PhD in Hybrid FSO-RF-Fiber Channel Models and Transmission Schemes (ANCHOR)

Introduction

Are you passionate about improving wireless networks and developing technologies for 6G We foresee a future where lasers will light up the sky to enable high-bandwidth and secure communications to every corner of the Earth. This PhD will combine free-space optics and radio communications to meet capacity requirements for 6G networks and support agile networks including airborne network components.

Job Description

Our society is on the brink of a new age with the development of new visionary concepts such as internet of things smart cities autonomous driving smart mobility and coverage everywhere. This stimulates the use of new deployment concepts such as hybrid networks and airborne network components to support the wireless communication evolution. The ANCHOR project focuses on meeting demands on bandwidth reliability energy efficiency and sustainability as well as extended coverage from underwater terrestrial and aerial network components and leverages on untapped potential of optical wavelengths and THz frequencies alongside existing radio technologies.

This PhD position focuses on Hybrid FSO-RF-Fiber Channel Models and Transmission Schemes developing hybrid FSO-RF-Fiber links for flexible front-/mid-/backhauling in terrestrial and tropospheric networking scenarios. You will analyze the combined FSO-RF-Fiber channel and develop accurate but sufficiently lightweight channel models and come up with jointly optimized schemes for such hybrid links and networks incl. waveforms modulation coding and/or low-level protocols. You will further design and propose link architectures and conduct relevant experimental evaluations. The expected outcomes include channel models and architectures for hybrid FSO-RF-Fiber links incl. theoretical simulation and experimental analysis supported by relevant simulation software/tools for hybrid links. Joint modulation formats coding and low-level protocols jointly optimized for hybrid channels are further expected to be created.

Through ANCHOR you will be provided with a comprehensive training programme covering theoretical and practical skills relevant for innovation and long-term employability in a rapidly growing sector. This highly innovative training involves experts from twenty-four international partners from academia research institutions and industry. You will be enrolled in the PhD program of TU/e and will have the chance to benefit from secondments at some of the partner institutions as well as wide-ranging networking opportunities across the consortium.

Throughout this PhD you will be embedded in the ICT Lab of Signal Processing Systems group of the Department of Electrical Engineering at TU/e. Within the ICT Lab you will work within a dynamic team of approximately thirty researchers under the esteemed leadership of prof. Alex Alvarado and prof. Frans Willems (winner of the Shannon Award 2026). At the ICT Lab we study information processing in a broad sense. We focus on finding fundamental limits data processing techniques and architectures that aim at approaching these limits. Main areas of interest are free space optical communications fiber communications source coding channel coding (multi-user) information theory security and machine learning. You will have the opportunity to work with and in the extensive laboratory facilities of the TU/es Centre for Wireless Technology (CWTe). You will work closely with the second ANCHOR PhD at TU/e within the Quantum & Terahertz Systems (QTS) team in the Electro-Optical Communications (ECO) group.

Job Requirements

• A masters degree (or an equivalent university degree)in Electrical or Communications Engineering (or Applied Physics) with excellent grades.
• A research-oriented attitude.
• Previous experience in signal processing communication systems channel modeling or similar as well as proficiency with relevant software packages are advantageous.
• Good understanding of physical-layer and data-link layer communications information theory digital signal processing and (optical) wireless channel models are an advantage.
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team and interest in collaborating with international and industrial partners.
• Motivation to spend some time abroad for secondments.
• The EU Mobility rules apply. For this vacancy this means that candidate students cannot have resided for more than 12 months during the period of 3 years immediately before the start of the PhD in the Netherlands.
• Motivated to develop your teaching skills and coach students.
• Fluent in spoken and written English (at least C1 level).
  
  

Conditions of Employment

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful green campus within walking distance of the central train addition we offer you:

• Full-time employment for four years with an intermediate assessment after nine months. You will spend a minimum of 10% of your four-year employment on teaching tasks with a maximum of 15% per year of your employment.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme paid pregnancy and maternity leave partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities scale P (min. 3059 - max. 3881).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
• An excellent technical infrastructure on-campus childrens day care and sports facilities.
• An allowance for commuting working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates.

About us

Eindhoven University of Technology is a leading international university within the Brainport region where scientific curiosity meets a hands-on mindset. We work in an open and collaborative way with high-tech industries to tackle complex societal challenges. Our responsible and respectful approach ensures impact today and in the future. TU/e is home to over 13000 students and more than 7000 staff forming a diverse and vibrant academic community.

The mission of the Department of Electrical Engineering is to acquire share and transfer knowledge and understanding in the whole field of Electrical Engineering through education research and valorization. We work towards a Smart Sustainable Society a Connected World and a healthy humanity (Care & Cure). Activities share an application-oriented character a high degree of complexity and a large synergy between multiple facets of the field.

Research is carried out into the applications of electromagnetic phenomena in all forms of energy conversion telecommunication and electrical signal processing. Existing and new electrical components and systems are analyzed designed and built. The Electrical Engineering department takes its inspiration from contacts with high-tech industry in the direct surrounding region and beyond.

The department is innovative and has international ambitions and partnerships. The result is a challenging and inspiring setting in which socially relevant issues are addressed.

The European Doctoral Network ANCHOR brings together leading academic industry stakeholders and SMEs to establish a structured doctoral training program addressing critical technical challenges and skill shortages for next-generation of communication networks. Traditional wireless networks often reliant on single radio communication and inflexible architectures will not be able to meet growing demands on bandwidth reliability energy efficiency and sustainability as well as extended coverage from underwater terrestrial and aerial network components. To overcome these limitations ANCHOR leverages innovations in the untapped potential of THz and optical wavelengths alongside existing radio technologies. ANCHOR has meticulously designed fifteen doctoral projects that focus on cutting-edge innovations in optical radio and THz wireless communications and the harmonization of coexisting spectrums and networks. Through these efforts ANCHOR will not only deepen fundamental theories but also provide practical scalable solutions to improve 3D coverage mobility latency network capacity energy efficiency and suitability for the future telecommunications infrastructure.

Information

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Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. You can also contactWim Korevaar associate researcher or 31 .

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Application

We invite you to submit a complete application by using the apply button. The application should include a:

• Cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae including a list of your publications and the contact information of three references. Kindly note that we may reach out to references at any stage of the recruitment process. We recommend notifying your references upon submitting your application.

Ensure that you submit all the requested application documents. We give priority to complete applications.

We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible. The vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.

Please note

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• A pre-employment screening (e.g. knowledge security check) can be part of the selection procedure. For more information on the knowledge security check please consult the National Knowledge Security Guidelines.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.