PhD Position: Mixture-of-Experts for Intent-Based Networking in 6G

i2CAT Research Centre; Barcelona; Híbrido; EUR 23.000 - 29.000; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

Competitive MSCA PhD contract

Flexibility in working hours

Opportunities for international collaboration

Continuous training and mentorship

Flexible hours

Descripción de la vacante

A research institute in Barcelona is seeking a Doctoral Candidate for the GENOME project focusing on the intersection of AI and telecommunications. The candidate will lead innovative research on Distributed Mixture-of-Experts for network management, collaborating with international teams and publishing in top journals. The position offers prestigious funding, flexibility in work arrangements, and opportunities for substantial professional growth within a vibrant multicultural environment.

Formación

• Master's degree in a relevant field.
• Strong programming skills in Python.
• Experience with AI frameworks such as PyTorch and TensorFlow.
• Understanding of telecommunication networks.

Responsabilidades

• Develop a Mixture-of-Experts LLM agent framework.
• Design communication protocols for AI nodes.
• Implement reasoning capabilities for network management.
• Collaborate globally with other researchers.
• Publish findings in scientific journals.
• Collaborate globally, incl. 5-month secondment at University of Oulu with Prof. Bennis.
• Publish findings in top journals and present at conferences.

Conocimientos

Strong Python programming

Experience with AI frameworks

Solid understanding of telecommunication networks

Fluency in English

Educación

Master's degree in Telecommunications, Computer Science, AI, or related engineering field

AI-related degree

Herramientas

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Docker

Kubernetes

Descripción del empleo

Applications must be submitted exclusively through the official GENOME project website. Please note that applications sent via LinkedIn, the i2CAT website, or any other platform will not be considered. To ensure your candidacy is valid, you must follow the formal application process on the GENOME portal.

Shaping the Intelligence of 6G Networks

Are you ready to redefine how AI and telecommunications converge? At i2CAT, we are looking for a Doctoral Candidate (DC) to join the GENOME project (MSCA Doctoral Network).

As the industry shifts toward 6G, the challenge lies in deploying Intelligence at the Edge. You will explore the frontier of Distributed Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) and Small Language Models (SLMs) to create autonomous, intent-driven networks. This isn't just about connectivity; it's about building a collaborative, agentic ecosystem where networks reason, negotiate, and self-manage across edge-cloud environments.

What you will do (Responsibilities)

As part of the Software Networks group and a network of 15 international researchers, your mission will include:

• Develop a Mixture-of-Experts LLM agent framework tailored for network management tasks.
• Design agentic emergent communication and negotiation protocols for distributed AI nodes.
• Implement reasoning capabilities to invoke API catalogues (e.g., CAMARA) for real-time network enforcement.
• Apply your research to cross-domain and inter-operator use cases under the OpenOP framework.
• Validate your systems through high-fidelity simulations and physical deployment on cutting-edge testbeds.
• Collaborate globally, including a 5-month secondment at the University of Oulu (Finland) with Prof. Mehdi Bennis.
• Publish your findings in top-tier scientific journals and present at international conferences.

What we offer

• Prestigious Funding: A highly competitive MSCA PhD contract with dedicated mobility and family allowances (where applicable).
• International Exposure: Work within a European network of excellence with stays in Finland and collaboration with industry leaders.
• Work-Life Balance: Flexible working hours and teleworking options.
• Vibrant Environment: Join a multicultural team in Barcelona, one of Europe's leading tech hubs.
• Growth: Continuous training and mentorship from world-class researchers (Dr. Hatim Chergui, Dr. Pouria Khodashenas, and Prof. Cristina Cervelló-Pastor).

Applications must be submitted exclusively through the official GENOME project website: https://jobs.genome-msca.eu/

Requirements

MUST HAVE:

• Education: Master's degree in Telecommunications, Computer Science, AI, or a related engineering field.
• Technical Skills: Strong Python programming and hands-on experience with AI frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, etc.).
• Domain Knowledge: Solid understanding of telecommunication networks and architectures.
• Language: Fluency in English (written and spoken).
• MSCA Eligibility: * Mobility Rule: You must not have resided or carried out your main activity in Spain for more than 12 months in the 3 years prior to recruitment.
• PhD Rule: You must be eligible and ready to enroll in the UPC doctoral programme.

NICE TO HAVE:

• Previous track record of research excellence (publications, awards).
• Experience with Cloud-native technologies (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Familiarity with O-RAN architectures.
• Proactivity: Ability to drive independent research while contributing to a larger consortium.
• Critical Thinking: A problem-solving mindset to tackle complex, non-linear technical challenges.
• Collaboration: Excellent communication skills for an international, multicultural environment.