Postdoc in Resilient Satellite and Quantum Networks

At the Technical Faculty of IT and Design, Department of Electronic Systems, a position as postdoc in Resilient Satellite Networks with Classical and Quantum Communications is open for appointment from 1 February 2027, or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is available for 24 months.

In electronic engineering, Aalborg University is known worldwide for its high academic quality and societal impact. The Department of Electronic Systems employs more than 200 people, of which about 90 are PhD students, and about 40 % of all employees are internationals. In total, it has more than 600 students in its BSc and MSc programs, which are based on AAU's problem-based learning model. The department leverages its unique research infrastructure and lab facilities to conduct world-leading fundamental and applied research within communication, networks, control systems, AI, sound, cyber security, and robotics. The department plays an active role in transferring inventions and results into applications in close collaboration with industrial partners worldwide. You can read more about the department at www.es.aau.dk.

Your work tasks
In this postdoctoral position you will play a central role towards developing techniques to model integrated satellite and terrestrial communication networks as dynamic graphs based on the spatial characteristics, orbital dynamics, and timing requirements of the system. You will work in an international and interdisciplinary environment with experts in mobile communication networks, satellite communications, quantum communications, statistics, and artificial intelligence.

Your main responsibility will be to develop techniques to model integrated mobile and satellite communication networks as dynamic graphs based on the spatial characteristics and orbital dynamics of the system, both for classical and quantum communications. You’ll investigate feature extraction and graph representation learning algorithms, as well as algorithms method for formulating and solving link establishment, matching, and routing problems on the network graphs using both classical graph theory and AI methods such as graph neural networks (GNNs). You will also develop distribution-free methods for reliability guarantees, using conformal prediction to provide calibrated, finite-sample guarantees on link performance and on the fidelity of entanglement distributed over satellite and terrestrial links.
A key aspect of your work will be to model the spatial and temporal aspects of classical and quantum communication systems, as well as system disruptions, to enable the statistical evaluation and improvement of the resilience of the network to failures. Furthermore, you’ll work on decentralized algorithms to adapt the operation of the network to achieve the target network resilience with minimal performance loss.

Your competences
You have completed a PhD in electrical engineering, telecommunications, statistics, information theory, applied mathematics, data science, or a closely related field. You are comfortable working with abstract concepts in information and graph theory and statistics, and you enjoy translating them into concrete algorithms. You have experience with information- and communication-theoretic modelling, programming, probability, statistics, and AI.

You bring documented experience with publishing research in recognised international journals and conferences, and you are motivated by contributing to the international research community through high-quality publications. Ideally, you are familiar with at least one of the following domains: wireless communications, graph theory, applied mathematics, statistics and AI. Knowledge on satellite networks and quantum communications is beneficial but not required.

We are looking for motivated, proactive and curious candidates, who enjoy working at the intersection of several disciplines and are comfortable taking initiative in developing new research ideas.

You thrive in a collaborative research environment where ideas are openly discussed, where feedback is part of the daily work, and where results are developed in close dialogue with colleagues from different backgrounds. At the same time, you can work independently, plan your work, and drive your own projects forward. You communicate clearly in writing and in speech, and you can present complex concepts in an accessible way to colleagues from other disciplines. Proficiency in English at C1 level or above is required for this position, both for scientific writing and for daily collaboration in an international environment.

Who we are
The postdoc will be hired at the Connectivity Section of the Department of Electronic Systems of Aalborg University under project “STATSAT: STATistical methods for provable resilient and scalable SATellite networks,” funded by Villum Fonden and “CLASSIQUE: Center for Classical Communication in the Quantum Era,” funded by the Danish National Research Foundation (DNRF). You will work as part of the Satellites and Space Communications research group and CLASSIQUE Center of Excellence, and will collaborate with researchers from the Classical and Quantum Information and Connectivity research group, and of the Department of Mathematical Sciences.

The Connectivity section works on concepts for communication and networking in wireless systems, such as the emerging 6G technology, but also in a broader sense, using methods of communication theory. It hosts two research groups: Classical and Quantum Information and Connectivity (CQUIC) and Satellites and Space Communications (SSC).

CQUIC works on communication and information processing in classical and quantum communication networks. It places particular emphasis on wireless connectivity and on the interplay among AI, computation, and communication. Its core approach combines communication-theoretic analysis with experimental studies of wireless systems.

SSC conducts research in satellite and space systems for communications, sensing, computing, and AI. Combines methodologies from communication theory, graph-based analysis, and stochastic systems with data-driven modeling, analysis, and optimization for diverse space systems and applications.

Qualification requirements 
Appointment as postdoc requires academic qualifications at PhD level.

How to apply  
Your application must include the following:

- Application, stating reasons for applying, qualifications in relation to the position, and intentions and visions for the position 
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) 
- Diplomas (master's degree diploma and PhD diploma) 
- List of publications, with an indication of the attached publications that you wish to be taken into account in the assessment. You may attach a maximum of five publications. 
- Documentation of teaching qualifications if relevant.
- Dissemination qualifications, including participation on committees or boards, participation in organisations etc. 
- Additional qualifications in relation to the position 
- References/recommendations

You can read more about the requirements for your application here.

The application must be submitted via Aalborg University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aalborg University's website.

Aalborg University wants to reflect the surrounding society and has diversity as a core value. Therefore, everyone, regardless of personal background and orientation, is encouraged to apply for the position.

Aalborg University has a policy of parallel language use. International staff are encouraged, with support from the university, to learn Danish during their employment in order to support their integration into the workplace and Danish society.

Danish language courses will be offered as part of the employment.

Do you have any questions? 
If you have any questions about the position, you are more than welcome to contact us. You will find contact persons at the bottom of the jobpost.

Further information 
Read more about our recruitment process here

The appointment process at Aalborg University involves a shortlisting process. You can read more about the shortlisting and appointment process here.

The hiring process at Aalborg University may include a risk assessment as a tool to identify potential risks associated with new hires, ensuring the safety, compliance, and integrity of the workplace.

Salary and terms of employment  
The employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities and the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities. Furthermore, your terms of employment and salary are in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the state (AC collective agreement) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities.

You can find information about the salary and salary structure for the position in the Salary Overview for Recruitment - Scientific positions (VIP). Please refer to the introductory section of the page and the section entitled “Postdoc”.