The Software Languages Lab of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel is welcoming applications for two vacant research positions in its Database research group.

Our group is located on a green campus in the de facto capital of Europe. As we host researchers of various nationalities, our working language is English. The lab is well-equipped with state-of-the-art computing machinery and encourages its researchers to attend top-tier conferences regularly. Most importantly, the lab fosters an open and diverse working atmosphere.

The researcher will join the research group of Bas Ketsman, whose research focuses on various aspects of data systems, including:

• Parallel and distributed query processing
• Transaction management and concurrency control
• Logical foundations of query languages
• Algorithms with formal optimality guarantees
• Declarative programs for decentralized systems

Applications in any of the aforementioned topics are encouraged. It is a bonus if the research interests relate to one of the following two recently granted projects: Allocating isolation levels to database transactions and Optimal Join Algorithms for Modern Distributed Data Systems.

For details on our work and our university, see http://soft.vub.ac.be/soft/ and http://www.vub.ac.be/en/.

We offer a full-time research grant of up to four years for a PhD scholar or two years for a postdoc (renewable on an annual basis). Extension of the contract is subject to the agreement of the doctoral committee. Remuneration for a doctoral scholar is based on the salary of a full-time research assistant at a Flemish university (i.e. approximately 2.000 euro net per month) depending on the personal situation. Given that Belgium features a highly-developed social security system, this is more than ample for a comfortable life in Brussels. Contributions to social security etc will be covered by the gross salary. The monthly net salary for a postdoc in Belgium varies between 2200-2500 euro, depending on age and qualifications.

The positions are available now, and will remain open until filled.

To be eligible to apply for this position, applicants need to have an MSc degree. A suitable background is, for instance, a degree in computer science, or in mathematics. (Postdoctoral candidates need to have or be close to obtaining a PhD degree in Computer Science.)

Applications can be sent to Prof. Bas Ketsman (bas.ketsman@vub.be) and should include:

• Earliest available starting date. This is negotiable during a Skype conversation in case you are selected.
• A one-page motivation letter explaining the candidate's interest in pursuing a PhD on the chosen topic (postdoctoral candidates explain their research vision instead).
• Curriculum vitae including all relevant academic experience