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Energy-efficient Computing Through Fine-grained Energy Accounting

PGR-P-792

Key facts

Type of research degree
PhD
Application deadline
Ongoing deadline
Project start date
Tuesday 1 October 2024
Country eligibility
International (open to all nationalities, including the UK)
Funding
Competition funded
Source of funding
University of Leeds
Supervisors
Professor Zheng Wang
Schools
School of Computing
Research groups/institutes
Distributed Systems and Services
<h2 class="heading hide-accessible">Summary</h2>

Energy efficiency is increasingly important in today's battery-powered mobile devices and power-limited servers. While performance optimisation is a familiar topic for developers, few are even aware of the effects that source code changes will have on the energy profiles of their programs. Compiler and operating system writers cannot create automatic energy optimisers without knowledge of these effects. To realise the needed energy savings, we require the capability to track energy consumption and associate it with code and data at a fine granularity. Furthermore, compilers and operating systems must exploit this capability to optimise applications automatically. This project presents a novel approach to software-centric modelling, measurement, accounting and optimisation of energy efficiency on many-core systems. Energy consumption will be matched against programming language abstractions, from basic blocks to functions, loops, and parallel constructs, and from variables to data structures, providing developers with the necessary information. The project will use this fine-grained accounting to build novel compiler optimisations that target energy consumption. It will create low-energy runtime systems that adapt to environmental changes. It will develop energy-efficient operating system scheduling that manages multitasking for heterogeneous many-cores.<br /> We will investigate a software-only method that measures the total energy consumed by each basic block, loop and function, considering all hardware components its instructions traverse. We will explore novel ways to use the energy accounting information, underpinned by machine learning techniques, to search the optimisation space and coordinate power optimisation algorithms between compiler and runtime systems on heterogeneous mobile systems. The fine-grained energy accounting mechanisms will allow us to focus on the energy-intensive sections of the code and data. They will permit us to create specialised versions suited to reducing the data and code-level energy consumption of code regions.<br />

<h2 class="heading">How to apply</h2>

<p>Formal applications for research degree study should be made online through the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-applying/doc/applying-research-degrees">University&#39;s website</a>. Please state clearly in the Planned Course of Study section that you are applying for <em><strong>PHD Computing FT</strong></em> and in the research information section&nbsp;that the research degree you wish to be considered for is <em><strong>Energy-efficient Computing Through Fine-grained Energy Accounting</strong></em>&nbsp;as well as Professor&nbsp;<a href="https://eps.leeds.ac.uk/computing/staff/6452/dr-zheng-wang">Zheng Wang</a> as your proposed supervisor&nbsp;and in the finance section, please state clearly&nbsp;<em><strong>the funding that you are applying for, if you are self-funding or externally sponsored</strong></em>.</p> <p>If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence that you meet the University&#39;s minimum English language requirements (below).</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><em>As an international research-intensive university, we welcome students from all walks of life and from across the world. We foster an inclusive environment where all can flourish and prosper, and we are proud of our strong commitment to student education. Across all Faculties we are dedicated to diversifying our community and we welcome the unique contributions that individuals can bring, and particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, people who belong to a minority ethnic community, people who identify as LGBT+ and people with disabilities. Applicants will always be selected based on merit and ability.</em></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:start; margin-bottom:24px">Applications will be considered after the closing date. &nbsp;Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the supervisors for an informal discussion before making a formal application. &nbsp;We also advise that you apply at the earliest opportunity as the application and selection process may close early, should we receive a sufficient number of applications or that a suitable candidate is appointed.</p> <p>Please note that you must provide the following documents in support of your application by the closing date of 3 April 2024 for Leeds Opportunity Research Scholarship or&nbsp;8 April 2024 for Leeds Doctoral Scholarship:</p> <ul> <li>Full Transcripts of all degree study or if in final year of study, full transcripts to date</li> <li>Personal Statement outlining your interest in the project</li> <li>CV</li> </ul>

<h2 class="heading heading--sm">Entry requirements</h2>

Applicants to research degree programmes should normally have at least a first class or an upper second class British Bachelors Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline. The criteria for entry for some research degrees may be higher, for example, several faculties, also require a Masters degree. Applicants are advised to check with the relevant School prior to making an application. Applicants who are uncertain about the requirements for a particular research degree are advised to contact the School or Graduate School prior to making an application.

<h2 class="heading heading--sm">English language requirements</h2>

The minimum English language entry requirement for research postgraduate research study is an IELTS of 6.5 overall with at least 6.5 in writing and at 6.0 in reading, listening and speaking) or equivalent. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid. Some schools and faculties have a higher requirement.

<h2 class="heading">Funding on offer</h2>

<p><strong>Self-Funded or externally sponsored students are welcome to apply.</strong></p> <p><strong>UK</strong>&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;The&nbsp;<a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk/funding/209-leeds-doctoral-scholarships-2022">Leeds Doctoral Scholarships</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk/funding/234-leeds-opportunity-research-scholarship-2022">Leeds Opportunity Research Scholarship</a> are available to UK applicants (open from October 2023). <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk/funding/60-alumni-bursary">Alumni Bursary</a> is available to graduates of the University of Leeds.</p> <p><strong>Non-UK</strong> &ndash; &nbsp;The&nbsp;<a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk/funding/48-china-scholarship-council-university-of-leeds-scholarships-2021">China Scholarship Council - University of Leeds Scholarship</a>&nbsp;is available to nationals of China (now closed for 2024/25 entry). The&nbsp;<a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk/funding/73-leeds-marshall-scholarship">Leeds Marshall Scholarship</a>&nbsp;is available to support US citizens. <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk/funding/60-alumni-bursary">Alumni Bursary</a> is available to graduates of the University of Leeds.</p> <p><strong>Important:</strong>&nbsp; Any costs associated with your arrival at the University of Leeds to start your PhD including flights, immigration health surcharge/medical insurance and Visa costs are not covered under this studentship.</p> <p>Please refer to the <a href="https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/">UKCISA</a> website for information regarding Fee Status for Non-UK Nationals.</p>

<h2 class="heading">Contact details</h2>

<p>For further information regarding your application, please contact Doctoral College Admissions by email to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:phd@engineering.leeds.ac.uk">phd@engineering.leeds.ac.uk</a></p> <p>For further information regarding the project, please contact Prof. Zheng Wang by email to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:Z.Wang5@leeds.ac.uk">Z.Wang5@leeds.ac.uk</a></p>


<h3 class="heading heading--sm">Linked research areas</h3>