PhD – Integrated Sensing and Communication for UAV and Non-Terrestrial Networks

PhD - Integrated Sensing and Communication for UAV and Non-Terrestrial Networks

About Tyndall
Tyndall National Institute is an international leader in semiconductors, photonics and deep-tech research and innovation. As a leading collaborative European research institute, Tyndall is a key actor and hosting partner in the delivery of the ‘Chips for Europe Initiative’ (EU Chips Act).

Tyndall is Ireland’s leading research and innovation organisation and it is the national focal point for excellence in deep-tech research, development and graduate training at the convergence of nanotechnology, microelectronics, photonics, electronics and AI. Tyndall is recognised as an international research leader in semiconductor, chip and digital technologies, particularly as applied to the fields of Information & Communications, Health & Life Sciences, Agritech & Food Security, Energy and Climate Mitigation, emerging fields such as quantum, and novel computing paradigms.

The Institute’s key objective is to see frontier research activities having a significant impact on economic development and societal challenges in Ireland, Europe and beyond. Central to Tyndall’s mission is delivering economic impact through research excellence in partnership with industry and academia. With an annual turnover of more than €50m, the Institute has a community of over 600 researchers, engineers, support staff, postgraduate students, interns and industry researchers-in-residence.

With significant committed Irish government support, Tyndall will grow to be 1,000 people by 2030, with approximately 750 researchers, including 250 PhD students. A new 17,000 m2 research building is under development adjacent to the Cork headquarters and there are developing plans to expand Tyndall’s existing Dublin research labs and to establish other research sites within Ireland.

Tyndall’s expansion is also supported by recent national and EU funding wins for significant (M€10’s) additional research equipment across a range of areas such as semiconductor processing, microscopy, quantum technologies, heterogeneous integration, ultra-high speed optical communications and RF through THz characterisation.

About the Team
Tyndall’s Wireless Communications Laboratory is based in Dublin, with outdoor test facilities located in parks and wildlife areas nearby. The team consists of accomplished academics with decades of experience in the wireless communications space. The team maintains strong relationships with several Irish enterprises and government organisations, including emergency services under the direction of the Department of Defence. These partnerships allow the team to carry out hands-on experimental projects and pilot trials, which will be leveraged over the course of this PhD project.

About the Role
We are seeking a highly motivated and talented individual with a strong background in wireless communications, signal processing, electrical/electronic engineering, computer science, or a related field for a fully funded PhD project in integrated sensing and communication for UAV and non-terrestrial platforms, to join our Dublin-based Wireless Communications Laboratory.

This PhD project will focus on the development of integrated sensing and communication technologies for UAV and non-terrestrial networks. Future wireless systems are expected to provide not only high-capacity communications, but also sensing, localisation, tracking, and situational-awareness capabilities. UAVs and other non-terrestrial platforms are particularly well suited to these applications, as they can provide flexible aerial coverage, rapid deployment, and improved visibility of the radio environment.

The successful candidate will develop signal processing algorithms, sensing waveforms, and system-level methods that allow UAV platforms to communicate while also sensing their surrounding RF environment. Possible research topics include RF signal detection and localisation, beamforming and direction-finding, passive and active sensing, radar-inspired signal processing, waveform design for integrated sensing and communication, UAV-based RF mapping, and localisation in challenging or GPS/GNSS-denied environments.
The project will involve both theoretical and experimental research. The successful candidate will develop algorithms in software, implement and validate them using software-defined radios and programmable hardware, and test their performance in realistic field-trial scenarios involving ground transmitters and UAV platforms. The candidate will have the opportunity to work with members of the Tyndall Wireless Communications Laboratory, collaborate with project partners and stakeholders, and contribute to high-impact research outputs in an emerging area of wireless communications.

The project will provide a comprehensive research experience, including access to wireless communications test equipment, software-defined radio platforms, UAV-based experimental systems, outdoor test facilities, and a multidisciplinary research environment. The candidate will also have the opportunity to present their research at international conferences and to publish their results in leading academic journals.

The candidate should have strong analytical and programming skills, an interest in experimental wireless systems, and a willingness to work across the boundaries of wireless communications, signal processing, RF sensing, and UAV systems. Excellent communication skills are also important, including the ability to write research papers, present research results, and work collaboratively within a research team.

