Doctoral Researcher in Advanced Communications

About this position

About us

The University of Luxembourg is an international research university with a distinctly multilingual and interdisciplinary character.

The Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust at the University of Luxembourg is a leading international research and innovation centre in secure, reliable and trustworthy ICT systems and services.

We play an instrumental role in Europe by fueling innovation through research partnerships with industry, boosting R&D investments leading to economic growth, and attracting highly qualified talent. We look for researchers from diverse academic backgrounds to contribute to our projects in areas such as: Network Security, Information Assurance, Model-driven Security, Cloud Computing, Cryptography, Satellite Systems, Vehicular Networks, and ICT Services & Applications.

The Signal Processing and Communications (SIGCOM) research group of SnT conducts research aimed at designing, emulating and testing new high-performance systems for the future of mobile and satellite communications. Fields of applications range from 5G/6G telecommunications to satellite-based internet connectivity. For details, you may refer to the following: https://wwwen.uni.lu/snt/research/sigcom

In addition, SIGCOM hosts the following experimental facilities:

• 6GSpaceLab: Real-world validation of advanced communication algorithms
• CommLab: Real-time wireless testbeds for DSP in satellite and terrestrial systems
• HybridNet Lab: Validation of large-scale autonomous and heterogeneous network orchestration
• QCI Lab: Quantum communication and QKD research across all network layers
• TelecomAI Lab: AI-based solutions for 5G/6G and satellite communications
• CSAT Lab: Design, fabrication, and measurement of advanced antenna technologies

Your role

We look for Doctoral Researchers from diverse academic backgrounds to contribute to our projects in the 4 strategic research areas of SIGCOM, namely: i) Radio frequency transceiver design ; ii) Optical communications ; iii ) Quantum communications ; iv) System-level design and optimization . The related domains and topics for each of these research areas that we would like to attract excellent researchers to work on are the following:

Radio frequency transceiver design

• Hardware & waveform design : Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces, flexible antennas, power amplifiers, 6G waveform design including Orthogonal-Time Frequency Space modulation and Discrete Fourier Transform-Spread-Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing - DFT-s-OFDM
• Resource allocation and security design : Simultaneous wireless information and power transfer, physical layer design, joint source and channel coding, secure communications, jamming resilience techniques.

Optical communications

• Photonics and free-space optics : Photonics, free-space optics arrays, PAT (pointing, acquisition, and tracking) for ISL
• Next-generation optical communications : SLIPT - Simultaneous light information and power transfer, AO - Adaptive optics, underwater optical communications, Li-Fi, OCC - Optical camera communications

Quantum communications

• Computing & Networking : QuMIMO, Quantum Error Correction, Multi-partite systems, Q Network Coding, HQCNN - Hybrid Quantum-Classical Neural Networks
• Security & Logic : QRL - Quantum Reinforcement Learning, quantum computing, QKD - quantum key distribution, entanglement distribution

System-level design and optimization

• AI & Intelligence : Agentic AI, Edge AI, information semantics e.g. for Earth Observation and Internet of Things, Telecom GPT, Open RAN/AI-RAN integration
• Infrastructure : MFSS - Multi-functional structures. ISAC - Integrated sensing and communications, Satellite swarms, unified terrestrial-non terrestrial networks, non-terrestrial network entanglement distribution

The successful candidates are expected to disseminate their results through scientific publications and present them at well-known international conferences and workshops.

Your profile

• M.Sc./M.Eng. Degree in telecommunication engineering, signal processing, machine learning or a closely related field in Electronic, Electrical and Computer Engineering
• The candidate should have at least 1 work published in prestigious journals and/or conferences, particularly Q1 journals and top-tier conference venues
• The candidate should have some knowledge and experience in some of the following topics/tools:
• 5G/6G wireless communications technologies
• Wireless Internet of Things technologies
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
• Resource allocation and optimization
• Joint Communications and Sensing/PNT systems
• Network virtualization and network slicing
• MAC techniques/protocols for wireless systems
• Multi-antenna signal processing
• Graph signal processing
• Machine learning - supervised, unsupervised and reinforcement and tools such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, Keras and GreyCat
• Neuromorphic computing, spiking neural networks
• Deep learning - deep neural network, recurrent neural network, LSTM
• Optimization theory
• Stochastic geometry
• Strong programming skills in at least one of the following: MATLAB, Python, JULIA or C++

Language Requirements:

Applicants must demonstrate at least B2-level proficiency in the language of their thesis. For details and accepted certificates, please visit the Application for admission - Doctoral Candidates .

We offer

• Multilingual and international character. Modern institution with a personal atmosphere. Staff coming from 90 countries. Member of the "University of the Greater Region" (UniGR)
• A modern and dynamic university. High-quality equipment. Close ties to the business world and to the Luxembourg labour market. A unique urban site with excellent infrastructure
• A partner for society and industry. Cooperation with European institutions, innovative companies, the Financial Centre and with numerous non-academic partners such as ministries, local governments, associations, NGOs …

How to apply

Applications should include:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover letter presenting your motivation for this doctoral thesis topic, and explaining how your qualifications and aspirations align with its academic focus
• Transcript of all modules and results from university-level courses taken
• A research statement (max. 1 page)

Early application is highly encouraged, as the applications will be processed upon reception. Please apply ONLINE formally through the HR system. Applications by Email will not be considered.

All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. In line with our values, the University of Luxembourg promotes an inclusive culture. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and are dedicated to upholding equality and respect for our employees and students.

General information:

• Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract 36 Month
• Work Hours: Full Time 40.0 Hours per Week
• Location: Kirchberg Campus
• Internal Title: Doctoral Researcher
• Job Reference: UOL07983

The yearly gross salary for every PhD at the UL is EUR 41976 (full time).