PhD on Intelligent photonic-switched networks for low-latency applications

Eindhoven University of Technology is an internationally top-ranking university in the Netherlands that combines scientific curiosity with a hands-on attitude. Our spirit of collaboration translates into an open culture and a top-five position in collaborating with advanced industries. Fundamental knowledge enables us to design solutions for the highly complex problems of today and tomorrow.

The mission of the Department of Electrical Engineering is to acquire, share and transfer knowledge and understanding in the whole field of Electrical Engineering through education, research and valorization. We work towards a ‘Smart Sustainable Society’, a ‘Connected World’, and a healthy humanity (‘Care & Cure’). Activities share an application-oriented character, a high degree of complexity and a large synergy between multiple facets of the field.

Research is carried out into the applications of electromagnetic phenomena in all forms of energy conversion, telecommunication and electrical signal processing. Existing and new electrical components and systems are analyzed, designed and built. The Electrical Engineering department takes its inspiration from contacts with high-tech industry in the direct surrounding region and beyond.

The department is innovative and has international ambitions and partnerships. The result is a challenging and inspiring setting in which socially relevant issues are addressed.

Introduction

Are you interested in a vacancy for a PhD student in the department Electric Engineering in intelligent and low energy photonic-switched networks for high-capacity and low-latency applications?

Job Description

Work environment

Eindhoven University of Technology (https://www.tue.nl/en/) is one of Europe’s top technological universities, situated at the heart of a most innovative high-tech region. Thanks to a wealth of collaborations with industry and academic institutes, our research has real-world impact. In 2015, TU/e was ranked 106th in the Times Higher Educational World University ranking and 49th in the Shanghai ARWU ranking (engineering). TU/e has around 3,000 employees and 2,300 PhD students (half of which international, representing about 70 nationalities).

The candidate will work at the Department of Electrical Engineering (https://www.tue.nl/en/university/departments/electrical-engineering/). Within this department, research and education is done in domains of Telecommunication, Care and Cure, and Smart energy systems. The interfaculty Institute for Photonic Integration performs research in the area of broadband telecommunication, by investigating the potential of optical technologies. As a key member of IPI, the Electro-Optical Communication Systems (ECO) group focuses its research on optical communication system techniques, ranging from systems for ultra-high capacity long reach transmission (encompassing single-mode, multi-mode and multi-core fiber systems), ultra-fast (all-) optical packet switching nodes, high-density intra-data center networks, to multi-service flexible access and in-building networks (including radio-over-fibre and optical wireless communication).  ECO participates in several national and international projects. 

Project description

The PhD project is in collaboration with KPN as part of the strategic co-operation between KPN and TU/e. The PhD project aims at investigating and demonstrating novel intelligent photonic switched architectures for next generation photonics networks to address the future traffic growth generated by new mobile 6G, AI applications and machine to machine from Mobile Access Network connected to Datacenters and edge computing nodes. The novel applications with different requirements in terms of connectivity, low latency, robustness, and reliability and the massive 5G (and in the future 6G) cell deployments as well as next generation passive optical networks (PON) operating at beyond 50 Gbps, are forcing operators such as KPN to deploy a large amount of networks elements for the high capacity interconnections to / from the datacenters and edge computing nodes.

This will demand novel intelligent photonic switched architectures that transparently support high capacity and connectivity at low power consumption to manage such massive network elements and IT resources deployed in optical networks become crucial to optimize and adapt those massive resources and match the heterogenous applications with different requirements as well as minimize their energy consumption. Reduction of energy consumption is high on the agenda of telecom operator with the ambitious of reducing of 40% in the coming 10 years. The main power consumption in current optical networks considering transmission and switching from the access to metro and core (cloud) networks is due to the need of multiple stages of optical-electrical-optical (OEO) conversion. Not only the OEO conversion have large power consumption but also limit the flexibility and upgradability of the network to serve the growing network data traffic. New sustainable solutions have to be investigated and implement to enable future proof ultra-high capacity optical networks. This project combines academic and telecom operator partners with differentiated know-how to face the challenges of reducing network energy consumption while maintaining the ambitious of supporting the growth of data-traffic in communication networks developing novel photonic cross-connect systems as well as advanced control systems for managing the photonic networks.

