[CLOSED] 1 PhD position in Information Technology

Tiny-ML toolchain for ultra-constrained processors

The main objective of the PhD activity is to research and develop an innovative AI toolchain supporting the development, optimization and mapping of TinyML application on resource constraints processors on the edge.

Potential commercial and industrial applications of this PhD are in the development of Distributed, Intelligent, Selfaware IoT Applications.

Distributed AI is fast-growing field requiring fast innovation to surf its wave. This can be enabled by offering neural network inference up to ultra-constrained devices within a coherent, productive toolchain and an end-to-end eco-system. Indeed, machine learning inference on the edge is an increasingly attractive prospect due to its potential for increasing energy efficiency privacy, responsiveness, and autonomy of edge devices.

Expected Academic Outcomes:

Techniques and tools for supporting the development, optimization and mapping of TinyML applications on resource-constrained-processors
Knowledge and the answer to the key research questions of the PhD topic will be disseminated through several MSc level courses at POLIMI, by preparing ad hoc seminars but also by supervising MSc students’ thesis or course projects.
Publication of scientific papers on international journals and conferences related to architecture, compiler and exemplary ANN(s) are envisioned to ensure a significant scientific impact of the research. Quantitative expected outcomes are at least 3 top-level conferences and 2 journal submissions.

Concrete Innovation Outcomes:

The development of an innovative software module for supporting ultra-low power nodes for Tiny Machine Learning applications. This will contribute to the improvement of the STMicroelectronics AI toolchains business line.
The development of test cases/pilots to test the developed technology. It is expected that the pilot testing will include scenarios where it is proved in industrial environments.
The validation of the developed toolchain and test cases will be done with the support of software and hardware ST divisions. The validation will be done using the ST hardware-platform for customers, ensuring a strong industrial impact of the PhD outcomes.

Details

PhD Programme: Information Technology (Computer Science and Engineering)
Title (topic scholaship): Tiny-ML toolchain for ultra-constrained processors
EIT Digital Doctoral Training Centre: Milan, Italy
University: Politecnico di Milano
Industrial Partner: STMicroelectronics
Research Directors: Cristina Silvano (Polimi), Danilo Pau (ST)
PhD Scholarship: 1.400 € monthly net income (36 months)
PhD start: November 2020 (36th PhD Cycle)

Link to the Call: 36th PhD Cycle
Application deadline: May 29, 2020 (2 pm, Italian time)

This PhD will be funded by EIT Digital and STMicroelectronics

Job Opportunities

The PhD candidate will address fundamental problems with broad applicability in the field of embedded system design, edge computing and Machine learning. A PhD graduate with such a background can be very valuable in STMicroelectronics as well as many other large companies / SMEs. Post-Doc research opportunities are also available in academia.

EIT Digital Doctoral School

EIT Digital Doctoral School is a collaboration between top European technical universities and EIT Digital partner companies offering Industrial Doctorate Programmes. The goal of EIT Digital Doctoral School is to develop the ICT Innovation concept where doctoral candidates are offered the opportunity to acquire a mindset for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I&E) to transform ideas into new products and services driving sustainable growth and competitiveness in Europe.

The EIT Digital Industrial Doctorate is an innovative applied-research PhD programme and it focuses on product and market-driven technology research to boost Innovation and Entrepreneurship in digital technologies. Candidates have the opportunity from the very beginning of their PhD studies to explore innovation and business opportunities in relation with their research and technological domain, supported by partner universities, companies, and EIT Digital Doctoral Training Centres (DTCs) all around Europe.

Our mission is to educate tomorrow’s leaders and innovators in digital technologies, by combining excellent technical programmes with deeply embedded Innovation and Entrepreneurship education.

After graduation, these research-innovator doctors will be commercially-savvy digital leaders who understand current and future challenges, as well as the opportunities that these present to industry.

EIT-label Doctorate key features

International geo-mobility: 3 to 6 months abroad supported by an extra living allowance of € 1.500/month in addition to the PhD scholarship. This experience aims to significantly enrich the knowledge of our doctoral students helping in the shaping of their research activity.

Business Development Experience (BDExp): an entrepreneurial ‘research to innovation’ exploration embedded within the Industrial Doctorate with the aim to foster the development of business and innovation skills in industrial environments and to develop a vision of the impact of digital technologies on industries and society.

Advanced training in Innovation & Entrepreneurship through a cycle of seminars organised across Europe within the network of Doctoral Training Centres. The I&E seminars support the BDExp by providing students with the necessary skills and competences, including soft skills, to explore innovation and business opportunities beyond their PhD research.

Interested in joining us?

To apply, please submit your application via the Online Services of Politecnico di Milano and choose the PhD programme in “Ingegneria dell’Informazione / Information Technology” – Area: Computer Science and Engineering. Then opt for the topic scholarship “Tiny-ML toolchain for ultra-constrained processors” (by May 29th 2020 – h. 2 pm Italian time).