PhD Research Project Position
"Deep Packet Inspection and Internet Governance"
Technology University of Delft, Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Section
Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) is a technology that enables the
network operator to
analyze Internet packets as they move through the network, and make
decisions about
how to handle them based on their contents. This research project
will examine the
deployment of DPI by Internet service providers, and analyze its
impact on Internet
governance policies and Internet users. The project will explore
whether DPI capabilities
constitute a disruptive technology that will lead to major changes
in the way the Internet
is governed and in the operational practices and business models of
Internet service
providers. The Ph.D. student would attempt to discover the extent to
which Internet
service providers (ISPs) are deploying DPI and to identify the
economic, technical
regulatory and political factors that promote and constrain its use.
DPI is already being
deployed or proposed in areas such as bandwidth management, content
regulation,
intrusion detection, behavioral advertising and copyright
enforcement. The overall
purpose would be to scientifically assess the implications of DPI
deployment on the
privacy, security and freedom of Internet users.
The successful Ph.D. candidate will become an integral part of the
scientific staff of the
ICT Section. While the focus of the job will be on the specific
research project, the
candidate is expected to participate in, contribute to and invest in
the further development
of scientific knowledge in the field of Internet governance. About
80% of the time is
allocated for Ph.D. research activities; the remaining time is
dedicated to the support of
the educational activities of the Section and some minor management tasks.
Requirements
Appropriate candidates for this research position will need to be
capable of and
enthusiastic about interdisciplinary work. Candidates will need to combine an
understanding of networking technology with social science
disciplines, preferably
economics and/or political science. Applicants should have a
master's degree in any
relevant discipline, along with strong academic motivation and
ambition. The successful
candidate must possess the ability to work in a multi-disciplinary
environment of
economists, political scientists, information scientists and
engineers. We are especially
interested in candidates with good research capabilities as
demonstrated by excellent
study results. Delft University of Technology is a bilingual
organisation; a good
command of English (written and oral) is thus essential.
Supervisor
The research project will be directed by Prof. Dr. Milton Mueller,
XS4All Chair at TU
Delft. To learn more about the project and the situation in the ICT
section at TU Delft,
contact Dr. Mueller at
<(m.l.mueller /at/ tudelft.htm)>(m.l.mueller /at/ tudelft.nl). To formally apply
please send a detailed
CV together with a letter of motivation before September 30, 2009
to: ICT Secretariat,
Delft University of Technology, Faculty of Technology, Policy and
Management, P&O
department, attn. Ms. Eveline Zeegers, P.O. Box 5015, 2600 GA Delft,
The Netherlands.
Or apply online: to <(e.m.l.zeegers /at/ tudelft.htm)>(e.m.l.zeegers /at/ tudelft.nl).
The Technology University of Delft is a multifaceted institution
offering education
and carrying out research within the technical sciences at an
internationally recognized
level. The Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management contributes
to sustainable
solutions for technical challenges in society by combining the
insights of engineering
with the humanities and social sciences. The University is located
in the historic town of
Delft, about 50 km south of Amsterdam and near The Hague.
