PhD position Shaping the Architectural Foundations of 6G

Join the Dutch 6G flagship project to help shape the future of communications!

Join the frontier of innovation in 6G: the future of mobile networks technology! In the Netherlands, a unique alliance of 60 top-notch ICT companies, semiconductor firms, and research institutions has united to spearhead specific aspects of 6G: (1) software antennas, (2) AI-driven network software, and (3) groundbreaking 6G applications. Join us as a PhD student in this prestigious Future Network Services (FNS) flagship project, where research and entrepreneurial pursuits converge. Click here f or more information about the alliance and an overview of all PhD positions

A blueprint of 6G does not yet exist. Your PhD research will define the specifications and design for a cloud-native 6G architecture, including the programmable and metadata-driven interfaces that are needed for agile interoperability. Programmability of these interfaces accommodates the burgeoning trend of virtualizing network resources while catering to diverse use-cases. And defining metadata-driven interfaces will become a pivotal enabler for AI’s role in decision-making within the 6G ecosystem. Your journey involves comprehending the intricacies of the VodafoneZiggo network, its data, and roadmap, aligning with the multifaceted requirements outlined in various FNS program lines spanning hardware, software, and applications. Leveraging these insights, you'll actively contribute to crafting the 6G architecture. Moreover, your work will lay the groundwork for an open 6G environment, by innovating interfaces that empower applications to seamlessly engage with the underlying network infrastructure.

You, as an industrial PhD student, will be employed by the telecom operator VodafoneZiggo but will also have a desk at TU Delft. Through this collaboration between TU Delft and VodafoneZiggo, you will have the unique opportunity to combine theory and practice in pursuit of a PhD degree. You will benefit from learning about the day-to-day practice at an operator, while at the same time enjoy the research facilities and support from TU Delft.

Become part of an expansive ecosystem shaping the development of 6G. You will benefit from training in 5G and beyond networks, AI, and software development. Plus, you will gain exclusive access to (1) a state-of-the-art testbed where theory meets real-world application, and (2) an ecosystem that cultivates entrepreneurial endeavours.

Are you ready to challenge yourself? We're seeking candidates who have, or are about to receive, a Master-of-Science degree in a relevant computer science discipline. Proficiency in English is essential, as you'll collaborate within a diverse, international community. For more details on our admission requirements, please visit https://www.tudelft.nl/onderwijs/opleidingen/phd/admission. We’ll evaluate based on your academic record, interviews, and possibly assignments. While a strong background in the field is crucial, what matters as well is your creative flair, motivation, and above all, your passion for comprehensive research!

The industrial PhD will become an employee of VodafoneZiggo. TU Delft is providing assistance in the recruitment process.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements .

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2770 per month in the first year to € 3539 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. 

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service . This service provides information for new international employees to help you prepare the relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme  for partners and they organise events to expand your (social) network.

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values  and we actively engage  to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) brings together three scientific disciplines. Combined, they reinforce each other and are the driving force behind the technology we all use in our daily lives. Technology such as the electricity grid, which our faculty is helping to make completely sustainable and future-proof. At the same time, we are developing the chips and sensors of the future, whilst also setting the foundations for the software technologies to run on this new generation of equipment – which of course includes AI. Meanwhile we are pushing the limits of applied mathematics, for example mapping out disease processes using single cell data, and using mathematics to simulate gigantic ash plumes after a volcanic eruption. In other words: there is plenty of room at the faculty for ground-breaking research. We educate innovative engineers and have excellent labs and facilities that underline our strong international position. In total, more than 1000 employees and 4,000 students work and study in this innovative environment.

Click here  to go to the website of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science.

For further information regarding the Dutch 6G Future Network Services (FNS) project, please visite our webpage

For any questions regarding this PhD position, please contact: Prof. dr. ir. Fernando Kuipers ([email protected]).     

To apply, please complete the application form and add the following documents to your application:

Within the FNS project, there are multiple PhD positions available, see https://www.tudelft.nl/ewi/over-de-faculteit/afdelingen/software-technology/networked-systems/projects/6g-future-network-services. Please apply to only one of them. We will contact you in case we would like to consider you for any of the other positions.

Applications will be evaluated as they come in, so please apply as soon as possible.

• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.