The Design group of IDLab, Ghent University and imec is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to strengthen its research on next generation fronthauling networks. The researcher’s responsibilities cover network architectures enabling distributed massive MIMO processing, novel algorithms for multi-user radio processing taking limited fronthauling bandwidth into account and implementation and demonstration of these together with PhD researchers.

Background and responsibilities

The design group has, over the last 5 years, demonstrated innovative radio-over-fiber communication systems, ranging from passive antenna remote radio heads over digital distributed massive MIMO systems to mmWave radio-over-fiber transceivers. To cover the growing need for more reliable wireless communication in industrial environments, it is recognized by the wireless community that a very large number of distributed radio nodes will be essential. However, this will strongly influence the radio access network. Among others, very tight synchronization between different nodes is required to perform conjugate processing and signal processing taking the bandwidth limitations of the fronthauling network into account are required.
To extend the groups activities in this space, Design is looking for a postdoctoral researcher with the following responsibilities:

1. Extension of the current radio-over-fiber setup to a scalable testbed with very large number of antennas. Propose synchronization strategies and signal processing algorithms taking the limitations of the fronthauling network into account.
2. Coordinate implementation of the network and interface with other IDLab groups on the testbed development to for example integrate with higher networking layers.
3. Demonstration of the novel concepts in real-time scenarios.
4. Derivation of specifications for specialized integrated circuits.

Required skills and conditions

• A PhD degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent with a strong background in digital signal processing and/or radio access technologies.
• You can demonstrate mastery of the following core aspects:
  • Digital design skills: RTL design and implementation in FPGA or ASIC.
  • Deep knowledge about wireless PHY, OFDM modulation and detection
• You integrate well into a multi-cultural and diverse team, and are a team player
• You are allowed to work in Belgium

Our offer 

The successful candidate will join an internationally renowned team of high-speed electronic integrated circuit designers. He or she will get the opportunity to realize and shape the Design group’s roadmaps towards next-generation radio access networks. The successful candidate will be provided every opportunity to publish the outcomes of their research work at high-impact international conferences and leading journals. 

This position at imec is available for a definite duration of two years initially and can be extended to a permanent position afterwards. 

Contact person: Prof. Guy Torfs, guy.torfs@ugent.be