PhD Studentship in Simulating and Exploring the Design of Next-Generation AI Hardware

Applications are invited for a PhD student to work on the UK’s Advanced Research Invention Agency (ARIA) is supporting an ambitious programme of work that aims to reduce the hardware costs associated with training AI models by more than 1000x. 

The objective of our project, funded within this programme, is to develop a scalable and modular simulation framework. This will require multiple levels of simulation focused at different system layers and levels of fidelity. A key goal is to allow novel hardware ideas to be easily incorporated and evaluated, i.e. to aid the development of next-generation hardware for GenAI.  

The work at Cambridge (and Imperial) will focus on the simulation of the accelerator hardware. To guarantee simulation fidelity, we will perform cross-validation of our simulation with real FPGA implementations. This will require modelling of both compute hardware and memory subsystems.

There is significant scope for research into the design of such simulation environments, for example (but not limited to): hardware for training Transformers, techniques to allow novel ideas to be specified, modelled and prototyped quickly, methods for rapid and intelligent design-space exploration and optimisation, machine-learning based tools for the rapid and interactive interpretation and analysis of results, new methods to automatically generate and validate simulation models at different levels of fidelity and techniques for high-performance simulation. 

Candidates

Applications are encouraged from students with an interest in computer architecture, simulation, optimisation and design-space exploration, machine learning and systems research.

We are looking for a highly motivated and intellectually curious individual capable of thinking and working independently. Applicants are expected to have a first-class honours degree from a UK university, or an equivalent standard from an overseas university, in computer science or a related subject. Having a Master’s degree in a relevant subject is highly desirable.

Research Group

PhD projects will be supervised by Prof. Robert Mullins (PI), Prof. Timothy Jones or Dr Rika Antonova at the University of Cambridge. The overall project is led by Dr. Yiren Zhao at Imperial College, who will be supported by Prof. George Constantinides and Prof. Wayne Luk. The team also includes Dr. Mai Luo and Prof. Michael O’Boyle from the University of Edinburgh. Overall, there will be excellent opportunities for collaboration between more than a dozen PhD students and post-doctoral researchers working on this project at Imperial, University of Cambridge and the University of Edinburgh. 

Application Process

Please make your application through the University Application Portal: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/cscspdpcs

Students wishing to pursue a PhD at the University of Cambridge are required to submit:

1. A short research proposal outlining the work they intend to carry out during the PhD (no more than 3000 words) in one of the general areas of research defined above. Candidates should get in touch with Prof Mullins (rdm34@cam.ac.uk) to discuss this before applying, outlining their ideas for initial research directions.
2. Two academic references, academic transcripts and a CV. Please indicate Prof Robert Mullins as a potential supervisor. Other required application materials are listed here https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/cscspdpcs/apply

These positions are open to UK citizens or overseas students. Full details of the University’s entrance requirements and scholarships are specified on the following link: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/

More Information

The earliest possible start date for a PhD would be January 2025. Funding will support home or international students for 4 years. The deadline for a January start is October 2nd. It is suggested potential applicants make contact with Prof. Mullins as quickly as possible.

Closing date: 2^nd October 2024

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society. The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.