PhD Research Fellow in ICT – Wireless Communications for UAVs/Drones Traffic Management

About the position

A 100 % position is available at the University of Agder, Faculty of Engineering and Science as a PhD Research Fellow in ICT, affiliated to the Department of Information and Communication Technology, for a period of three years. The position is located, at Campus Grimstad. The starting date is as soon as possible or to be negotiated with the Faculty.

The PhD Research Fellow will be part of the Intelligent Signal Processing and Wireless Networks (WISENET) Center. The expertise of the researchers in the Center spans multiple areas in machine learning, artificial intelligence, telecommunications, signal processing, optimization, smart electronic systems, embedded systems, autonomous sensor systems and autonomous cyber-physical systems covering wide range of theoretical and applied research areas. The Center is in rapid expansion, having at present ten PhD students and four postdoctoral researchers working on cutting-edge research projects. The WISENET Center is committed to achieving international research excellence (see more about the Center)

Further information about why the WISENET Center, the University of Agder, and Norway provide an excellent environment for PhD studies can be found here and also here.

Responsibilities

The PhD position focuses on applied research area of wireless communications for UAVs/Drones and UAVs/Drones traffic management. The research will be focused in spectrum sensing, spectrum cartography, spectrum cognizant communications, low-latency communications, UAV-UAV communications, UAV-Ground Station communications, and particularly wireless prototyping and testbed design using wireless communications modules such as universal software radio peripherals (USRPs), software-defined radios (SDRs), long and short range wireless communications modules integrated with several ultra-low power sensors and real UAVs and robots.

Required qualifications

• Master’s degree in a related area (e.g. Communications Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Control Systems Engineering, Aeronautics Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Information and Communication Technology, Computer Science). This year’s candidates/candidates who are in the closing stages of their master’s degree can also apply. Recent graduates with industrial experience are encouraged to apply. Students already holding a PhD degree are not preferred.
• Background and/or experience in some of the following areas of interest:
  • Wireless communications.
  • Experience UAVs/Drones Traffic Management Systems.
  • Solid Experience with wireless communication modules such as mote-like IoT devices, Software Defined Radios (SDRs), Universal Software Radio Peripherals (USRPs).
  • Programming in Python, micro Python, C/C++, Labview, Labview Communications, GNU Radio, MATLAB, and/or Java.
  • Experience with ROS and flight controllers such as pixhawk.
  • Experience with RF measurements and Testbed setup.
  • Circuit design using FPGAs (LabView, Verilog or VHDL).
  • Cognitive radio, dynamic spectrum access, and spectrum sensing.
  • Simulation of network protocols and implementation in real network scenarios.
  • Linear algebra, calculus, and optimization.
  • (Statistical) signal processing and/or statistics.
  • Machine learning and/or artificial intelligence.
  • UAVs / robots control, localization and navigation.
• English proficency, both written and oral. Please check this website to see if an English test is required.

A prerequisite for employment is that the candidate is to be admitted to UiA’s PhD programme at the Faculty of Engineering and Science, spesialisation in ICT within 3 months of of appointment.

Remarkably, the average grade for courses included in the bachelor's degree (or equivalent) must be C (or equivalent) or higher; whereas the average grade for courses included in the master's degree (or equivalent) and the master thesis must be B (or equivalent) or higher.

Further provisions relating to the positions as PhD Research Fellows can be found in the Regulations Concerning Terms and Conditions of Employment for the post of Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Research Fellow, Research Assistant and Resident.

Personal qualities

• Quick learner, motivated and dedicated to research
• Strong analytical, experimental and measurement skills
• Team player, and be able to work independently depending upon the situations
• Good communication and documentation skills

Personal qualities and suitability for the position will be emphasized.

We offer

• Professional development in a large, exciting and socially influential organisation
• A positive, inclusive and diverse working environment
• Modern facilities and a comprehensive set of welfare offers 
• Membership of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund

More about working at UiA.

The position is remunerated according to the State Salary Scale, salary plan 17.515, code 1017 PhD Research Fellow, NOK 479 600 gross salary per year. A compulsory pension contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund is deducted from the pay according to current statutory provisions.

General information

A good working environment is characterised by its diversity. We therefore encourage all qualified candidates to apply for the position, irrespective of gender, age, disability or cultural background. The University of Agder is an IW (Inclusive Workplace).

Women are strongly encouraged to apply for the position. 

The successful applicant will have rights and obligations in accordance with the current regulations for the position, and organisational changes and changes in the duties and responsibilities of the position must be expected. The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Appointment is made by the University of Agder’s Appointments Committee for Teaching and Research Positions.

Short-listed applicants will be invited for interview. With the applicant’s permission, UiA will also conduct a reference check before appointment. Read more about the employment process.

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act § 25 (2), applicants may request that they are not identified in the open list of applicants. The University, however, reserves the right to publish the names of applicants. Applicants will be advised of the University’s intention to exercise this right. 

Application

The application and any necessary information about education and experience (including diplomas and certificates) are to be sent electronically. Use the link "Apply for this job".

The following documentation must be uploaded electronically:

• Certificates and Diploma
• Updated CV
• List of publications (if any or link to Google Scholar)
• Additional programming skills or experience in other relevant tools (e.g. github, bitbucket if any)
• A description of the applicant’s research interests, the background for the research questions that the applicant wishes to work on including project plan (preliminary, not very descriptive)
• References – 2 (details with Name, designation, email and contact number)
• Summary of Master’s thesis (abstract, 1 or 2 pages)
• Any other relevant documentation

The applicant is fully responsible for submitting complete digital documentation before the closing date. All documentation must be available in a Scandinavian language or English.

Application deadline: 06.01.20

Contact

For questions about the position:

• Associate Professor Linga Reddy Cenkeramaddi, tel. +47 37 23 34 36, e-mail linga.cenkeramaddi@uia.no,
• Head of the Department Folke Haugland, tel. +47 37 23 32 20, e-mail folke.haugland@uia.no

For questions about the application process:

• HR Advisor Nina Rønningen, tel. +47 38 14 20 16, e-mail nina.ronningen@uia.no 
• Higher Executive Officer Lise Askbo Fylkesnes, tel. +47 37 23 31 25, e-mail: lise.a.fylkesnes@uia.no