The University of Cyprus (UCY) announces the availability of a Marie-Curie Ph.D. Fellowship Position for Early-stage researcher in the field of complex systems and data analytics (code: RAIS-UCY-ESR11), hosted by the Social Analytics & Networks Lab at the Dept. of Business Administration.

The position is for three (3) years (with the possibility of extension to the 4th), starting as early as possible but not later than December 2019. The position is funded by the European Commission under the Marie Curie Initial Training Network (ITN) program RAIS, which focuses on the design of decentralized, scalable and secure collective awareness platforms for real-time data analytics and machine learning, which preserve end-user privacy and information ownership. The RAIS consortium aspires to establish a fertile multidisciplinary research and innovation community with strong entrepreneurial culture that will advance wearable sport-sensing and quantified-self devices and accompanying middleware. The consortium comprises scientists and groups from the Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden; the Univ. of Cyprus; the Univ. of Insubria, Italy; the Foundation of Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), Greece; the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece; RaceFox, Sweden and a number of associated research and industrial partners (Cambridge University, UK; MIT Sloan School of Management, USA; Open Data Institute, UK; EIT Digital, Belgium; Recorded Future, Sweden; Kinetic Analysis, The Netherlands; Berklee College of Music, USA).

The main objective of the RAIS Initial Training Network is to provide world class training for the next generation of researchers, data scientists, and Web engineers, emphasizing on a strong combination of advanced understanding in both theoretical and experimental approaches, methodologies and tools that are required to develop Decentralized Platforms for Real-Time Data Analytics.

For more information about the position please contact Christos Nicolaides (nicolaides.christos@ucy.ac.cy).

The successful candidate is expected to join the Ph.D. program of University of Cyprus (UCY), to conduct original research in collaboration with the principal investigators of RAIS, and to contribute actively to the activities planned of the project (scientific publications, taking courses, secondments, participation to meetings and events, preparation of educational material, coordination of work, etc.).

We seek candidates with experience and research interests in one or more of the following topics: data analytics, complex systems, detection of causality in health-related behaviors, network analysis.

Preference will be given to highly motivated candidates with strong programming and analytical skills, excellent knowledge of English (for non-native speakers required to take TOFEL or equivalent test), and a proven commitment to their studies. Eligible applicants are required to have completed a higher education degree (M.Sc.) in computer science, statistics or other related areas from an internationally recognized university. The applicants must have less than 4 years of full-time research experience after obtaining their degree. At the time of recruitment by the UCY, the early-stage researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Cyprus for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the reference date.

Students in their final year of Master education may also apply and if qualified, receive a conditional offer. If the applicant has not completed her studies, she should include a written statement from the degree administration office (or equivalent department), confirming that she is enrolled on the final year of her education and stating the expected completion date. If the applicant receives a conditional offer, the candidate should present the degree certificate before enrolment.

Marie Curie fellows enjoy good salaries and working conditions, career development opportunities and work-life balance. We especially encourage women researchers to apply for the aforementioned positions. The monthly salary of a PhD student under Marie Curie RAIS ITN scheme at UCY is expected to be approximately 3,300 EUR per month before the tax. For Marie Curie fellows with family (‘Family’ means persons linked to the researcher by marriage (or a relationship with equivalent status to a marriage recognised by the legislation of the country where this relationship was formalized) or dependent children who are actually being maintained by the Marie Curie fellow), a 500 EUR monthly family allowance will be given. Marie Curie fellows will also get coverage of expenses related to the participation in research and training activities (contribution to research-related costs, meetings, conference attendance, training actions, etc.).

Benefits

• Competitive salary to cover living allowance (2.701,02 Euro – gross salary), mobility (600,00 Euro) plus a family allowance (if the candidate is married: 500,00 Euro), social and health insurance (according to the H2020 Marie S. Curie Actions Programme and University of Cyprus regulations). 
• In the context of a personal Career Development Plan, opportunities for international collaboration, attend outstanding conferences/events and exchanges to world-class academic and industrial partners will take place. 
• Registration for a PhD at University of Cyprus in Edge computing, Complex systems and Data analytics. 
• Training in a range of state-of-the-art scientific skills, intellectual property and project management skills.
• Secondment placements within the network’s partners (up to max. 30% of the training period).

How to Apply

To communicate your expression of interest, please fill in  the application form for RAIS consortium (at the last section of the application form there is a link to upload all the required documents). While applications are accepted on a continuous basis, applications received by August 31, 2019 will be considered in the first evaluation cycle. The decisions are expected to be reached by the end of September 2019.

About the University of Cyprus:

The University of Cyprus (UCY) is the largest University and the main research organization in Cyprus. The University was established in 1989. The University is featured in the Shanghai list of world-class Universities. It is ranked in the top 351-400 Universities worldwide and is in the 52nd position amongst Universities that are less than 50 years old, according to the Times Higher Education World Rankings. The University is located in Nicosia, the capital city of the Republic of Cyprus, a European Union member state, a major financial, business, tourist, and educational hub in the Eastern Mediterranean, and one of the safest countries in the world. Nicosia combines a modern European culture with ancient enchantment and world-class tourist and archaeological attractions. RAIS ITN at UCY is coordinated by a multidisciplinary group of faculty members from the Laboratory for Internet Computing, Department of Computer Science (School of Pure and Applied Sciences) and the Social Analytics & Networks Lab, Department of Business Administration (School of Economics and Business):

• Prof. George Pallis, http://www.cs.ucy.ac.cy/~gpallis

• Prof. Marios D. Dikaiakos, http://www.cs.ucy.ac.cy/mdd

• Prof. Christos Nicolaides, https://ucy.ac.cy/dir/en/cb-profile/cnicol01

The RAIS ITN will start in January 2019 and will finish in December 2022. The following institutions participate in the RAIS ITN: Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden (Assoc. prof. S. Girdzijauskas); Univ. of Cyprus (Assoc. prof. G.Pallis, prof. M. Dikaiakos); Univ. of Insubria, Italy (prof. E. Ferrari); FORTH, Greece (prof. E. Markatos); Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (prof. A.Vakali); RaceFox (Prof. C. Norström); and a number of associated research and industrial partners (Cambridge University, UK, MIT, USA, Open Data Institute, USA, EIT Digital, Recorded Future, Sweden).