PhD Candidate in Automated Software Testing

SnT is a leading international research and innovation centre in secure, reliable and trustworthy ICT systems and services. We play an instrumental role in Luxembourg by fueling innovation through research partnerships with industry, boosting R&D investments leading to economic growth, and attracting highly qualified talent.

We’re looking for people driven by excellence, excited about innovation, and looking to make a difference. If this sounds like you, you’ve come to the right place!

Your Role

The successful candidate will join the Serval research group by working on the MeMoRIA (FNR-funded) project. The subject of the thesis will be “Automated formulation of Metamorphic relations” with supervisor Dr. Mike Papadakis. Successful PhD candidates will extensively explore and develop software engineering techniques that include the feasibility, practicality, and success evaluation of prototype implementations.

The team you will be working with:

• Mike Papadakis
• Renzo Degiovanni
• Nazareno Aguirre

The position holder will be required to perform the following tasks/will do research on the following topics:

• Design, implement and evaluate automated techniques for inferring test oracles (aka metamorphic relations) based on grammar-based fuzzing, dynamic metamorphic relation detection, and mutation analysis
• Design, implement and evaluate these techniques in implementing workarounds for runtime failure recovery methods

PhD Student Role: Under the direction of a professor, the candidate will carry out research activities and write a thesis with the main goal of obtain a PhD in the area of Software Engineering. This includes conducting literature surveys and establishing state-of-the-art; developing necessary experimental and simulation facilities where required; planning, executing, and analyzing experiments and simulations; conducting joint and independent research activities; contributing to project deliverables, milestones, demonstrations, and meetings; disseminating results at international scientific conferences/workshops and peer reviewed scientific publications.

Your Profile

• Bachelor in Computer Science or related
• Master on a subject related to Informatics, or Software Engineering, or Computer Science, or Information Technology
• Strong background in software testing and formal methods applied to software engineering, such as, propositional/temporal logic, sat solving, model checking, etc.
• Strong analytical skills
• Industry experience in information and communication technology will be considered as an advantage
• Commitment, team working, a critical mind, and motivation are skills that are more than welcome
• Optional: knowledge of machine learning, metaheuristics, statistics, and text analysis

Language Skills: Fluent written and verbal communication skills in English are required.

Here’s what awaits you at SnT

• A stimulating learning environment. Here post-docs and professors outnumber PhD students. That translates into access and close collaborations with some of the brightest ICT researchers, giving you solid guidance
• Exciting infrastructures and unique labs. At SnT’s two campuses, our researchers can take a walk on the moon at the LunaLab, build a nanosatellite, or help make autonomous vehicles even better
• The right place for IMPACT. SnT researchers engage in demand-driven projects. Through our Partnership Programme, we work on projects with more than 55 industry partners
• Multiple funding sources for your ideas. The University supports researchers to acquire funding from national, European and private sources
• Competitive salary package. The University offers a 12 month-salary package, over six weeks of paid time off, meal vouchers and health insurance
• Be part of a multicultural family. At SnT we have more than 60 nationalities. Throughout the year, we organise team-building events, networking activities and more
• Boost your career. Students can take advantage of several opportunities for growth and career development, from free language classes to career resources and extracurricular activities

But wait, there’s more!

• Complete picture of the perks we offer
• Discover our Partnership Programme

In Short

• Contract Type: Contrat à durée déterminée 36 Mois (extendable up to 48 months if required)
• Work Hours: Full Time 40.0 Heures par Semaine
• Location: Kirchberg
• Employee and student status
• Job Reference: UOL05371

The yearly gross salary for every PhD at the UL is EUR 38028 full time

How to apply

Applications should be submitted in English and include:

• Full CV, including list of publications
• The name (and email address, contact details) of three referees
• Transcript of all modules and results from university-level courses taken
• Research statement and topics of particular interest to the candidate (300 words)

All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.

Early application is highly encouraged, as the applications will be processed upon reception. Please apply formally through the HR system. Applications by email will not be considered.

The University of Luxembourg embraces inclusion and diversity as key values. We are fully committed to removing any discriminatory barrier related to gender, and not only, in recruitment and career progression of our staff.

About the University of Luxembourg

University of Luxembourg is an international research university with a distinctly multilingual and interdisciplinary character. The University was founded in 2003 and counts more than 6,700 students and more than 2,000 employees from around the world. The University’s faculties and interdisciplinary centres focus on research in the areas of Computer Science and ICT Security, Materials Science, European and International Law, Finance and Financial Innovation, Education, Contemporary and Digital History. In addition, the University focuses on cross-disciplinary research in the areas of Data Modelling and Simulation as well as Health and System Biomedicine. Times Higher Education ranks the University of Luxembourg #3 worldwide for its “international outlook,” #20 in the Young University Ranking 2021 and among the top 250 universities worldwide.

Further information

For further information, please contact Dr. Mike Papadakis at michail.papadakis@uni.lu, or Renzo Degiovanni renzo.degiovanni@uni.lu