If you are a motivated and talented individual with a passion for next-generation wireless systems, RF sensing, and UAV-based experimentation, we encourage you to apply for this fully funded PhD project.

Key Duties & Responsibilities
The candidate will be required to:

• Work under the direction of the Principal Investigator and maintain close links with the wider research team and project partners.
• Review the state of the art in integrated sensing and communication, RF sensing, UAV communications, non-terrestrial networks, and relevant signal processing techniques.
• Develop signal processing algorithms for RF sensing, localisation, tracking, and communications-aware sensing using UAV and non-terrestrial platforms.
• Create integrated sensing and communication concepts that balance sensing performance, communications performance, and practical UAV deployment constraints.
• Investigate waveform, receiver-processing, and beamforming methods suitable for joint communications and sensing applications.
• Implement and validate algorithms using programming languages and tools such as Python, MATLAB, C++, Julia, GNU Radio, or similar environments.
• Deploy selected algorithms on software-defined radios and programmable wireless hardware.
• Plan and participate in laboratory experiments and outdoor field trials involving RF transmitters, sensing receivers, and UAV platforms.
• Collect, process, and analyse experimental RF datasets, including ground-truth information and uncertainty estimates.
• Prepare and support research papers for publication in leading scientific journals and conferences.
• Report research progress to the Principal Investigator, project team, partners, and funding agencies as required.
• Participate and support in Education and Public Engagement activities, as required.
• Ensure compliance with Tyndall’s Quality Management Systems, Health and Safety standards, and other regulations.
• To carry out any additional duties that may reasonably be required within the general scope and level of the post.

Essential Criteria

• Applicants must have a first-class or upper-second-class honours Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, MEngSc, or equivalent qualification in a relevant discipline such as electrical/electronic engineering, wireless communications, computer science, applied mathematics, physics, or a related field. The candidate must have a strong background in at least one of the following areas:
  • Wireless communications and communication theory.
  • Digital signal processing.
  • RF systems, antennas, radar, or sensing systems.
  • Machine learning or AI for wireless signal processing.
  • Software-defined radio or embedded wireless systems.
  • UAV systems, robotics, navigation, or localisation

Desirable Criteria

• Prior experience with software-defined radios, embedded systems, RF test equipment, or experimental wireless platforms.

• Familiarity with wireless standards such as 5G/6G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or other relevant communication systems.

• Familiarity with algorithms such as beamforming, direction-of-arrival estimation, time-difference-of-arrival localisation, Kalman filtering, tracking, detection theory, or radar-style signal processing.

• Experience with programming languages or tools such as Python, MATLAB, C++, Julia, GNU Radio, PyTorch, TensorFlow, or similar environments.

• Prior experience with UAVs, robotics, outdoor field trials, measurement campaigns, or real-world experimental validation.

What We Offer

• A tax-free scholarship stipend payment including tuition fees covered.
• 20 days per annum annual leave for full-time research students, in addition to public holidays.
• Full coverage of travel expenses to international conferences to present project outcomes.
• Training and development opportunities are also provided.
• Also see here for more information

Terms of Employment
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Contract Category: Full Time
Contract Duration: 4 Years Studentship

The annual stipend is €25,000.00.  In addition, annual tuition fees will be paid by the Tyndall National Institute.

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Boris Galkin
The closing date for applications for this position is 1pm, 31st July 2026

Application Instructions
Please make sure to attach an up-to-date CV/Resume AND a brief motivation letter outlining how you meet the ‘Essential Criteria’ for this role.

Postgraduate applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of English language proficiency as per UCC regulations (https://www.ucc.ie/en/study/comparison/english/postgraduate/). Certificates should be valid (usually less than 2 years old) and should be uploaded with their application.

Please note that Garda vetting and/or an international police clearance check may form part of the selection process.  The University, at its discretion, may undertake to make an additional appointment(s) from this competition following the conclusion of the process.  Please note that an appointment to posts advertised will be dependent on university approval, together with the terms of the employment control framework for the higher education sector. 

Tyndall National Institute does not require the assistance of recruitment agencies.  Tyndall National Institute at University College, Cork is an Equal Opportunities Employer.