Doctoral Researcher - Emergent Communication Protocols for Beyond 5G/6G Networks (MSCA Doctoral Program)

The University of Oulu is a multidisciplinary, international research university with about 4,000 employees who produce new knowledge based on high-standards research and provide research-based education to build a more sustainable, smarter, and more humane world. Our community totals about 17,000 people, operating globally to create conditions for innovation emergence.

We are seeking a Doctoral Researcher to join the Centre for Wireless Communications (CWC) at the Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering. The Intelligent Connectivity and Networks Group (ICON), part of CWC, focuses on theoretical and algorithmic foundations of next-generation wireless systems through interdisciplinary research combining machine learning, optimization, control, and economics.

This position is part of the GENOME project, funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks, focusing on developing AI-native solutions for autonomous network management across O-RAN, edge, and cloud domains.

This doctoral research centers on learning resource-efficient communication protocols for distributed, task-oriented agents in beyond 5G/6G systems. Key research themes include:

• Emergent semantic communication
• Learning-based protocol design
• Multi-agent systems
• AI-native network architectures

• Develop novel cooperative multi-agent communication frameworks integrating insights from multi-agent communication, multi-objective optimization, and state abstraction
• Design and investigate new signaling mechanisms and scalable learning strategies, exploring optimization approaches, generative AI, and multimodal sensing
• Validate developed methods in representative beyond 5G/6G use cases
• Complete doctoral study requirements
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams and interdisciplinary partners

• Support from an experienced and enthusiastic team
• Wellness benefit ePassi covering sport, culture, and well-being
• Development and career opportunities within a large organization
• Meaningful work with workplace flexibility and work-life balance
• Buddy Program and Spouse Network for settling into Oulu
• HR Excellence in Research quality label from the European Commission
• Location in Finland, one of the world's most livable countries

• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Communications Engineering, Computer Science, Machine Learning, or closely related field (to be completed before employment start)
• Strong understanding of mathematical foundations: probability, statistics, and linear algebra
• Strong research motivation and open-minded attitude towards interdisciplinary topics
• Ability and motivation to pursue doctoral studies
• Excellent written and spoken English communication skills

• Prior research experience through publications, thesis work, or relevant projects
• Strong programming skills (e.g., Python) and experience with relevant frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow)
• Ability to work in interdisciplinary and collaborative research environments

• Mobility Rule: Candidates must not have resided or carried out main activity in Finland for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before recruitment
• Must not already possess a doctoral degree at recruitment date
• Must apply for doctoral study rights at University of Oulu Graduate School

• Duration: Fixed-term, 3 years
• Start Date: May-June or upon agreement
• Salary: Approximately €4,251 gross monthly for full-time employment (including mobility allowance), with potential family allowance
• Trial Period: 6 months

Applications must be submitted exclusively through the official GENOME project website by April 24, 2026. Applications via other platforms will not be considered.

Required Application Materials (in English):

• Motivation letter
• CV
• Transcripts
• Referee contacts

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, including people of different ages, genders, languages, cultures, and minority communities.