PhD Position in Computer Engineering (VU University of Amsterdam)

Your Function The growing computational demands of Machine Learning (ML) have led to the rise of spatial devices explicitly designed for ML workloads, such as the Cerebras Wafer Scale Engine, AMD Versal AI Engine, and Tenstorrent Blackhole. Although these accelerators can offer performance and efficiency gains to application domains beyond ML (e.g., computational sciences, big data analytics, graph processing), their potential in these areas remains unexplored. This is largely due to the lack of comprehensive software ecosystems, making them difficult for experts to use and inaccessible to domain scientists. In this PhD project, you will help bridge this gap by demonstrating best practices and by developing programming tools and methodologies that democratize access to ML accelerators and other spatial devices for the wider scientific community. Your Duties As a PhD student, you will develop and lead original research. Your work will combine quantitative research, theoretical investigation, software design and development, and experimental validation. Specifically, you will: Identify and characterize workloads and application domains that benefit from ML accelerators, understanding when and how they can accelerate diverse applications Develop methodologies and open-source software tools for computing specialists to facilitate application development and reduce time-to-solution Enable accessible programming for domain scientists, providing high-level tools and training resources to use ML accelerators without requiring deep hardware or low-level programming expertise As part of this position, you will be encouraged and supported to refine and drive your own research within the project scope, publish and present findings at top-tier systems and HPC venues, develop and maintain open-source software, and contribute to teaching and community outreach. The ultimate goal is to produce a dissertation that leads to a PhD degree in 4 years. Your Profile We offer a fully funded PhD position for 4 years. We are looking for a highly motivated candidate who meets the following qualifications: Master’s degree in Computer Science or Computer Engineering (completed before the start date of the PhD) Solid background and competencies in parallel programming, high-performance computing, performance engineering, and computing architecture Excellent problem-solving and programming skills, with proficiency in C/C++ Prior knowledge of accelerator programming (e.g., GPU), and particularly spatial computing architectures (e.g., AMD AI Engine, Tenstorrent) is a plus Excellent oral and written communication skills in English Strong organizational skills and ability to work both independently and as part of a team Proactive and enthusiastic about addressing cutting-edge computing systems research challenges Diversity and Inclusion: As a university, we strive for equal opportunities for all, recognising that diversity takes many forms. We are committed to creating an inclusive community and invite anyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply, even if not all requirements are met. What Do We Offer? A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research, and service for a better world. Salary: €3,059 – €3,881 gross per month (PhD, full-time, UFO profile) Employment contract: initially 18 months, extendable to 4 years, with the PhD dissertation marking the end of employment Working week: 38 hours, holiday entitlement of 232 hours/year; working 40 hours yields 96 extra holiday hours Benefits: 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus Solid pension scheme (ABP) Contribution to commuting expenses Optional model for a personalized benefits package About Us This position is funded under the project: “Machine Learning Accelerators for Science: Productive Spatial-Hardware Programming for the Scientific Community”, awarded by NWO (Dutch Research Council). The candidate will be embedded in the Massivizing Computer Systems (MCS) group, focusing on research in distributed computing systems and ecosystems. Group size: over 40 diverse members, including 3 staff Research leadership: international and national visibility in HPC and systems research Supervisor: Dr. Tiziano De Matteis, Assistant Professor, expertise in HPC, Spatial and Reconfigurable Computing, Parallel Programming, Sustainability of Modern Computing Systems Group head: Prof. Alexandru Iosup Strong history of top-tier conferences and journals, international collaborations, and mentoring young talent Faculty of Science Positive and inclusive workplace culture Covers a wide spectrum of fundamental and societal issues Over 8,000 students, 1,400 staff, 39 programs, and 10 scientific departments Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Located on a single campus in Amsterdam’s Zuidas business district Over 6,150 staff and 31,000 students Values-driven education and research, open-minded, diverse, and inclusive Diversity VU Amsterdam values diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences, and worldviews. Diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research, and services. Interested? If you are interested and believe your experience will contribute, please submit: Cover letter (max. 2 pages): why you are applying and contact details of two references Updated CV All BSc and MSc transcripts (including classes and grades) Expected start date: Summer or early autumn 2026 (flexible for summer graduates) Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Interviews and offers may occur before the stated deadline. Contact for inquiries: Dr. Tiziano De Matteis – [email protected] Note: Applications received by e-mail will not be considered. Acquisition in response to this advertisement is not appreciated. If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Computeroxy

Your Function

The growing computational demands of Machine Learning (ML) have led to the rise of spatial devices explicitly designed for ML workloads, such as the Cerebras Wafer Scale Engine, AMD Versal AI Engine, and Tenstorrent Blackhole.

