Researcher (m/f/x) – AI-Enhanced Streaming Data Systems

In order to fill a fixed-term position in full-time (39.83 hours/week = 100%) 01.05.2026, we are looking for 1

Researcher (m/f/x) – AI-Enhanced Streaming Data Systems

The Database Systems Chair at Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) is establishing a new research group focusing on learned and AI-enhanced counterparts for streaming data systems, including multimodal streaming workloads. We are seeking motivated researchers (m/f/d) to explore learning-based methods that augment or replace classical components in modern stream processing engines, with a strong focus on practical systems research.

The Ruhr-Universität Bochum is one of Germany’s leading research universities, addressing the whole range of academic disciplines. A highly dynamic setting enables researchers and students to work across the traditional boundaries of academic subjects and faculties. To create knowledge networks within and beyond the university is Ruhr-Universität Bochum’s declared aim.

• Research on learned components for streaming data systems, such as
• learned cost, latency, and throughput models for continuous and multimodal queries,
• learning-based scheduling, parallelism, and resource allocation for streaming operators, and
• learned strategies for runtime adaptation under changing workloads.
• Exploring the use of machine learning and, where appropriate, large language models (LLMs) to support system optimization, configuration, or semantic processing in streaming pipelines.
• Integrating learned components into existing streaming architectures and evaluating them alongside classical mechanisms.
• Designing and implementing experimental prototypes and system extensions.
• Conducting experimental evaluations on realistic streaming and multimodal workloads.
• Publishing research results in leading international data management and systems venues such as SIGMOD, VLDB, EDBT, ICDE or AI conferences such as NeurIPS, AAAI, ICML, ICLR.
• Presenting research results through talks, demonstrations, and scientific publications.
• Opportunity to contribute to teaching activities of the Database Systems Chair.

• We welcome applications from candidates (m/f/x) with a systems background and an interest in learning-based approaches.
• An excellent university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in computer science or a closely related field.
• Basic knowledge or practical experience in database systems, stream processing, or distributed systems.
• Interest in learning-based techniques for system optimization and performance modeling; prior ML experience is helpful but not mandatory.
• Programming experience in Python or similar languages; experience with Linux-based development environments is beneficial.
• Experience with streaming systems, multimodal data, or large language models (LLMs) is a plus, but not a prerequisite.
• Publications in leading conferences in the field of Data Management (SIGMOD, VLDB, ICDE, EDBT (having a publication is a plus, but it's optional)
• Motivation to work on systems research and to learn new techniques as part of a collaborative research group.
• Very good command of English; knowledge of German is not required.
• RUB sees itself as a university with an international presence. The campus languages are German and English. Competence in at least one of the two languages and the willingness to learn the other are a prerequisite.