Open PhD position

The work will focus on the integrated management of heterogeneous user related information derived from different (personal) devices with the help of a portal.

The research group has broad experience within the area of Web Portal technology, semantic description of resources and context-adaptability.

The PhD research will be performed under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Birgitta König-Ries and Prof. Dr. Martin Welsch in cooperation with the IBM Germany Research & Development Laboratories at Böblingen, Germany.

The aim of the project is to perform research and develop prototypes that use Web Portals to provide an integrated, user centric management of heterogeneous devices and the event and data oriented information they can provide and the services they can offer.

Project description:

Mobile devices are everywhere. In our personal environment we own and utilize a heterogeneous infrastructure of simple sensors, actuators, as well as powerful devices. If properly utilized this could constitute a tremendously useful supporting environment.

Many significant questions arise:

•    How can I deal with the diversity of my gadgets and integrate them easily to a coherent solution, which suits my needs?
•    How can I benefit from other users’ sensors and actuators?
•    How can I efficiently manage and control this complexity?
•    How can my devices participate in the "Internet of Things" and how do I retain control?
•    How can these capabilities be harnessed for collective use for the greater good?

Finding answers for these questions is the primary goal of the project. Its main focus will be on:

•    Ease of use and simplicity for the management of devices and services
•    Development of innovative/game-changing usage patterns and models
•    Address needs of the end-user/consumer

Requirements:

We are looking for a candidate who meets the following requirements:

-    An excellent Masters or equivalent degree in Computer Science or a closely related field
-    Experience within the fields of context modeling, user modeling, semantic web, mobile application development and/or Web Portal technology are of advantage
-    Very good programming and software engineering skills
-    Very good communicative skills in English, both in speaking and in writing
-    Very good teaming and communication skills, as this project will be executed as a joint venture between the IBM R&D Lab in Boeblingen and the University of Jena
-    Skills in German are of advantage

We expect dedication, enthusiasm and the willingness to solve difficult problems.

Position:
This is a 75% TV-L 13 position which will be filled for two years, initially. An extension is possible provided that appropriate funds are available.

Local Information:
The city of Jena provides the unique combination of a beautiful setting, strong cultural and philosophical traditions, high-tech industry, and, above all, a modern university.
With about 100,000 inhabitants, Jena is the largest town in the central Saale valley. Situated in Thuringia, the "Green Heart of Germany“, it is famous for its beautiful landscape and natural setting.
The town of Jena lies on the East-West A4 highway running between Frankfurt and Dresden, and is close to the North-South A9 highway running between Berlin and Munich. Trains to the airports of Leipzig and Erfurt take about one hour and run every 30 minutes and every hour, respectively. Airports in Frankfurt/Main, Berlin and Munich can all be reached in 3 - 4 hours by train.
The Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena was founded in 1558 as the State University of Thuringia, a role it serves until today. In 2010 FSU had an enrolment of more than 20.000 students in a wide area of subjects like medicine, biology, law, economics, mathematics, computer science and informatics, etc.
The Department of Computer Science and Informatics (CIS) was newly established in 1993 on the basis of existing competencies and professorships. The Department is part of the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics. CIS currently has a staff of 16 full and associated professors. About 700 students are directly affiliated with the department in different programs including computer and information science, bioinformatics, and other specialized curricula.

Application:

Interested candidates are requested to send their application referring to offer no 49-2011 by the end of May 2011 preferably via Email (including all relevant documents into one reasonably sized PDF-file)  to:

Prof. Dr. Birgitta König-Ries
Institut für Informatik
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Ernst-Abbe-Platz 1-4
Raum 3311
07743 Jena
Germany

Birgitta.Koenig-Ries [at]uni-jena.de

The application should consist of:
A motivation letter, your Curriculum Vitae, copies of your diplomas together with the lists of grades, and other relevant certificates and proof of English language skills (if applicable).
Letters of recommendation are a plus, too.