In collaboration with the DDN, DiRAC is pleased to invite applications for a 6-month Innovation Placement focusing on Accelerating AI pipelines.
Proposed start date: January 2025
Applications are now closed.
DDN is the world’s largest private data storage company and a leading provider of intelligent technology and infrastructure solutions for data-centric organisations. Their products provide solutions to some of the most demanding big data problems across a wide range of industries such as cloud, security, life sciences and finance. For more information please see their website.
The placement comes with a fully funded 2-week induction at DDN’s Bologna lab to kick-off the project.
In the aftermath of the AI breakthrough, this new data science is seen as a magic enabler opening realms of new discoveries. However, generating huge volumes of data appears to be complex, slow, and expensive. The core idea of this research is to analyse and alleviate issues blocking more efficient data management for AI workflows, especially for AI applied in scientific research.
Enhancing Understanding of Optimal Data Management
The placement will address several key questions which must be answered to ensure efficient data management across the equipment, middleware, and application layers of the I/O subsystem:
Hands-On Investigation and Analysis
To investigate these questions, we need to measure the IO and data transport rates and analyse the construction of the IO model for the entire end-to-end AI workflow. DDN will offer a range of management solutions to run the AI pipeline against, allowing you to fully characterise its infrastructure footprint.
Placement Impact
The insights to be gained during this placement have the potential to significantly enhance our understanding of optimal data management for scientific pipelines, leading to a published paper outlining file optimisations for faster AI that can be applied to many future research projects.
The research will last 6 months, mostly based at your home university, but will begin with a fully funded two-week induction period at the DDN’s Bologna Lab. This European Demo Lab and Research Office was recently established in partnership with CINECA, one of Italy’s largest HPC centres providing solutions for universities, researchers and governments.
In Bologna, you will have the chance to work hands-on with experts from DDN’s Research Group, including their Research Collaborations Lead in Europe, who will oversee the project. This valuable industrial experience will help you to enhance your knowledge exchange and expand your network of contacts.
While in the UK, you will continue to collaborate closely with DDN experts remotely, with the possibility of additional visits to meet the team and engage with them in person.
DDN has a very strong orientation towards these 4 characteristics and any successful applicant will demonstrate these capabilities:
DDN takes pride in developing and promoting talent as an Equal Opportunity Organisation.
All applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, or any other category protected by law.
Applications are now closed. New Innovation Placements will be advertised on our social media and via the DiRAC all user email.
Placements are open to PhD students and early career researchers, and are fully funded but you must get your supervisor or PI’s permission before applying – under UKRI rules participation in the scheme is only allowed with their consent.
The successful candidate will remain based at their home university. We do our best to offer flexibility; part-time working can be arranged as long as the placement does not exceed 1 year.
If you have any questions, please email them to DiRAC_placements@leicester.ac.uk
