LiFi is a paradigm-shifting technology for 6G to meet rapidly increasing demands on the wireless capacity required by a digitalized society. The benefits of LiFi compared to RF networks are clear and immense: amongst others 10.000x larger spectrum, energy efficiency, directionality, and containment. LiFi has the unique potential to provide multiuser Terabit/s and secure wireless communications and to enable wireless communications for extreme environments. The PhD candidate will work on designing a multiuser Terabit/s LiFi networking system for 6G. This high-performance system will not only consider a realistic infrastructure where LiFi base stations should be densely deployed and the user equipment (UE) are not always stationary, but also the fact that the pervasively-existing stationary/mobile blockages can significantly degrade the network performance. Solutions such as cell-free networking, human-in-the-loop UE adaptation to the environment, programming the environment with reconfigurable intelligent surfaces, etc., could play an important role in achieving the desired multiuser Terabit/s and practical LiFi networking system for 6G.

The applicant should have a Master's Degree in Electronic Engineering or Computer Science. He/she should meet the minimum eligibility criteria for a PhD at TU Delft: having excellent grades as well as mature mastering of English, both oral and in writing. The applicant should preferably have a background in LiFi/Visible Light Communication (VLC) systems or other wireless communication and networking systems, should be familiar with performance modeling and optimization, embedded hardware and software, and ideally should have experience with system design and implementation.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

 TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, a discount for health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. An International Children’s Centre offers childcare and an international primary school. Dual Career Services offers support to accompanying partners. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment; an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor; and a Doctoral Education Programme aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills. Please visit www.tudelft.nl/phd for more information.

Technische Universiteit Delft

Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) is a multifaceted institution offering education and carrying out research in the technical sciences at an internationally recognised level. Education, research and design are strongly oriented towards applicability. TU Delft develops technologies for future generations, focusing on sustainability, safety and economic vitality. At TU Delft you will work in an environment where technical sciences and society converge. TU Delft comprises eight faculties, unique laboratories, research institutes and schools.

Faculty Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) is known worldwide for its high academic quality and the social relevance of its research programmes. The faculty’s excellent facilities accentuate its international position in teaching and research. Within this interdisciplinary and international setting the faculty employs more than 1100 employees, including about 400 graduate students and 4000 undergraduate students. Together they work on a broad range of technical innovations in the fields of sustainable energy, telecommunications, microelectronics, embedded systems, computer and software engineering, artificial intelligence, interactive multimedia and applied mathematics ([video] TU Delft - Research at the Faculty of EEMCS)

Within the EEMCS faculty, the position is open at the Embedded and Networked Systems group, which belongs to the Department of Software Technology (ST).

The ST department comprises research groups working on core computer science and engineering topics. The department is responsible for a large part of the curriculum of the BSc and MSc programmes in Computer Science as well as the MSc programme in Embedded Systems. The department’s research mission is to perform excellent research at an internationally-recognised level in the design, construction and analysis of complex, concurrent and cooperative computer and information systems. Inspiration for the research topics is derived largely from technical ICT problems in industry and society.

The Embedded Software group (http://www.es.ewi.tudelft.nl/) has the ambition to improve the software development and maintenance process for embedded systems, design new wireless networking paradigms, and make small/embedded networks less reliant on batteries. The Embedded Software group performs research on many breakthrough technologies, including energy-autonomous communications, wireless power transfer, LiFi/visual light communication, and robotic systems.

Located in a charming college town, TU Delft is the largest and oldest public technological university in the Netherlands. The university is regularly ranked among the most highly-rated worldwide for engineering and technology. Information about academic careers in the Netherlands and working at TU Delft can be found at FactCards and www.tudelft.nl/en/about-tu-delft/working-at-tu-delft/coming-to-the-netherlands-tu-delft/.