Physical layer algorithm design in 6G non-terrestrial communications: SURE fund studentships

Applications are invited to apply for two full 3-year PhD Studentship in 6G especially on Non Terrestrial Communications (NTN). The role will include both theoretical and applied research in the well-equipped 6GIC/ICS at University of Surrey, UK. Future wireless communication networks are expected to provide a much more satisfying service to people by building uninterrupted and ubiquitous connectivity to everyone, everything, and everywhere with ultra-high data rate, extremely high reliability and low latency. Non terrestrial communications have emerged as a key enabler for seamless connectivity in the upcoming generation networks. This kind of network can support high data rate communications among aerial platforms (i.e., unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), high altitude platforms (HAPs), and satellites (Sat)) and cellular networks, achieving anywhere and anytime connections.

These projects have the potential to collaborate extensively with both internal and external partners including Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd, particularly, but not exclusively in the following areas:

• Evolutionary air interface solutions for NTNs
• Unification of non-terrestrial and terrestrial networks
• Constellation network managements
• High throughput satellites technologies
• LEO and vLEO wireless communications
• UAV/HAPS wireless communications
• Technologies for inter-satellite links (ISLs) communications.

Introduction of the supervisors:

Dr Gaojie Chen, (Senior Member, IEEE), received the Ph.D. from Loughborough University, U.K., in 2012. He is currently an Assistant Professor with the Institute for Communication Systems, 5GIC & 6GIC, University of Surrey. His current research interests include satellite communications, cognitive radio, the Internet of Things, secrecy communications, and random geometric networks. He serves as an Associate Editor for the IEEE ComL, WCL and JASC-Machine Learning in Communications.

Prof Pei Xiao, (Senior Member, IEEE) is currently a Professor of Wireless Communications with the 5GIC, Institute for Communication Systems, University of Surrey. He has published extensively in the fields of communication theory, antenna design, and signal processing for wireless communications.

Applicants should have a masters degree with distinction in one of: Telecommunications; Electrical Engineering; Applied Mathematics.

English language requirements 

IELTS minimum 6.5 or above (or equivalent) with 6.0 in each individual category.

Research centre

Institute for Communications Systems

6G Innovation Centre