ONE (1) research grant for candidates with MSc degree with reference number BI|2024/508 is now available under the scope of Project SALAD-Nets – refª 2022.15622.CMU funded by FUNDAÇÃO PARA A CIÊNCIA E A TECNOLOGIA I.P.

Public notice for research grant

Project SALAD-Nets – refª 2022.15622.CMU

BI|2024/518

INESC-ID - Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores, Investigação e Desenvolvimento em Lisboa is a R&D institute dedicated to advanced research and development in the fields of Information Technologies, Electronics, Communications, and Energy. INESC-ID has participated in more than 50 research projects funded by the European Union and more than 190 funded by national entities. Until today, our researchers have published more than 700 papers in international journal papers, more than 3000 papers in international conferences, and have registered 15 patents and/or brands.

1 | RESEARCH GRANT TYPE

ONE (1) research grant for candidates with MSc degree with reference number BI|2024/508 is now available under the scope of Project SALAD-Nets – refª 2022.15622.CMU funded byfundação para a ciência e a tecnologia i.p.,  and under the following conditions:

2 | DURATION

SIX (6) months, starting in April 2024

-     Renewable, if the candidate is enrolled in a PhD program -  art. 6º, n.4 c)

https://files.dre.pt/2s/2019/12/241000000/0009100105.pdf

subject to suitable performance within the period of the project, not exceeding the maximum period set by FCT for such grants – 4 years (included contract renewals)

-     Renewable, if the candidate is enrolled in a non-degree programme – art. 6º, n. 4 a)

https://files.dre.pt/2s/2019/12/241000000/0009100105.pdf  

subject to suitable performance within the period of the project, not exceeding the maximum period set by FCT for such grants – 1 year (included contract renewals)

3 | LEGISLATION

A fellowship contract will be celebrated according to:

1. Law 40/2004 of 18^th of August (Scientific Research Fellow Status) and its successive amendments, including the amendments introduced by the Decree Law n. 123/2019 of 28 ^th of August 
   https://dre.pt/web/guest/legislacao-consolidada/-/lc/124281176/201912061112/73740605/diploma/indice?lcq=estatuto+do+bolseiro,
    
2. Regulations for Research Grants of the Foundation for Science and Technology in force

https://www.fct.pt/financiamento/programas-de-financiamento/bolsas/

https://files.dre.pt/2s/2019/12/241000000/0009100105.pdf

https://dre.pt/dre/legislacao-consolidada/lei/2004-58216179

1. INESC-ID Lisboa Grant Regulations

https://www.inesc-id.pt/scholarship-regulations/

The fellowship contract is awarded on an exclusive dedication basis – art. 5 of Scientific Research Fellow Status and art. 16 of Regulations for Research Grants of the Foundation for Science and Technology.

4 | MONTHLY AMOUNT

The monthly amount of the grant 1259,64€ is in accordance with the values stipulated in the “Regulations for Research Grants of the Foundation for Science and Technology” in force https://www.fct.pt/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Tabela-de-Valores-SMM_atualizacao-2024.pdf  and shall be rendered through a monthly bank transfer to an account held by the grantee.

5 | OBJECTIVES/WORKPLAN

The SALAD-Nets project aims to automatically synthesize networks in a large-scale cloud/data-center environment, using programmable network equipment. We will build on our prior work [1, 2] to analyze large virtual network topologies, connecting servers and VMs through a variety of software network functions (NFs), and the physical network fabric topology that the virtual network will be deployed onto. We will process this to generate all of the network programs and controllers required to implement and deploy the virtual network using the physical fabric.

As a part of this fellowship, you will build a proof-of-concept prototype synthesis engine to (i) analyze and represent the virtual

network in a scalable manner, (ii) to optimally map virtual network functionality onto the physical network equipment, and (iii) to generate the final network programs and controllers that realize the virtual network on the physical fabric.

6 | SCIENTIFIC SUPERVISION

The activity will be supervised by Luis David Figueiredo Mascarenhas Moreira Pedrosa, Assistant Professor at Instituto Superior Técnico and Researcher at INESC ID.

INESC ID will integrate the grantee in the research team of the scientific advisor.

7 | ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The candidates should have a MSc degree in Computer Science and Engineering or related scientific area.

By the grant start date, the candidate must be enrolled in

1. a PhD programme – art. 6º, n.1

https://files.dre.pt/2s/2019/12/241000000/0009100105.pdf

or

1. a non-degree programme – art. 6º, n. 2

https://files.dre.pt/2s/2019/12/241000000/0009100105.pdf

Preferential factors

Preference will be given to candidates who :

- Expertise in development for programmable network equipment, including programmable switches and SmartNICs.

- Expertise in complex optimization, including mixed-integer linear programming and search algorithms.

- Authorship or co-authorship of scientific papers in the area of programmable networks.

8 | EVALUATION CRITERIA AND COMMITTEE

The selection will be according to the following criteria:

1. 1. 1. 1. Participation in scientific projects within the programmable networking research area - 40%.
         2. Publications relevant to programmable networking research - 40%.
         3. Pedagogical contributions in the field of computer networks - 20%.

In the event of a tie among candidates with the same highest evaluation score, the Jury reserves the right to conduct interviews to facilitate a

more objective assessment of specific criteria.

Additionally, the Jury retains the discretion to withhold the scholarship if the candidates fail to fulfil the stipulated requirements.

The jury may also decide not to assign the scholarship, if none of candidates meets the required conditions.

9 | COMPLAIN AND APPEAL DEADLINES AND PROCEDURES

The jury has the faculty not to select a candidate who does not prove the requirements mentioned in required education Level and research experience

The admitted and excluded candidates will be notified by email of the final ranking list, including the copy of the Preliminary Report of the jury.

Prior Hearing and Deadline for Final Decision: After being notified, candidates have 10 working days to submit, if applicable, a formal rebuttal.

After that period, the jury notifies the candidates of the Final Report.

Excluded applicants may complain about the jury's final report for 15 working days after notification or appeal the jury's decision to the INESC ID Board of Directors for 30 working days after notification.

According to the Portuguese Law, a disabled candidate has a preference when in equal classification, which prevails over any other legal preference. Candidates must declare their respective degree of disability, the type of disability and the means of communication / expression to be used in the selection process, under the law.

10 | FORMALISATION OF APPLICATIONS

11 | Application Dates