PhD: Spaceborne Global Navigation Satellite System Reflectometry

28 Mar 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

University of Luxembourg

Department

Human Resources

Research Field

Physics » Other
Mathematics » Applied mathematics
Computer science » Other
Engineering » Communication engineering

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Luxembourg

Application Deadline

18 May 2024 - 12:00 (Europe/Luxembourg)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

40

Offer Starting Date

1 Sep 2024

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

H2020 / Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions COFUND

Reference Number

Project 101120117 — GLITTER

Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number

101120117

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

ORGANISATION/COMPANY:	University of Luxembourg
RESEARCH FIELD:	Spaceborne Global Navigation Satellite System Reflectometry
RESEARCHER PROFILE:	Doctoral Candidate
LOCATION:	Luxembourg
APPLICATION DEADLINE:	May 18, 12:00 am, Brussels time
TYPE OF CONTRACT:	Temporary
JOB STATUS:	Full-time
HOURS PER WEEK:	40 hours
EU RESEARCH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME:	GLITTER | Gnss-r sateLlITe earTh observation GA N° 101120117

   

GENERAL:

GNSS-R is a technique to carry out Earth observation based on reflections on the ground (or sea, or ice) of signals originating from GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) signals. The proposed project consists of educating a new generation of experts, at doctoral level, able to bring a qualitative leap to this technology. The scientific and technological goal consists of developing such systems based on a synchronized constellation of Cubesats. An important advantage of this arrangement is the very low cost of cubesats and the possibility to increase resolution based on beamforming from the satellites. Ground truth, as well as some of the methods, will originate from near-field radar technology. This will require further research on all segments of GNSS-R technology and beyond: launching and adjustment of cubesat formations, RF synchronization, interferometry between moving platforms, calibration of RF front-ends, ground testing making use of drones, cubesat systems, on-board processing, data transfer and analysis, translation into ground truth and into predictions important for climate change studies and for optimal territory management. The project may also benefit to other technologies making use of interferometry, such as radioastronomy and phased array based communications. It is also expected to assist industry segments making use of GNSS signals, such as precision agriculture, forestry and sea and land management.

 

Training programme for recruited researchers:

GLITTER offers a rich inter-sector training program, with private and academic partners, recognized in all segments of satellite-based Earth observation at microwaves. The program has been designed taking into consideration the “triple i” aspects: international, inter-sectoral, and inter-disciplinary, thanks to the different competences brought by each partner of the network as well as lecturer outside of the consortium with complementary competences.

Each Doctoral Candidate (DC) will benefit from an individual and customized training program, established in the Personal Career Development Plan (PCDP) that offers a combination of research specific and transferable skills. First, the core training, often but not always local, with order of 5 ECTs on specialized topics, close to a given DC personal project, to allow him/her to acquire a deep understanding of her/his subject. Second, the network-wide training will be offered by the consortium during the whole project life cycle through 4 training schools and 3 workshops. The workshops will include practical system-based development.

Job conditions

Each host organisation will appoint the successful applicant under an employment contract with a very competitive salary. The fellow is expected to join their host organizations starting from September 1st , 2024 (estimated time). Additional funding for participation to courses, workshops, conferences, etc. is ensured.

All positions include a doctoral track and the successful applicant will be registered for the PhD program at the host institution. The contract provided is a fixed Term Contract of 36 Month (which may be extended up to four years)

EU eligibility criteria for candidates:

The Doctoral Candidate (DC) may be a national of a Member State, of an Associated Country or of any Third Country.

Researchers must be doctoral candidates (no doctoral degree at the date of recruitment)

The DC must not have resided or carried out her/his main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of her/his host organization for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to her/his recruitment. (Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not considered)

 

Candidates profile:

•             A master’s degree or equivalent in geodesy, geophysics, remote sensing, applied mathematics or physics, computer science, telecommunication engineering with a focus on remote sensing and EO, or similar.

