The recently established Sustainable Systems and Methods Lab (SSM) is looking a highly ambitious student to fill a fully-funded PhD position.
Available positions: 1 PhD.
Start: 2025.
Scope of research
The eventual topic is to be defined together with you, based on your specific interests, but it is expected to be related to contemporary AI, model-driven engineering, digital twins, or the combination of these.
Expected Research OUTPUT
I get this question a lot: no, there is no predetermined minimum number of papers you have to produce annually.
However, it is fully expected that you dedicate your time to conducting impactful research and to mastering key scientific methods, and that you become an effective, efficient, and highly autonomous researcher along the way. You will be part of a world-class research environment at McMaster University and in the Sustainable Systems and Methods Lab.
The typical research output in our lab is about 2 high-caliber publications per year at flagship venues or journals; 1-2 medium-caliber publications; and optionally, some smaller research works to help develop your writing style. It is not expected of you to be a complete researcher on day one. Believe it or not, we all have to start somewhere. You will receive intensive training tailored to your specific needs and goals, work closely with Prof. David, and called to collaborations with your peers in and outside of the lab.
We are looking for someone who can enjoy the process of exploration despite all its uncertainty, as well as the process of knowledge creation and publication.
As a PhD student, you will…
▸Conduct world-class scientific research in the frontiers of computer science research.
▸Develop novel methods, techniques, and tools for scalable digital twins and digital twin evolution.
▸Become part of a lively and particularly active research network, and collaborate with international peers.
▸Publish at top venues and in top journals of our field.
▸Attend top international conferences, at least once a year, and present your work (financed by the lab).
▸Optionally: take a minimal teaching assistant role with me to develop a well-rounded academic profile.
▸Apply for your own NSERC scholarship after a year of joint work to further improve your academic resume.
Important dates
Application starts: November 1, 2024.
Application ends (International students): March 31, 2025.
Application ends (Canadian students): July 31, 2025.
Start: September 1, 2025. (Collaboration can start earlier.)
Application process
Apply here: https://applygrad.mcmaster.ca/portal/start_your_app. Indicate my name in your application.
Please also reach out to me directly with a (very) brief letter of motivation summarizing your research interests. (See my contact info).
About McMaster University
One of the four Canadian Universities consistently ranked in the world’s top 100 in the Time Higher Education rankings, McMaster has a proud tradition of academic and research excellence, evidenced by the achievements of our best and brightest whose ranks include three Nobel Prize winners, global business leaders, technological innovators, prominent politicians, public intellectuals, philanthropists and performers. The McMaster community includes 21,441 undergraduate students, 3,519 graduate students, 1,413 full-time faculty, and 170,654 alumni, based in 137 countries worldwide.
The Department of Computing and Software is home to cutting-edge research in many areas of computer science, software engineering, and mechatronics.