PDRA Non-Terrestrial Networks and Edge Computing

This post holder will be responsible to develop next generation non-terrestrial networking (NTN) technologies and demos, including satellite, UAV-based edge computing, integrated sensing and communications (ISAC), and their applications (particularly in securing and rural scenarios), and will be expected to support Dr. Zhuangkun Wei and Prof. Hongjian Sun. The post holder will proactively engage with academic, postdoctoral research and technical support colleagues, as well as students, within and external to the Department, including industry, to ensure that activities are undertaken to an appropriate standard.

The post holder will work with the Communication and THz Node, and the Durham Smart Grid Laboratory. Currently, the group has over 20 researchers and is a leading research facility that brings together advanced simulation tools, realistic emulators, and innovative testbeds to revolutionise smart grid research and 6G communications. The group is equipped with an extensive array of resources.

Applications are invited for this Postdoctoral Research Associate post. Funded by UKRI EPSRC, the project “CHEDDAR: Communications Hub For Empowering Distributed ClouD Computing Applications And Research” aims to empower distributed cloud computing applications and develop innovative research ideas to drive research and networking across the UK academic community.

The successful applicant will be expected to deliver high-quality research outputs with publications in journals and leading conferences, develop real-world NTN demos, prepare and give presentations to wider range of audiences including project partners and other stakeholders of relevant technologies. Detailed responsibilities are given below.

This post is fixed term for 5 months because the project is time limited (31st March 2026).

The post-holder is employed to work on EPSRC project “Cheddar”. Whilst this means that the post-holder will not be carrying out independent research in his/her own right, the expectation is that they will contribute to the advancement of the project, through the development of their own research ideas/adaptation and development of research protocols.

Successful applicants will, ideally, be in post as soon as possible.

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