Although these accelerators can offer performance and efficiency gains to application domains beyond ML (e.g., computational sciences, big data analytics, graph processing), their potential in these areas remains unexplored. This is largely due to the lack of comprehensive software ecosystems, making them difficult for experts to use and inaccessible to domain scientists.

In this PhD project, you will help bridge this gap by demonstrating best practices and by developing programming tools and methodologies that democratize access to ML accelerators and other spatial devices for the wider scientific community.

Your Duties

As a PhD student, you will develop and lead original research. Your work will combine quantitative research, theoretical investigation, software design and development, and experimental validation. Specifically, you will:

Identify and characterize workloads and application domains that benefit from ML accelerators, understanding when and how they can accelerate diverse applications
Develop methodologies and open-source software tools for computing specialists to facilitate application development and reduce time-to-solution
Enable accessible programming for domain scientists, providing high-level tools and training resources to use ML accelerators without requiring deep hardware or low-level programming expertise

As part of this position, you will be encouraged and supported to refine and drive your own research within the project scope, publish and present findings at top-tier systems and HPC venues, develop and maintain open-source software, and contribute to teaching and community outreach. The ultimate goal is to produce a dissertation that leads to a PhD degree in 4 years.

Your Profile

We offer a fully funded PhD position for 4 years. We are looking for a highly motivated candidate who meets the following qualifications:

Master’s degree in Computer Science or Computer Engineering (completed before the start date of the PhD)
Solid background and competencies in parallel programming, high-performance computing, performance engineering, and computing architecture
Excellent problem-solving and programming skills, with proficiency in C/C++
Prior knowledge of accelerator programming (e.g., GPU), and particularly spatial computing architectures (e.g., AMD AI Engine, Tenstorrent) is a plus
Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
Strong organizational skills and ability to work both independently and as part of a team
Proactive and enthusiastic about addressing cutting-edge computing systems research challenges

Diversity and Inclusion:

As a university, we strive for equal opportunities for all, recognising that diversity takes many forms. We are committed to creating an inclusive community and invite anyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply, even if not all requirements are met.

What Do We Offer?

A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research, and service for a better world.

Salary: €3,059 – €3,881 gross per month (PhD, full-time, UFO profile)
Employment contract: initially 18 months, extendable to 4 years, with the PhD dissertation marking the end of employment
Working week: 38 hours, holiday entitlement of 232 hours/year; working 40 hours yields 96 extra holiday hours
Benefits:
- 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
- Solid pension scheme (ABP)
- Contribution to commuting expenses
- Optional model for a personalized benefits package

About Us

This position is funded under the project: “Machine Learning Accelerators for Science: Productive Spatial-Hardware Programming for the Scientific Community”, awarded by NWO (Dutch Research Council).

The candidate will be embedded in the Massivizing Computer Systems (MCS) group, focusing on research in distributed computing systems and ecosystems.

Group size: over 40 diverse members, including 3 staff
Research leadership: international and national visibility in HPC and systems research
Supervisor: Dr. Tiziano De Matteis, Assistant Professor, expertise in HPC, Spatial and Reconfigurable Computing, Parallel Programming, Sustainability of Modern Computing Systems
Group head: Prof. Alexandru Iosup
Strong history of top-tier conferences and journals, international collaborations, and mentoring young talent

Faculty of Science

Positive and inclusive workplace culture
Covers a wide spectrum of fundamental and societal issues
Over 8,000 students, 1,400 staff, 39 programs, and 10 scientific departments

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Located on a single campus in Amsterdam’s Zuidas business district
Over 6,150 staff and 31,000 students
Values-driven education and research, open-minded, diverse, and inclusive

Diversity

VU Amsterdam values diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences, and worldviews. Diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research, and services.

Interested?

If you are interested and believe your experience will contribute, please submit:

Cover letter (max. 2 pages): why you are applying and contact details of two references
Updated CV
All BSc and MSc transcripts (including classes and grades)

Expected start date: Summer or early autumn 2026 (flexible for summer graduates)

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Interviews and offers may occur before the stated deadline.

Contact for inquiries:
Dr. Tiziano De Matteis – [email protected]

Note: Applications received by e-mail will not be considered. Acquisition in response to this advertisement is not appreciated.

If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Computeroxy

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