LTU phd
From N4C
The Department of Human Work Sciences, Division Gender, Technology and Oganization announces two PhD student positions for a project funded by EU FP7 Future Internet Research and Experimentation. The project contains network development with applications development, establishing test beds with mobile Internet access adapted for semi nomadic reindeer herders and tracking. User driven technology development, gender equality and respect for local cultures are prioritized. The profile is on standards, interoperability and Open Software. LTU is project coordinator.
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N4C: Networking for Communicatons Challenged Communities
The main task is to find solutions and produce results in accordance with the N4C project plan [1]. LTU will mainly work with architecture, applications, system integration and test beds. Having your own areas of responsibility will be an essential part of your work. This will include formal reporting to project partners.
We are looking for functional solutions rather than formal evidence. Technical and economic robustness is the goal. Together with active reindeer herders and their families you will be expected to occasionally work in the mountain area of Norrbotten County, Sweden. To achieve a good result you need to be comfortable in a research environment concerned with gender equality in technology development. It is not necessary, however, that you have studied gender topics or see your future in that area of specialization.
To be considered you need an academic degree of at least 180 ECTS. You can have a degree in Communications, Information technology, Computer Science/Engineering, or other formal education combined with knowledge and skills in these areas earned through own interest. The individual profiles of the two PhD students will be matched together for positive effects on the project result and our research environment.
Further Description
The N4C project falls within the ICT section of the EU 7th framework program and is in the area New Paradigms and Experimental Facilities. The requirements for projects within this call involve applications development for networking and the establishment of test beds. While this is a technology project, it is user driven with an emphasis on gender equality and respect for local cultures. The specific research will involve developing applications, and application interfaces that can support the needs of remote population living in areas where Internet connectivity is challenged. This research must be designed to insure that the presence of users is integrated in all of the design and development stages. Other groups within the project will be working on a network substructure that allows for connectivity in these remote areas using a techniques called Delay Tolerant Networking More information on the technology involved can be found in the background section of this site.
LTU is the coordinator with partners from eight European countries are participating of the project. While the students will be primarily based in Luleå, the work will involve working with many of the other partners and will involve direct contact with the indigenous population of Sapmi (the Sámi people).
Tasks
The main task will be finding solutions and producing concrete technical results in accordance with the project work plan. The project consortium will co-operate to reach the goals. You will be part of a project group at LTU and have work mates among the different partners, and in accordance with your competence profile you will have individual tasks. Starting from your individual profile we will commonly identify topics of particular relevance, where you develop deeper knowledge. You carry out research in the identified area and produce a Doctoral thesis coverning the research within its social user driven context. The preferred research style is to seek for functioning solutions rather than formal proofs. A certain amount of field work in the mountain area of west Jokkmokk in Swedish Lapland will be required. Some travel for meetings and periods of common work with project partners will be required.
You will additionally have an area of responsibility within the project organization. The two PhD students will each take care of LTU’s participation in two-three sub projects. These sub projects are referred to as Work Packages (WP). Each WP is lead by one of the partners. Your duty in this part will be to insure that LTU works in a coordinated manner with the other participants in the WP, and to actively maintain a good and productive communication with the WP leader. It will also be your duty to regularly report LTU’s activities in the WPs of your responsibility: your work and that of other LTU staff, issues as well as progress, to the WP leader. As with all other members of the project, students will have to conform to European Commission reporting, as well as other, requirements.
Information
For general information contact N4C project manager Maria Udén +46(0)920-493023. Regarding the N4C technical profile contact principal investigator Avri Doria. For more information please also visit Division of gender, technology and organization
The project language will be English.
Application
An application, in English, marked with reference number 925-08 should include statement of purpose, CV, copies of diplomas from high school and universities and contact information of at least two reference persons and be submitted to: Luleå University of Technology, Registry secretary, SE-971 87 Luleå, Sweden, or electronically by e-mail to: [2] by 30 April, 2008.
