Doctoral student in Sustainable Satellite Networks

Project description

Third-cycle subject: Information and Communication Technology

Global connectivity relies heavily on terrestrial fiber-optic cables, but their physical vulnerabilities, high installation costs, and sustainability concerns demand a fresh approach. Space-Air-Ground Integrated Networks (SAGIN) offer a solution by fusing space, air, and ground nodes for seamless, ubiquitous coverage. Because light travels roughly 1.5 times faster in space than through fiber cables, modern low-Earth-orbit (LEO) mega-constellations can deliver low-latency, secure, and high-capacity redundancy that rivals traditional ground networks.

In this doctoral project, you will contribute to the evolution of SAGIN, focusing specifically on dual-tier space-ground integrated networks. The goal is to develop the architectural concepts and AI frameworks needed to deliver reliable, low-latency communications across satellite mesh networks. A core hypothesis of this project is that introducing automation and network-aware coordination can overcome the vulnerabilities of manual operations, mitigating the severe impacts of orbital dynamics, space weather, and altitude densification. Methods from satellite communication theory, network optimization, and machine learning will play a vital role. The research will be highly theoretical and algorithmic, focused on the optimization of thousands of dynamic communication nodes.

You will work at the Department of Communication Systems at the EECS school. The research is connected to the SMART 6GSAT research center (financed by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research).

Supervision:  Irem Bor-Yaliniz, Cicek Cavdar, Emil Björnson is proposed to supervise the doctoral student. Decisions are made on admission

Admission requirements

To be admitted to postgraduate education (Chapter 7, 39 § Swedish Higher Education Ordinance), the applicant must have basic eligibility in accordance with either of the following:

• passed a second cycle degree (for example a master's degree), or
• completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 second-cycle higher education credits, or
• acquired, in some other way within or outside the country, substantially equivalent knowledge

In addition to the above, there is also a mandatory requirement for English equivalent to English B/6.

Selection

In order to succeed as a doctoral student at KTH you need to be goal oriented and persevering in your work. During the selection process, candidates will be assessed upon their ability to:

• independently pursue his or her work,
• collaborate with others,
• have a professional approach,
• analyze and work with complex issues,
• and communicate effectively in English, for the daily work.

After the qualification requirements, great emphasis will be placed on personal skills. 

Target degree: Doctoral degree 

Information regarding admission and employment

Only those admitted to postgraduate education may be employed as a doctoral student. The total length of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education in four years' time. An employed doctoral student can, to a limited extent (maximum 20%), perform certain tasks within their role, e.g. training and administration. A new position as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, and then the employment may be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time. 

As a doctoral student, you are entitled to a workplace with many employee benefits and monthly salary according to KTH’s Doctoral student salary agreement. Read more about Doctoral studies (PhD) | KTH | Sweden.

Union representatives

Contact information for union representatives.

Doctoral Student’s network (Students’ union on KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

Contact information for PhD chapter.

To apply for the position

Apply for the position and admission through KTH's recruitment system. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the advertisement.

Applications must include the following elements:

• Copies of diplomas and grades from previous university studies and certificates of fulfilled language requirements (see above). Translations into English or Swedish if the original document is not issued in one of these languages.Copies of originals must be certified.
• CV including your relevant professional experience and knowledge.
• Application letter with a brief description of why you want to pursue research studies, about what your academic interests are and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals. (Maximum 2 pages long)
• Representative publications or technical reports. For longer documents, please provide a summary (abstract) and a web link to the full text.

Applications must be received at the last closing date at midnight, CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

Other information

For information about processing of personal data in the recruitment process.

It may be the case that a position at KTH is classified as a security-sensitive role in accordance with the Protective Security Act (2018:585). If this applies to the specific position, a security clearance will be conducted for the applicant in accordance with the same law with the applicant's consent. In such cases, a prerequisite for employment is that the applicant is approved following the security clearance.

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Disclaimer: In case of discrepancy between the Swedish original and the English translation of the job announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.

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KTH shapes the future through education, research and innovation. As a leading international technical university, we play an active role in advancing the transition towards a sustainable society. At KTH, you have the opportunity to grow and develop in a creative and dynamic environment, with good working conditions and attractive benefits. Equality, diversity and equal opportunities are essential to quality and form an integral part of KTH’s core values as a university and public authority.

Learn more about our benefits and what it's like to work and grow at KTH

1. Emil Björnson, [email protected]