PhD – Communication Technology – Norway

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At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 43,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.

You will find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here.

 About the position

PhD project: Intra-body Semantic Communication Theory and Principles for Receiver Design 
This PhD project aims to develop a theoretical framework for biocommunication using semantic communication theory and principles. The foundational framework will provide insights into developing a receiver system that can continuously and precisely sense and process molecular signals among infectious bacteria colonies for diagnosis. The receiver development will consider novel design principles combining approaches in biosensors, communication systems, and machine learning.
Are you motivated to take a step towards a doctorate and open up exciting career opportunities? As a PhD Candidate with us, you will work to achieve your doctorate, and at the same time gain valuable experience that qualifies you for a further career in higher education and research, in and outside academia.

Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department.

About the project

CLIPEUS aims at creating a communications network among man-made implantable devices and the natural cells inside the body under the novel communication paradigm called Internet of Bio-NanoThings, where sensing, actuation, and computing processes are tightly coupled to pervasively, perpetually, and precisely sense, process, control, and exchange health information of the body in real-time to defend it against infections.  The project focuses on detecting bacterial infections inside the body based on biosensors. The biosensor will be extensively tested and ameliorated in-vitro cell culture experiments as a first step before in vivo experiments. The CLIPEUS project has a PhD student, a Postdoc, and a Researcher, and is looking to recruit a new PhD student to complete the team.  The Research Council of Norway and NTNU fund the project.

Duties of the position

• Complete the doctoral education until obtaining a doctorate
• Carry out research of good quality within the framework described above
• Academic publications and popular science dissemination
• Participate in the research group of Prof. Ilangko Balasingham – NTNU
• Participate in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign educational institutions
• Other career-promoting work

Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment.

Required selection criteria

• You must have a relevant Master’s degree in electrical/electronic engineering with specialization in signal processing, communication theory, and/or information theory. Your course of study must correspond to a five-year Norwegian course, where 120 credits have been obtained at master’s level. Master students can apply, but the master’s degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position.
• You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and have an average grade from your Master’s degree study, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared to NTNU’s grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic foundation. If you have a weaker grade background, you may be considered if you can document that you are particularly suitable for a PhD education.
• You must meet the requirements for admission to the Electronics and Telecommunication – PhD programme (doctoral education) – 3 years – Trondheim – NTNU.
• Good oral and written presentation skills in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language equivalent.
• Applicants who do not master a Scandinavian language must provide evidence of good written and spoken English language skills. The following tests can be used as documentation: TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE), or Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE). Minimum scores are:
  • TOEFL: 600 (paper-based test), 92 (Internet-based test)
  • IELTS: 6.5, with no section lower than 5.5 (only Academic IELTS test accepted)
  • CAE/CPE: grade B or A.

We offer

Evaluate and remove/add what is relevant for the position.

• An exciting job with an important mission in society
• Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment
• Career guidance and follow-up during the PhD period
• Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues
• Working capital that can be used to implement the project
• Mentor programme as a new employee at NTNU
• Favorable terms as a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK)
• Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A2)
• In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK 550 800 (47.196,68 EUR),- per annum depending on qualifications and seniority. A 2% statutory contribution to the State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary.
• The employment period is 3 years.

As a PhD Candidate at NTNU, you will have access to employee benefits.

Organization/Company – NTNU Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

Research field – Computer science.

Research profile – First Stage Researcher (R1).

Country – Norway.

Application Deadline – 5 Dec 2025 – 23:59 (Europe/Oslo).

More information: Euraxess