Tasks

Current optical networks use several different technologies for access, metro and core networks with multiple stages of OEO conversion which results in large energy consumption, limited flexibility, and unsustainable costs as the traffic grows.

The main challenge is how to address the future traffic growth with heterogenous requirements of latency, robustness, high capacity, large connectivity generated by new mobile 6G and 100 Gbps access PON, AI applications, and machine-to-machine while maintaining low energy consumption and low costs. Photonic cross-connect systems naturally support ultra-broadband bandwidth capable to transport ultra-high capacity heterogenous traffic at potentially low costs and power consumption. However, today optical systems and networks are build based on bulky optical switching technologies that require several opto-electronics and electronic switches which result in high power consumption and costs.     

The aim of the project is to develop and build a sustainable and high capacity photonic network meeting next generation 6G end-to-end network requirements in terms of latency, energy, connectivity and capacity availability. To achieve this aim, the project defines the following research tasks for the PhD:

• Design and investigate ultra-high capacity and energy efficient end-to-end integrated photonic transparent network solutions encompassing photonic cross-connect nodes.
• Investigate and develop advanced control systems in order to bypass the IP / packets constraints and thus to be able to implement a true end-to-end photonic transparent networks.
• Implement intelligent photonic cross-connect nodes combining integrated photonic switches and programmable components to implement the end-to-end transparent photonic networks. Space, time, and wavelength aggregation will be investigated at the photonic layer to realize a “photonic slicing” connectivity and networks.
• Develop and implement an integrated photonic performance monitoring and sensing for the telemetry embedded functionalities for advanced control and fast reconfiguration of the photonic nodes and networks.
• Demonstrate and assess in the ECO laboratories the system operation and performance of the high-capacity end-to-end transparent photonic switched architectures.
• Contribute to the TU/e efforts in establishing collaboration with the other researchers in the project and contribute to the related project reporting, scientific publication and dissemination activities.

Job Requirements

Candidate profile (essential)

• MSc degree in electrical engineering, telecommunications, applied physics or computer science.
• Solid knowledge of optical fiber communications and communication systems.
• Familiar with optical and electronic laboratory measurement equipment, optical fiber systems and components, semiconductor devices, and electronic circuits.
• Solid theoretical and applied knowledge of network protocol is a plus.
• Solid skills in one or two programming languages e.g. OMNET, Python, and VHDL, Verilog HDL FPGA programming.
• Proven team-working capabilities and communication skills.
• English proficiency (both verbal and written).
• Willingness to start as soon as possible.

Candidate profile (desirable)

• Familiar with software simulation tools for optical fiber communications.
• Knowledge of SDN/VNF is an asset.
• Knowledge of photonic devices and circuits / integration technologies is appreciated.
• Knowledge of machine learning algorithms.

Conditions of Employment

• A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:
• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate assessment after nine months. You will spend a minimum of 10% of your four-year employment on teaching tasks, with a maximum of 15% per year of your employment.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. € 2,901 max. € 3,707).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates.

Information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact
prof. dr. Nicola Calabretta, [email protected]

Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. You can also contact Mrs. Vivi Maas, HR advisor [email protected].

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.

Application

We invite you to submit a complete application by using the 'apply now'-button on this page.
The application should include a:

• Cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications, list of courses taken and grades obtained, awards and the contact information of
  three references.
• Two reference letters
• Proof of English language skills (if you are not a native speaker)
• Brief description of your MSc thesis.

We look forward to your application and will screen it as soon as we have received it.
Screening will continue until the position has been filled.

We do not respond to applications that are sent to us in a different way.

Please keep in mind you can upload only 5 documents up to 2 MB each. If necessary please combine files.