Post Summary

Novel optical access and metro networks are essential to support fast growing capacity requirement, driven by future applications and services for 6G and beyond. Networks are also evolving to support a large variety of signals across larger access and metro network areas. For these novel scenarios, flexibility becomes an essential feature, driven by the development of flexible components and open networks.

Especially, the integration of fire sensing into today’s telecommunications network promises to deliver a global and ubiquitous sensing network. Making use of novel network designs pivoting around flexible components and open architectures, enables the use of fibre sensing technologies to improve network resilience, fault detection, and provide novel services such as multiple types of environmental monitoring.

This requires the development of intelligent network control, capable of building dynamic models from information gathered form live networks become essential to manage network requests, while maintaining high availability and optimal resource utilization.

One Post Doctoral researcher position is available to work in the area of Network AI and Sensing, making use of intelligent AI-driven control planes.

The applicants should have a solid theoretical background on machine learning, optical networks and fibre sensing and be willing to engage in testbed-oriented research. The work will be carried out in the OpenIreland research infrastructure, the large-scale testbed for experimentation in open optical, wireless and cloud technologies, which is part of the IRIS Network AI and Sensing Research Group

The position will be based in the School of Computer Science and Statistics, with Prof. Ruffini research team and affiliated with the ADAPT research centre on AI, at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. The researcher will have the opportunity to build their research portfolio within a range of projects within the team.

The position will be under the direction of Prof. Marco Ruffini

Standard Duties and Responsibilities of the Post

The primary focus of the EPR will be to perform research on the National SFI project, although they might also work on other projects. In addition, the EPR’s activity will be broader and the EPR is also expected to:

• • Conduct a specified programme of research under the supervision and direction of the Principal Investigator
• • Engage in the dissemination of the results of the research in which they are engaged, as directed by, with the support of and under the supervision of the Principal Investigator. (Actively publish research findings in high impact journals and at key conferences as part of the research group effort to disseminate research outputs).
• • Engage in the wider research and scholarly activities of the research group, School or University

• • Interact closely with postgraduate research students associated with the same research group and possibly have an agreed role in supporting these students in their day-to-day research in conjunction with an academic supervisor.
• • Take leadership and contribute to generation of papers, reports and other funding proposals.
• • Carry out administrative work to support the program of research where required, including regular funding agency reports and internal reports etc.
• • Carry out additional duties as may reasonably be required within the general scope and level of the post.
• • Support collaboration with industry in areas relevant to the research group
• • Engage in appropriate training and professional development opportunities as required by the Principal Investigator, School or University, in order to develop research skills and competencies.
• • Gain experience and contribute to grant writing with the support of and under the supervision of the Principal Investigator
• • Acquire generic and transferable skills (including project management, business skills and postgraduate mentoring/supervision).
• • Contribute to broader outreach and engagement activities such as organising technical meetings, outreach to schools and other interested parties etc.

Funding Information

The post is primarily funded by Research Ireland but may involve funding from other sources based on the successful candidates’ interests.

Person Specification

The appointable candidate will hold a PhD, preferably in a Computer Science or Electronic Engineering or related discipline (preferably with a few months of postdoctoral experience).

Qualifications

PhD or equivalent experience. The post is applicable to both new or experienced PhD holders, and salary will be commensurate with experience and achievement. The successful candidate will join a team of highly skilled and innovative researchers in next generation optical and wireless networks.

Knowledge & Experience (Essential & Desirable)

• •Working knowledge of machine learning theory and algorithms.
• •Working knowledge of python programming language and Linux operating system.
• •Experience in optical control and transmission experimentation in the laboratory.
• •Experience in use of Software Defined Networking or Open optical systems.
• •Optical laboratory experience and data collection, ideally in fibre-sensing related applications.
• •Knowledge of optical transmission in fibre.
• •Knowledge of networking both at physical layer and protocols (layer2/layer3).
• •Experience with network-oriented programming.
• •Excellent written and oral communication skills
• •The ability to work well in a group.
• •The ability to collaborate internationally.
• •Strong self-motivation and willing to learn attitude.

Skills & Competencies

• •Excellent experimental skills working with machine learning applied to experimental data from optical networking testbeds.
• •Evidence of accomplishment in research and development in the area of control planes for optical communications.
• •A capability of working within a project team to achieve group-oriented results, in parallel to individual productivity and top-quality publications.
• •Good communication, organisation and interpersonal skills.
• •A commitment to gaining practical experience working on a research project.

Application Procedure

Applicants should submit a full Curriculum Vitae to include the names and contact details of 2 referees (including email addresses), to:

Marco Ruffini Email Address: [email protected]

Closing date Noon 01.05.2026. Late applications will not be accepted