•             Knowledge of remote sensing techniques preferably radar techniques; ideally experience in analyzing GNSS or EO data.

•             Strong programming skills in MATLAB, Python or C++.

•             Highly committed, excellent team-worker, and strong critical thinking.

•             Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

All consortium members are equal opportunity employers.

Research centres:

• Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium
• Technische Universiteit Delft, The Netherlands
• Université du Luxembourg, Luxembourg
• Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
• Institut Supérieur de l’Aéronautique et de l’Espace, France
• University of Cambridge, UK
• Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Spain (Associated Partner)

Companies:

• Syntony, France
• Polychord Ltd., UK
• Hydroscan, Belgium (Associated Partner)

 

To learn more about each of the nine thesis topics proposed in this project, please click on the following link: https://sites.uclouvain.be/DN_GLITTER/

 

Consortium-wide individual research projects:

DC1 – Multi-frequency GNSS-R signal processing 

DC2 – Investigation of advanced reflectometry instrumental concepts with simulated scattered signals 

DC3 – developing an RF electronic system able to synchronize coherently signals received on different Cubesats 

DC4 – Calibration of GNSS-R products for soil moisture using drone-borne radar 

DC5 – Grazing angle GNSS-R for precise altimetry 

DC6 – Calibration and drone-scale experiments 

DC7 – Deployment and control of a distributed telescope as a formation of nanosatellites 

DC8 – GNSS-R signals acquisition and ranging 

DC9 – Cubesat system 

DC10 – Space-compliant front-end RF electronics 

DC11 – Antenna technology 

DC12 – CubeSat advanced Bayesian analysis and optimisation 

 

Description of the project concerned by this offer (DC5)

GNSS Reflectometry (GNSS-R) is an innovative remote sensing method that exploits signals from GNSS after reflection from the Earth’s surface. The doctoral candidate will investigate dual-frequency phase measurements during grazing-angle GNSS-R events. In this context, the successful candidate will develop algorithms to precisely determine altimetric height over sea ice and to understand sea ice classification with adequate accuracy and precision. Additionally, this project aims to develop an accurate algorithm for neutral atmospheric delay correction for spaceborne GNSS-R. As part of the GRS Laboratory, the PhD candidate will contribute to the development and implementation of cutting-edge deep learning techniques for space-borne GNSS-R studies. Hosted by UL with a 6-month secondment at CSIC in Barcelona, Spain, and Hydroscan in Belgium, this program is designed to equip the candidate with the necessary skills for high-impact research in Earth observation.

 

Hosted by UL with a 6-month secondment at CSIC in Barcelona, Spain, and Hydroscan in Belgium, this program is designed to equip the candidate with the necessary skills for high-impact research in Earth observation.

 

Application Process:

The application process will be open until May 18 at noon, Europe Continental Time. The applications received after this date will not be evaluated.

Apply at the following email address: [email protected] , the email must have a subject line starting with [GLITTER_APPLICATION] 

 

N.B. All the application must be in English. Applications received in another language will not be considered!

Questions regarding the recruitment can be sent to [email protected] . To be considered, the email must have a subject line starting exactly with [GLITTER_QR] 

 

Please provide the following four items, all in pdf format:

• Your CV (1 to 2 pages in pdf format)
• A list of grades/diplomas, certificates
• A list of referees (three at least)
• A motivation letter

 

The four documents should be preferably assembled in a *.zip file with a file name that starts with DC5.

 

Requirements

Research Field

Mathematics » Applied mathematics

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field

Computer science » Other

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field

Physics » Other

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field

Engineering » Communication engineering

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Languages

ENGLISH

Additional Information
Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

University of Luxembourg

Country

Luxembourg

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

http://emea3.mrted.ly/3n4qq

Contact

State/Province

Grand Duché de Luxembourg

City

Luxembourg

Website

http://www.uni.lu

Street

2, avenue de l'Université

Postal Code

4365

E-Mail

[email protected]

STATUS: EXPIRED