Funded Ph.D. Scholarships for Physics and Engineering Students from ICTP in Italy

ICTP - UNESCO is offering a Ph.D. scholarship in Italy on olfactory search in a turbulent environment.

Description of the Project:

Odor-guided navigation is inherently difficult because turbulent airflow mixes the relevant chemical signal with clean air and with other background signals, resulting in a highly dynamic and complex odor landscape. Besides the immediate interest in animal behavior, understanding the principles of olfactory search and navigation stands at the basis of applications ranging from the localization of the source of dangerous substances to ecological control of vector-borne diseases. In the first stage, the problem of locating an odor source will be framed as a Reinforcement Learning problem and optimal solutions will be sought. This will also require answering the question about which is the most efficient representation of the olfactory landscape that the searcher must adopt for a given goal. Then we will turn to the problem of telling apart and reaching several distant sources which emit different odor blends, and we will also address the problem of cooperative olfactory search by many interacting agents.

The successful candidate will receive an attractive salary in accordance with the MSCA regulations for early-stage researchers. The exact salary will be confirmed upon appointment and is dependent on the country correction factor (to allow for the difference in cost of living in the different EU Member States). The salary includes a living allowance, a mobility allowance, and a family allowance (if married). The guaranteed Ph.D. funding is for 36 months.

• Qualifications and research experience: The applicant must fulfill the requirements defined for Early-Stage Researchers (ESRs): ESRs are researchers who, at the time of recruitment, have NOT yet been awarded the doctorate degree and are in the first 4 years (full-time equivalent) of his/her research career.
• Mobility: At the time of recruitment, the applicant must not have been employed by the host organization for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to his/her recruitment.
• The applicant must hold a master's degree or equivalent in physics, computer science, or engineering.
• ENGLISH: Good

Skills:

• Skills in programming and scientific software.
• Experience in theory-driven research with a clear view of applications.
• Interest in collaborative multi-disciplinary research.
• The ability to communicate verbally and in written form in English.

About Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics:

For more than 50 years, the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) has been a driving force behind global efforts to advance scientific expertise in the developing world. Founded in 1964 by the late Nobel Laureate Abdus Salam, ICTP seeks to accomplish its mandate by providing scientists from developing countries with the continuing education and skills that they need to enjoy long and productive careers. ICTP has been a major force in stemming the scientific brain drain from the developing world.

See more available Master’s scholarships on For9a

 See more available workshops or trainings on For9a

   See more available job opportunities in Egypt on For9a