The Advanced Processor Technologies Group, Ph.D. Studentship in Asynchronous Synthesis

Available from September 2006 (Closing Date: 30th June 2006)

Supervisor: Dr. Doug Edwards,

EPSRC has announced a major grant, with total funding in excess of £1M, for a consortium of Manchester, Newcastle and Edinburgh Universities to research algorithms for the automated generation of self-timed datapaths and low latency combinational logic blocks with a variety of timing constraints from fully delay-insensitive to agressively timed circuits incorporating relative-timing constraints. The aim is to produce a complete synthesis system incorporating design-for-test. This PhD will investigate issues in mapping technology-independent circuits into defined cell libraries for different self-timed methodologies and will be closely aligned with the project’s objectives.

The work will be hosted in the Balsa Group, part of the Advanced Processor Technologies Group in the School of Computer Science of the University of Manchester, and conducted in collaboration with other researchers at the Newcastle University’s Microelectronics System Design Group (Prof. Alex Yakovlev) and the Institute for Computing Systems Architecture in the University of Edinburgh’s School of Informatics (Dr Aristides Efthymiou).

FTL Systems and Silistix are project partners with further industrial collaboration from colleagues at Intel and Cadence.

There is ample opportunity for travel. Further details of the research can be found in the abbreviated Case for Support

Who can apply?
This studentship is funded at a level that will pay fees and maintenance for EU students, although applicants from other nationalities will also be considered. Candidates for the studentship should have at least an upper second-class honours degree (or equivalent) in Computer Science, Electronic Engineering or a related subject.

When is the Grant available?
The ideal project start date is September 2006. However, it may be possible to start the research programme earlier/later than this, depending on the candidate’s circumstances.

What does the studentship pay for?
The studentship covers tuition fees at the UK/EU rate for the three years of the PhD programme and includes an annual maintenance grant at enhanced EPSRC rates (£12,000 for 2005/06). The school also provides opportunities for research students to supplement their income by undertaking laboratory demonstrating and other teaching support work.

How to apply
Details of how to apply for this post are available online (including an online copy of the application form). Alternatively you can contact the Postgraduate Secretary for an information pack and application form at:
The Postgraduate Admissions Secretary
School of Computer Science
The University of Manchester
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9PL
United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)161 275 6181
Fax: +44 (0)161 275 6204
Email: pg-admissions@manchester.ac.uk

Please ensure that you mark clearly on your application form, under the ‘Proposed Area of Research’ section, that you are applying for ‘Asynchronous Synthesis’ with Dr. Doug Edwards as supervisor, or your application may not be considered for this studentship.

It would useful if you would also email Dr Edwards directly to indicate that you intend to apply for the studentship.

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