The group of Radio Systems (RS) within the University of Twente (UT) has a vacancy for a PhD with the aim to define a novel framework for joint communication and sensing at millimeter-wave (and sub-THz) frequencies. With the advancement of millimeter-wave and sub-THz communications, radio devices with a large bandwidth, a larger number of antenna array elements and beamforming are also suitable for high accuracy localization and sensing. Integrating high resolution radar sensing to high-speed communication systems could make the wireless connectivity more reliable (e.g., blockage prevention); telecommunication infrastructure that is capable of multi-task sensing (e.g., environment mapping, detection, localization and tracking, pose recognition, vital sign estimation) could also enable vertical services like remote health monitoring and autonomous driving. With the next generation joint communication and sensing (JCAS) systems, both the communication and sensing performances are expected to increase.

Despite promising, there are a lot of open challenges and also new technical requirements. Recent advances in MIMO, millimeter-wave and sub-THz communication, radars, artificial intelligence, among others, will be the technical foundation for this promising direction. However, how much performance boost can we expect for communication/sensing? What are the trade-offs? What new signal processing techniques or design principles do we need? How about the power and resource consumption? What are the security and privacy concerns?

The candidate will tackle the open challenges of JCAS, with a focus on hardware prototyping, proof-of-concept, JCAS system and performance optimization. He/she will connect wireless communications and radar (and maybe also data science) communities in order to seek synergies and novel solutions/designs.

• We are looking for a highly motivated, enthusiastic and driven researcher.
• You have, or will shortly acquire, a MSc degree in Electrical Engineering.
• You have a technical background in wireless communications, radar sensing, with knowledge of radio systems, antennas and radio propagation, multi-antenna and MIMO, applied electromagnetic waves and signal processing. Experience with FPGA and radio system prototyping is a plus.
• You are passionate and results-driven, can think independently and creatively, and are a problem solver with excellent analytical and communication skills.
• You want to work in international and multi-disciplinary environments.
• You are proficient in English, both speaking and writing.
• You have hand-on publication, programming and measurement skills.

• As a PhD student at UT, you will be appointed to a full-time position for four years, with a qualifier in the first year, within a very stimulating and exciting scientific environment;
• The University offers a dynamic ecosystem with enthusiastic colleagues;
• Your salary and associated conditions are in accordance with the collective labour agreement for Dutch universities (CAO-NU);
• You will receive a gross monthly salary ranging from € 2.541,- (first year) to € 3.247,- (fourth year);
• There are excellent benefits including a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary, an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%, and a solid pension scheme;
• The flexibility to work (partially) from home;
• A minimum of 232 leave hours in case of full-time employment based on a formal workweek of 38 hours. A full-time employment in practice means 40 hours a week, therefore resulting in 96 extra leave hours on an annual basis.
• Free access to sports facilities on campus
• A family-friendly institution that offers parental leave (both paid and unpaid);
• You will have a training programme as part of the Twente Graduate School where you and your supervisors will determine a plan for a suitable education and supervision;
• We encourage a high degree of responsibility and independence, while collaborating with close colleagues, researchers and other staff.