Job Information
Organisation/Company: Technical University of Sofia
Department: Faculty of Electronic Engineering and Technologies
Research Field: Engineering » Electronic engineering; Computer science » Modelling tools; Engineering » Control engineering; Engineering » Computer engineering
Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)
Positions: PhD Positions
Application Deadline: 11 Sep 2026 - 18:30 (Europe/Sofia)
Country: Bulgaria
Type of Contract: Temporary
Job Status: Full-time
Hours Per Week: 40
Offer Starting Date: 1 Sep 2025
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - MSCA
Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number: 101168880
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No
Offer Description
Are you passionate about cutting-edge research in automotive electronics and system reliability? Join a prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network (MSCA-DN) and be part of a dynamic and interdisciplinary team working on future-proof technologies for the automotive sector. Join our international, interdisciplinary research team to develop advanced modelling techniques for Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)-resilient wheel-speed sensor systems—a critical component for automotive safety and autonomous driving technologies.
PhD Objectives
- Develop a comprehensive system-level model that accurately predicts the functional behaviour of wheel-speed sensor systems under EMI stress.
- Use this model to build a parameterized EMI-aware digital twin, capable of simulating real-world operating conditions.
- Verify and validate the EMI digital twin through experimental and real-world data integration.
Expected Outcomes
- A robust, predictive system-level model supporting functional safety analysis under harsh EMI conditions.
- A validated digital twin architecture linked with EMI sensor data for real-time monitoring and prediction.
International Collaboration and Mobility
The PhD candidate will benefit from unique hands-on training and secondment opportunities with leading academic and industrial partners:
- Academic Secondment: KU Leuven (Belgium), supervised by Prof. Davy Pissoort – experimental validation using advanced EMI testing facilities (Months 30–32).
- Industrial Secondment: Renesas (Bulgaria), mentored by Dr. Svilen Krustev – in-depth analysis of IC analog-front ends and PCB topology (Months 18–21).
Why Apply?
- Work at the intersection of automotive electronics, system simulation, and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).
- Contribute to next-generation solutions in automotive safety and digital twin technology.
- Be part of an international research ecosystem with access to state-of-the-art labs and industry-relevant use cases.
Where to apply
E-mail: d_nikolov@tu-sofia.bg
Requirements
Research Field: Engineering » Electronic engineering
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Research Field: Engineering » Computer engineering
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Research Field: Engineering » Control engineering
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Languages: English
Level: Excellent
Research Field: Engineering » Electrical engineering; Engineering » Control engineering; Engineering » Computer engineering
Years of Research Experience: None
Additional Information
Benefits
The successful candidate will be employed by the Technical University of Sofia (TU – Sofia) under a full-time employment contract for a fixed term of 36 months, with an envisaged starting date of 1 September 2026 and no later than 1 September 2029. The appointment is made under the terms of the Grant Agreement of project 101168880 — iSense — HORIZON-MSCA-2023-DN-01, and the recruited researcher is enrolled in a doctoral programme at TU – Sofia.
Additional benefits:
- Research, training and networking contribution. The project provides a dedicated budget, managed by TU – Sofia, covering research costs, training activities, conference participation, secondments and participation in the network's activities. This is not part of personal remuneration but is used exclusively to support the researcher's activities under the programme.
- Accommodation. TU – Sofia offers accommodation in the University's student dormitories, subject to availability, to support relocation and settling in Sofia.
- Doctoral training. Enrolment in an accredited doctoral programme at TU – Sofia, with an individual Career Development Plan, supervision by an academic supervisor and an industrial/partner co-supervisor.
- Network-wide training and mobility. Access to the full iSense training programme: network-wide schools, workshops, transferable-skills training, and planned secondments to academic and industrial partners in the consortium.
- Social security and leave. Full coverage under the Bulgarian social-security system (health insurance, pension contributions, sickness, maternity/paternity and parental leave) and annual paid leave in accordance with Bulgarian labour law and TU – Sofia regulations.
- Equal-opportunity working environment; family-friendly and flexible working arrangements in line with the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers.
Eligibility criteria
Applicants must satisfy all of the following MSCA eligibility conditions at the date of recruitment. These conditions are mandatory under the Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Networks rules and cannot be waived.
- Doctoral candidate status. Applicants must not already hold a doctoral degree at the date of recruitment. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but have not yet formally been awarded the degree are not eligible.
- Transnational mobility rule. Applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Bulgaria for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the date of recruitment. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not taken into account.
- Nationality. Applicants of any nationality may apply. There is no age limit.
