PhD in Efficient Memory System for Infinite-Dimensional Compute

Introduction

Passionate about overcoming the memory wall? Join us to design next‑gen memory systems for complex data. Explore new architectures, addressing, and optimizations, combining hardware and software insights to build scalable, energy‑efficient solutions for data‑intensive applications.

Job Description

Modern high-performance applications -- ranging from scientific simulations to emerging machine learning workloads -- are increasingly limited by the performance and energy constraints of existing memory systems. As data becomes more complex and high-dimensional, efficiently storing, accessing, and processing this information becomes a critical bottleneck. Overcoming the memory wall requires fundamentally new approaches to memory architectures, addressing schemes, and their interaction with applications.

This PhD project focuses on designing next-generation memory systems for efficient processing of complex, multidimensional data representations. You will develop simulation frameworks to model application behavior on existing memory technologies such as DRAM and 3D-stacked memory, enabling detailed analysis of access patterns, bandwidth requirements, and latency constraints. These insights will guide the identification of key performance bottlenecks and opportunities for optimization.

Building on this understanding, you will design novel memory architectures and optimization techniques, including efficient address-mapping strategies, hardware prefetching, adaptive precision encoding, and memory-aware scheduling. You will also explore in-memory and near-memory computing approaches to reduce costly data movement and improve overall system efficiency. These innovations aim to enable scalable and predictable performance for data-intensive and irregular workloads.

Finally, you will investigate emerging memory technologies such as optical-electrical memory (OEM), which offer significant opportunities for improved energy efficiency and performance. Working in close collaboration with experts across computer architecture, software systems, and device technology, you will contribute to a holistic, memory-aware computing framework that bridges the gap between application requirements and next-generation memory system capabilities.

Research group
This position is embedded in the Electronic Systems (ES) group within the Electrical Engineering department at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). Our group consists of six full professors, four associate professors, six assistant professors, several postdocs, approximately 40 EngD and PhD candidates, and support staff. The ES group is world-renowned for its design automation and embedded systems research.

Job Requirements

• A master’s degree (or an equivalent university degree) in Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Embedded Systems, or related program.
• Strong background in computer architecture, memory systems, and/or digital system design.
• Strong programming skills in C/C++, and Python; Experience building and troubleshooting architectural simulators is a plus.
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team.
• Motivated to develop your teaching skills and coach students.
• Fluent in spoken and written English (C1 level).

Conditions of Employment

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you: 

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate assessment after nine months. You will spend a minimum of 10% of your four-year employment on teaching tasks, with a maximum of 15% per year of your employment. 
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. € 3,059 - max. € 3,881).  
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%. 
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process. 
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.  
• Unlimited access to the modern on‑campus TU/e Student Sports Center at an exceptionally affordable rate.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs. 
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates. 

On our website you can discover even more information about our conditions of employment. Build on your career at TU/e!

About us

We are a leading international university where scientific curiosity meets a hands-on mindset. We work in an open and collaborative way with high-tech industries to tackle complex societal challenges. Our responsible and respectful approach ensures impact — today and in the future. TU/e is home to over 13,000 students and more than 7,000 staff, forming a diverse and vibrant academic community.

Our university is located in Brainport Eindhoven — a world‑leading tech region with more than 7,000 high‑tech companies and strong R&D activity. Known for breakthroughs in AI, photonics, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, Brainport is a place where technology serves people and society. Learn more about the Brainport region here.

The mission of the Department of Electrical Engineering is to acquire, share and transfer knowledge and understanding in the whole field of Electrical Engineering through education, research and valorization. We work towards a ‘Smart Sustainable Society’, a ‘Connected World’, and a healthy humanity (‘Care & Cure’). Activities share an application-oriented character, a high degree of complexity and a large synergy between multiple facets of the field.

Research is carried out into the applications of electromagnetic phenomena in all forms of energy conversion, telecommunication and electrical signal processing. Existing and new electrical components and systems are analyzed, designed and built. The Electrical Engineering department takes its inspiration from contacts with high-tech industry in the direct surrounding region and beyond.

The department is innovative and has international ambitions and partnerships. The result is a challenging and inspiring setting in which socially relevant issues are addressed.

Information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact the hiring manager dr.ir. Sander Stuijk, [email protected].

Visit our website for more information about the application process. You can also contact Kevin Caris, HR advisor, [email protected] or +31 40 247 8835.

Curious to hear more about what it’s like as a PhD candidate at TU/e? Please view the video.

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.

Application

We invite you to submit a complete application by using the apply button. The application should include a:

• Cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications and the contact information of three references. Kindly note that we may reach out to references at any stage of the recruitment process. We recommend notifying your references upon submitting your application.

Ensure that you submit all the requested application documents. We give priority to complete applications.

We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible. The vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.

Please note

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. 
• A pre-employment screening (e.g. knowledge security check) can be part of the selection procedure. For more information on the knowledge security check, please consult the National Knowledge Security Guidelines.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.