are entirely composed of straight line segments. This is unfortunate, since with straight line segments alone one cannot achieve the expressive power, clarity and aesthetic quality than can be achieved with curves.

The goal of the PhD project is to develop algorithmic methods that use curves to produce schematic representations of region boundaries and transportation networks. The task of the PhD student is to define optimization criteria for curved schematization, to develop algorithms that produce maps that are optimized according to these criteria, and to evaluate these algorithms theoretically and experimentally. The project will be carried out under the supervision of prof. Bettina Speckmann and prof. Herman Haverkort.

The project will take four years and should result in a PhD thesis, in publications in conferences and journals on computational geometry, geographic information systems and/or information visualization, and in interactive demonstrations of the techniques developed. There will be opportunities for collaboration with (and visits to) computer scientists, geographic information scientists, and psychologists in the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom and other countries.

Candidates for this position should have a master's degree in computer science or mathematics, with a firm background in algorithms.

We offer:

• a full-time temporary appointment for a period of 4 years, with an intermediate evaluation after 10 months.
• a gross salary of € 2,042 per month in the first year, increasing up to € 2,612 per month in the fourth year;
• support for your personal development and career planning including courses, summer schools, conference visits etc.;
• a broad package of fringe benefits (e.g. excellent technical infrastructure, child daycare, savings schemes, and excellent sports facilities).

The work of a PhD student may include assisting in courses of BSc or MSc programs of the department. This amounts to at most 20% of the time; the remaining time is spent on research and research-related activities.

Foreign PhD students need not speak Dutch: it is easy to get by with English, not only at the university but also in everyday life.

HOW TO APPLY

Candidates for this position should have a master's degree in computer science or mathematics, with a firm background in algorithms.

To ensure full consideration of your application, you should apply before 14 November 2011. Please use the 'Apply now' button. After 14 November we may accept more applications until the position is filled.

MORE INFORMATION

If you would like to know more about the project, please contact Herman Haverkort (h.j.haverkort@tue.nl). For information concerning employment conditions you can contact Mrs. N. Evers, HR advisor TU/e, e-mail pzwin@tue.nl.

Further Information

Application Deadline : 14 November 2011

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Posted on 2011-10-30 12:11:20

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