PhD position on Sustainable Mobile Networks

Deadline 15 Nov ’25

published 17 Oct ’25

Vacancy ID 2261

Job description

Mobile networks, as a key component of digital connectivity and computing infrastructures, play a crucial role in modern life. With the growing urgency of sustainable design and operation of digital infrastructures, this PhD project will design and develop resource management schemes that enhance the sustainability and efficiency of next-generation mobile networks. The research will focus on optimising the use of network and compute resources in software-defined and virtualised environments, supporting the evolution toward a flexible edge-cloud continuum. The successful candidate will investigate intelligent orchestration and control strategies to enable sustainable mobile networks considering virtual network functions, telco-edge infrastructures, and emerging AI-driven user applications.

Key research directions include:

• Modeling and profiling of emerging AI-based workloads and data-intensive applications in mobile networks.
• Sustainable and energy-aware orchestration of softwarized network functions.
• Dynamic resource allocation and optimization across distributed cloud–edge infrastructures.
• Performance analysis in simulators and experimentation in a testbed.

The candidate will be working in the DACS research group under the supervision of dr. Suzan Bayhan and prof.dr.ir. Geert Heijenk. Moreover, the PhD candidate will be collaborating with other researchers and external partners.

Requirements

• You are interested in learning how things work and how to make them better, and motivated to take an intellectual challenge to develop impactful solutions for sustainable computing & communication systems.
• You have an MSc degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field;
• You have a good command of computer communications and networking.
• You are familiar with analytical modelling, machine learning, optimisation approaches or are willing to develop these skills;
• You are familiar with prototyping or are willing to develop skills to conduct experiments in a test environment;
• You have a good team spirit and like to work in an internationally oriented environment;
• You are proficient in English

Conditions of employment

• As a PhD candidate at UT, you will be appointed to a full-time position for four years, with a qualifier in the first year, within a very stimulating and exciting scientific environment
• The University offers a dynamic ecosystem with enthusiastic colleagues
• Your salary and associated conditions are in accordance with the collective labour agreement for Dutch universities (CAO-NU)
• You will receive a gross monthly salary ranging from € 3.059,- (first year) to € 3.881,- (fourth year)
• There are excellent benefits including a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary, an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%, and a solid pension scheme
• A minimum of 232 leave hours in case of full-time employment based on a formal workweek of 38 hours. A full-time employment in practice means 40 hours a week, therefore resulting in 96 extra leave hours on an annual basis.
• Free access to sports facilities on campus
• A family-friendly institution that offers parental leave (both paid and unpaid)
• You will have a training programme as part of the Twente Graduate School where you and your supervisors will determine a plan for a suitable education and supervision
• We encourage a high degree of responsibility and independence, while collaborating with close colleagues, researchers and other staff.

Additional information

Are you interested in this position? Please send your application via the 'Apply now' button below before November 15, 2025 and include:

• A full CV including your publications, awards, and working experience. Your CV should demonstrate the scope of your work and education and indicate a good fit with the stated requirements for the position.
• A motivation letter (max 1 page) emphasising your specific interest and motivation to apply for a PhD position in our group, please indicate also when you can start the position at the earliest.
• An academic transcript of BSc and MSc education, including grades.
• A short (max 1-page) description of your MSc thesis/final project along with a link to the full thesis document.
• References (contact information) of two scientific staff members (one of whom should be the supervisor of your BSc or MSc thesis/final project) who are willing to provide a recommendation letter at our request.

For more information regarding this position, you are welcome to contact Suzan Bayhan (suzan.bayhan@utwente.nl).

Tentative first interview date: November-December 2025.

The 1st (online) meeting serves as an introduction, where we introduce ourselves to you and you to us. You may be asked to give a short presentation. This will be further explained in the invitation.

Tentative 2nd interview date: December 2025. In the second interview, we will further discuss the job content, your skills, and your talents.

Screening is part of the selection procedure.

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