Description
Two scholarships for full-time PhD studies are offered as part of the prestigious 2022 European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant awarded to Associate Professor Stelios Timotheou for his 5-year, 2-million-euro project “Real-Time Urban Mobility Management via Intelligent UAV-based Sensing (URANUS)”. The URANUS project focuses on real-time, dynamic, and intelligent sensing of vehicular and pedestrian traffic via Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), and the use of the collected information for urban mobility management. In this context, a holistic framework for real-time urban mobility monitoring and control, as well as UAV operational planning, will be developed. URANUS is expected to transform our understanding of joint optimization of sensing, monitoring, and control, and lead to step-change improvements in urban traffic mobility with prominent environmental and socioeconomic benefits.
The selected candidates will work under the supervision of Associate Professor Stelios Timotheou (http://www.eng.ucy.ac.cy/stimotheou/), and will enroll in either the Electrical Engineering or the Computer Engineering PhD program of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at the University of Cyprus, the top-ranking university of the island and amongst the top-100 Young Universities in the world. The successful candidates are expected to conduct fundamental and/or applied research in the areas of data-driven and/or uncertainty-aware mathematical optimization and control, machine learning and uncertainty quantification with application to intelligent transportation systems and UAV operational planning, at the state-of-the-art facilities of the KIOS Research and Innovation Center of Excellence (KIOS CoE).
The KIOS CoE operates within the University of Cyprus and is a leading research and innovation center in Cyprus and the region on Monitoring, Control, Management, and Security of Critical Infrastructure Systems, employing more than 180 researchers. The Center collaborates strategically with Imperial College, London, as well as with a plethora of local and international industrial, academic and research organizations and other stakeholders on interdisciplinary research and innovation projects.
Scholarship Terms
The scholarships are offered on a yearly contract basis for four years for full-time PhD studies, subject to annual performance evaluation. It includes the University tuition fees and a gross monthly salary starting at €1500. Maternity leave will be granted based on Maternity Protection Law 1997(Ν.100(Ι)/1997), and the existing amendment laws. The scholarships are provisional to admission of the candidates to one of the PhD programs of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Cyprus. More information can be found in the Application Procedure section below.
Candidate’s Profile
The applicants should have a B.Sc. (or equivalent) degree in Electrical and/or Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, or other relevant field from an accredited institution. An M.Sc. (or equivalent) degree and/or background in Mathematical Optimization, Control Theory, Bayesian Statistics, and Machine Learning, will be considered as an advantage.
The applicants should have strong analytical, algorithmic and programming skills, as well as proficiency in English.
Application Procedure
Interested candidates should submit two separate applications, one for consideration for the PhD Scholarships, and one for admission to the PhD programs of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Cyprus.
(1) For consideration for the PhD Scholarships, interested candidates should submit the following items online through https://applications.ucy.ac.cy/recruitment/:
• Cover letter that specifies the availability of the candidate and which degree the candidate is interested in pursuing.
• A statement with short description of academic and research experiences as well as the reasons for applying for the specific scholarship (1 page).
• A detailed curriculum vitae in English, which includes a list of publications (if any).
• Copies of official BSc/MSc degree(s) as well as copies of official transcripts for each degree (if the original language of the degree/transcript is not Greek or English, copies of official translations are also required).
• Copy of English language certificate (e.g., GCSE, IELTS Academic, ETS TOEFL).
• Contact details of two University Professors who can provide reference letters.
Note that incomplete applications will not be considered.
(2) For admission to the PhD program, candidates need to apply for a PhD position (PhD in Electrical Engineering or PhD in Computer Engineering) through the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, at the University of Cyprus. The application deadline is April 2, 2024; the application procedure can be accessed through:
https://applications.ucy.ac.cy/postgraduate_appl/MNG_USER_en.login_frm
The candidates should indicate in their cover letter that they are interested in conducting research with Associate Professor Stelios Timotheou and that they have applied for the PhD Scholarships offered under the ERC Consolidator Grant URANUS.
The PhD Scholarships will be awarded as soon as suitable candidates are identified, so please send your application as soon as possible, but not later than March 29, 2024.
The evaluation of the applications will begin immediately. At least the best three candidates that satisfy the required qualifications will be interviewed by the Selection Committee. Candidates will be informed of the result of their application by the KIOS CoE.
Applicants need not be citizens of the Republic of Cyprus. Applicants should however ensure, before applying, that in case they are selected they will be residing in Cyprus on a full-time basis during the employment period.
The University of Cyprus shall collect and process your personal data according to the provisions of the General Regulation on Personal Data 2016/679 (EU).
The University of Cyprus (UCY) is committed to promoting inclusivity, diversity, and equality, as well as the elimination of all forms of discrimination in order to provide a fair, safe, and pleasant environment for the entire university community, where students and staff members will feel supported both in their professional and personal development, within and beyond their multiple identities. To this end, UCY seeks to create the necessary conditions that will encourage and respect diversity and ensure dignity both in the workplace and society at large. Moreover, UCY has adopted specific policies to promote equal opportunities, as well as respect and understanding of diversity, while it is committed to promoting and maintaining a working, teaching, and learning environment, free from any form of discrimination, whether direct or indirect.
For more information, please contact Associate Professor Stelios Timotheou (stimo@ucy.ac.cy), or the KIOS Center of Excellence, by phone at +357 22893460 or via e-mail at kioshiring@ucy.ac.cy.
