Open Positions

We are always looking for curious, motivated, and kind people to join the SAIL (System and Architecture for Intelligent Living) Research Group at the Department of Engineering, King’s College London.

If you are excited about computer architecture, systems, and data-intensive applications (AI, bioinformatics, etc.), we would be very happy to hear from you.

1. PhD Positions

We regularly recruit PhD students in the broad areas of:

• Data-centric computer architecture & systems
• Processing-in-Memory (PIM) and In-Storage Processing (ISP)
• Software–hardware co-design for AI and bioinformatics
• Reliable and secure memory/storage systems

Example topics

• PIM/near-data accelerators for large language models or retrieval-augmented generation
• Architectures and runtimes for real-time genome analysis on edge/portable devices
• Reliability and security of emerging memory and storage technologies

What we are looking for

• Strong background in computer architecture, systems, or related fields
• Solid programming skills in C/C++ and/or Python
• Interest in research and writing (papers, artifacts, open-source code)
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team

How to apply

1. Check the official PhD application instructions on the
   KCL postgraduate pages.
2. Prepare:
   • CV (with GPA, publications if any, and projects)
   • Brief research statement (1–2 pages)
   • Transcripts (and English test scores if required)
3. Before applying, you are welcome to email
   haiyu.mao [at] kcl.ac.uk with:
   • Your CV
   • A short paragraph about your research interests
   • Any relevant publications / project links

Please use the email subject line:
[PhD Application] Your Name – SAIL Research Group

2. MSc / BSc Thesis Projects & Internships (KCL Students)

We offer MSc and BSc thesis projects and research internships for KCL students on topics such as:

• Implementing simplified PIM-friendly kernels (e.g., GEMV, KV caches)
• Building prototypes and tools for memory/storage profiling
• Small-scale AI/bioinformatics accelerators using CPU/GPU/FPGA

If you are a current KCL student:

• Check the official project allocation system (when available).
• Or send an email with:
  • Your programme and year
  • Transcript or list of relevant modules
  • A short description of what you’d like to work on

Email subject line:
[Student Project] Your Name – MSc/BSc at KCL

3. Visiting Students & Scholars

We are happy to host visiting PhD students or scholars when there is a good research fit and a clear joint plan.

Typical duration: 3–12 months.

If you are interested in visiting SAIL:

• Make sure you have a clear funding source (scholarship, home institution, etc.).
• Email haiyu.mao [at] kcl.ac.uk with:
  • CV
  • Short research statement (1–2 pages)
  • Proposed visit dates and funding source

Please use the email subject line:
[Visit Inquiry] Your Name – SAIL Research Group