PhD: Energy Efficiency in Blockchains — DC11

This doctoral position is part of the E-CoRe (Energy-efficient Computing via Reversibility) project, a Horizon Europe initiative funded under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks. The project advances reversible computing to create a sustainable digital future, training experts to reduce energy consumption in computing.

About the E-CoRe Project

Energy is a critical concern in society, with IT accounting for an estimated 10% of global energy consumption. Reversible computing avoids the fundamental energy lower bound imposed by Landauer's principle by discarding no information. E-CoRe aims to set the stage for the Reversible Computing revolution by forming a community of experts who will improve and popularize reversible languages, algorithms, and architectures in energy-intensive applications such as machine learning, blockchains, and drones.

About the environment: University of Bologna

The University of Bologna (UNIBO), founded in 1088, is the world's oldest university and one of Italy's leading research institutions. The Department of Computer Science and Engineering (DISI) conducts cutting-edge research in programming languages, formal methods, and distributed systems. Bologna offers a rich academic tradition, a vibrant student city, and strong connections to European research networks.

Responsibilities

• Study how to make algorithms used in blockchains reversible or partially reversible.
• Focus on blockchains (e.g., Bitcoin and Ethereum) to identify energy-critical parts, including SHA-256.
• Rephrase energy-critical parts as partially reversible algorithms using reversible programming languages.
• Investigate decentralized applications (DAPPS) and smart contracts, including reversible bytecode and high-level languages.
• Undertake secondments to other project partners as specified in the topic description.

Requirements

• Master's degree (or equivalent) in computer science, mathematics, electrical engineering, or a closely related field, obtained by the recruitment date.
• Strong academic record and motivation for doctoral research.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Ability to work in an international, collaborative environment.

Eligibility Criteria

• You must not hold a doctoral degree. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree are not eligible.
• You must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Italy for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date.
• Researchers of any nationality may apply.
• Candidates must have been in possession of the master's degree or single-cycle degree for no more than six years.
• Candidates who are permanent staff of Italian research institutions or universities, or have benefitted from Italian RTT, Rtd A, or Rtd B contracts are not admitted.

Pay

The remuneration is based on the MSCA Doctoral Network researcher allowances:

• Living allowance: €3,821.53 per month (standard amount of €4,010 per month adjusted by country correction coefficient for Italy).
• Mobility allowance: €710 per month.
• Family allowance: €660 per month (if eligible, e.g., researcher with dependent spouse and/or children).

The exact net salary depends on compulsory social security contributions and taxes according to Italian law, and may also depend on personal circumstances, including additional income.

Supervisor: Claudio Sacerdoti Coen
Host institution: University of Bologna