- Enrolment in a doctoral programme. The successful candidate must be admitted to and enrolled in a doctoral programme at TU – Sofia. Applicants must therefore meet the national and institutional admission requirements for doctoral studies in Bulgaria, including recognition of foreign higher-education qualifications where applicable.
- Full-time and exclusive dedication. The position is full-time; the researcher must work exclusively for the action, subject to the exceptions permitted under the Grant Agreement.
Academic and professional requirements:
- A completed Master's degree (or equivalent, giving access to doctoral studies) in Electrical or Electronic Engineering, Telecommunications, Applied Physics, Applied Mathematics, Computer Engineering, or a closely related discipline, obtained by the starting date at the latest.
- Solid background in one or more of: electromagnetic compatibility and interference (EMC/EMI), analogue and mixed-signal front-end design, signal processing, high-frequency circuit and cable modelling, or numerical simulation and digital-twin methodologies.
- Practical experience with simulation and modelling tools (e.g. SPICE-class simulators, full-wave/EM solvers, TCAD, MATLAB/Python) is an advantage.
- Programming skills (Python, MATLAB, C/C++) for modelling, data analysis and automation.
- Excellent command of English, both written and spoken (working language of the network). Knowledge of Bulgarian is not required.
- Demonstrated capacity for independent research, scientific writing and teamwork in an international, interdisciplinary environment.
- Willingness to undertake secondments abroad and to travel for network-wide training and dissemination activities.
Selection process
Recruitment is conducted in accordance with the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (OTM-R: Open, Transparent and Merit-based Recruitment), the rules of the Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Networks programme, and the applicable regulations of TU – Sofia.
Application procedure. Applications must be submitted electronically to d_nikolov@tu-sofia.bg with the subject line "iSense DC11 application – [Surname]" by 17 August 2026 18:30. Applications must be in English and must include:
- A detailed curriculum vitae (Europass format recommended), including a list of publications, if any;
- A motivation letter (max. 2 pages) explaining the applicant's interest in the DC11 research topic and how their background matches it;
- Copies of degree certificates and academic transcripts (Bachelor and Master, with grades); if the Master's degree is not yet awarded, an official statement of expected completion date;
- Contact details of two academic or professional referees (letters may be requested at a later stage);
- A signed self-declaration on MSCA eligibility, stating the countries of residence and main activity during the 36 months preceding the expected recruitment date, and confirming that no doctoral degree has been awarded.
Stages of the selection process:
- Eligibility check. All applications are screened against the MSCA eligibility criteria (doctoral-candidate status, mobility rule) and the formal completeness of the application. Ineligible or incomplete applications are not evaluated further.
- Evaluation and shortlisting. Eligible applications are assessed by a selection committee appointed at TU – Sofia, comprising the DC11 supervisor and additional academic staff, with gender balance ensured as far as possible. Applications are scored against published criteria (see below). Shortlisted candidates are invited to interview.
- Interview. Shortlisted candidates are interviewed online (or in person, if feasible). The interview lasts approximately 45–60 minutes and includes: a short presentation of the candidate's Master's thesis or previous research; a structured discussion of motivation, research experience and career goals; and a live technical research challenge designed to assess scientific reasoning, physical intuition and problem-solving ability in the field of the DC11 project. Candidates are assessed on their reasoning process rather than on recall of formulae.
- Ranking and decision. The committee ranks candidates on the basis of the aggregate evaluation and records its decision in a formal protocol. A reserve list may be established.
- Offer and formalities. The selected candidate receives a written offer of appointment. The appointment is subject to successful completion of the recruitment and enrolment formalities, verification of MSCA eligibility (including documentary evidence for the mobility rule and the absence of a doctoral degree), recognition of foreign qualifications where required, and signature of the employment contract and the corresponding doctoral agreements.
Website for additional job details: https://dn-isense.eu/dc11-a-digital-twin-for-real-time-electromagnetic-compatibility-assurance-of-an-automotive-wheel-speed-sensor/
Work Location(s)
Number of offers available: 1
Company/Institute: Technical University of Sofia/Faculty of Electronic Engineering and Technologies
Country: Bulgaria
State/Province: Sofia
City: Sofia
Postal Code: 1000
Street: 8 Kliment Ohridski boulevard
Contact
State/Province: Sofia
City: Sofia
Website: https://tu-sofia.bg/
Street: 8 St. Kliment Ohridski Blvd.
Postal Code: 1000
E-Mail: d_nikolov@tu-sofia.bg
Mobile Phone: +359893690525
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