Doctoral student in adaptive antenna systems for 6G wireless networks

Karlstad University; Göteborgs kommun; On-site; SEK 362,808 - 434,573; Full time

Job summary

Karlstad University seeks a doctoral student to develop adaptive antenna systems for 6G wireless networks. This position will involve collaboration in a funded project aimed at enhancing wireless communication technology. Candidates must hold a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field and have proficiency in antenna theory and programming.

Join a dynamic research environment at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, where you can contribute meaningfully to the future of wireless communications.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge in antenna theory, antenna engineering or electromagnetic field theory.
• Documented experience in microwave electronics or RF systems.
• Experience with programming languages like MATLAB or Python.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the development of adaptive, interference-resilient antenna design.
• Conduct research within a collaborative project on antenna systems.
• Present results at international conferences and publish in scientific journals.

Skills

Antenna theory

Electromagnetic field theory

Microwave electronics

Programming (MATLAB, Python)

Education

Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or closely related field

Tools

CST

HFSS

ADS

Job description

Doctoral student in adaptive antenna systems for 6G wireless networks

Our goal is to focus on competence, knowledge and collaboration in order to play an important, demonstrable role in social development.

The Division of Communications, Antennas and Optical Networks conducts research in wireless and optical technologies for communication and sensing, including radar and positioning, with activities ranging from antenna systems and signal processing to communication theory, optical networks, security, machine learning, and future‑generation wireless systems. The division comprises three research groups: Antenna Systems, Communication Systems, and Optical Networks.

The Antenna Systems group works with antenna technologies for wireless communication and sensor systems, with applications in telecommunications, radar, transport, astronomy, space sciences, and other emerging technology areas. The group’s research addresses antenna systems over a wide frequency range and includes electronics‑integrated antenna technologies, holistic antenna‑system design, and over‑the‑air test methods for future wireless systems. The group has access to advanced antenna measurement infrastructure at Chalmers, including facilities for characterising passive and active antenna systems for 5G, 6G, and beyond.

About the research project

Future 6G wireless communication systems must deliver higher performance while operating under strict constraints on energy consumption and spectrum availability. Many candidate frequency bands for 6G are already used by services such as satellite communications, radar, radio astronomy, fixed terrestrial links, and unlicensed wireless access systems. This creates a strong need for antenna systems that can support efficient spectrum sharing at the physical layer.

This doctoral project is part of the SSF‑funded Sweden–Taiwan collaborative research project Antenna Systems for 6G Wireless Networks. The project focuses on adaptive, interference‑resilient antenna systems for 6G operation in the centimetre‑wave frequency range, including the 6–24 GHz range often discussed as FR3. The central scientific idea is that future spectrum sharing cannot rely only on higher‑layer coordination or static RF filtering. Instead, the antenna system itself must actively control how electromagnetic energy is radiated in both space and frequency.

The doctoral student will contribute to the development of adaptive, interference‑resilient antenna design for energy‑efficient and scalable spectrum sharing. The work will combine antenna hardware design, hybrid analogue–digital beamforming, and over‑the‑air experimental validation. The research will be carried out in close collaboration with Swedish and Taiwanese academic partners, as well as with industrial stakeholders connected to future wireless infrastructure, RF systems, and non‑terrestrial networks.

The position is placed at Chalmers, in the Antenna Systems group. The recruiting manager and main supervisor will be Professor Marianna Ivashina. The project will also involve collaboration with researchers in active electronics design and communication systems.

Who we are looking for

The following requirements are mandatory

To qualify as a doctoral student, you must have a master’s level degree corresponding to at least 240 higher education credits, or equivalent qualifications, in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics / Engineering Physics, or another closely related field. The degree must be completed by the starting date of the employment.

You should have documented knowledge from completed courses and/or thesis work in:

• antenna theory, antenna engineering, or electromagnetic field theory,
• microwave electronics, RF systems, or microwave engineering,
• mathematical modelling and numerical analysis relevant to electrical engineering or applied physics.

You should also have:

• strong written and verbal communication skills in English,
• good analytical ability and motivation for independent research,
• the ability to work in an international and interdisciplinary research environment,
• experience with programming or technical computing, for example in MATLAB, Python, or similar tools.

The following experience will strengthen your application

It is meritorious if you have taken courses or carried out project work in:

• electromagnetic and circuit simulation tools such as CST, HFSS, ADS, or similar,
• RF measurements, antenna measurements,
• hardware‑oriented prototyping or modeling involving RF front ends, software‑defined radio, or RFSoC platforms,
• signal processing.

A master’s thesis in antennas, microwave engineering, RF systems, wireless communication, signal processing for antenna systems, or a closely related area is a strong advantage.

We value personal qualities such as curiosity, accuracy, creativity, independence, and the ability to collaborate across disciplinary and cultural boundaries.

What you will do

Your major responsibility will be to pursue doctoral studies and conduct research within the SSF Sweden–Taiwan collaborative project on antenna systems for 6G wireless networks.

The work will include:

• developing and analysing adaptive antenna arrays for shared‑spectra 6G operation,
• studying hybrid analogue–digital beamforming methods for interference suppression, integrated communication and sensing,
• investigating how hardware constraints such as mutual coupling, finite phase resolution of beamforming electronics, calibration errors, and RF impairments affect achievable performance,
• contributing to joint spatial–spectral optimisation of antenna systems, including the interaction with and co‑design with active electronics, and beamforming,
• supporting system‑level proof‑of‑concept development and over‑the‑air validation,
• collaborating with Swedish and Taiwanese academic partners and industrial stakeholders,
• presenting results at international conferences and publishing in leading scientific journals,
• taking courses at advanced and doctoral level as part of the graduate education,
• contributing to teaching or other departmental duties, normally up to 20% of working time.

The project will include international collaboration and may involve research visits, joint workshops, and travel to project partners in Taiwan.

Contract terms

• The doctoral student position is fully funded from the start.
• The position is a full‑time, fixed‑term employment.
• The doctoral programme corresponds to four years of full‑time research studies. Departmental duties, such as teaching, may account for up to 20% of working time and can extend the employment period up to five years.
• Salary follows Chalmers’ current salary agreement for doctoral students (35,725 SEK per month, valid from May 1 2026).
• Doctoral studies require physical presence at Chalmers throughout the study period. A valid residence permit must be in place by the start date where applicable.

What we offer

As a doctoral student at Chalmers, you will be employed by the university and will have access to Chalmers’ employee benefits. You will join a dynamic, international research environment in Gothenburg, with strong links to both academic research and industry.

Chalmers actively works to improve equality, diversity, and inclusion, and welcomes applicants with different backgrounds and experiences. If Swedish is not your native language, Chalmers offers Swedish courses to help you settle in.

For questions, please contact

Antenna Systems group, Division of Communications, Antennas and Optical Networks

Department of Electrical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology

Title: Doctoral student in adaptive antenna systems for 6G wireless networks

Employer: Chalmers University of Technology

Department: Department of Electrical Engineering

Division: Communications, Antennas and Optical Networks

Location: Gothenburg, Sweden

Job type: Doctoral student / PhD position

Extent: Full-time

Temporary position: Four years, with possible extension up to five years including departmental duties

Reference number: 20260357