Research Associate in Soil Monitoring using LoRa based Wireless Sensing Approach

SnT is a leading international research and innovation centre in secure, reliable and trustworthy ICT systems and services. We play an instrumental role in Luxembourg by fueling innovation through research partnerships with industry, boosting R&D investments leading to economic growth, and attracting highly qualified talent.

We’re looking for people driven by excellence, excited about innovation, and looking to make a difference. If this sounds like you, you’ve come to the right place!

Your Role...

The SnT is seeking a Postdoc to support the research and development work within the SEDAN group. We seek a candidate with interest and expertise in signal processing, deep learning, and wireless sensing.

The candidate will work on the SoilRF project funded by the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR) to explore and evaluate the usability and effectiveness of LoRa radio frequency signals in soil monitoring. The research aims to propose novel methodologies across software and hardware stacks to re-use LoRa signals for soil sensing and develop a prototype system enabling soil monitoring at a low cost. The target soil properties include VWC, bulk density, and soil compositions.

The successful candidates are expected to perform the following tasks:

• Develop open-source tools to collect and label LoRa signal samples under different soil VWC, bulk density, soil composition, and environments and make the collected data publicly available
• Conduct comprehensive lab experiments to understand the time-frequency characteristics of LoRa underground channels and explore the sensing opportunities in soil monitoring applications
• Apply deep learning methods to develop LoRa-based soil sensing models and implement a prototype system using commodity LoRa devices to enable real-time soil monitoring
• Disseminating results through scientific publications and conferences
• Preparing new research proposals to attract industrial, national, and European projects

For the scientific tasks in the project, the Postdoc reports to the PI of the project, Dr. Hui HUANG, and Prof. Radu STATE, the head of the SEDAN research group.

Your Profile...

We are looking for a motivated candidate who can work independently and efficiently and is proactive in solving problems. The candidate should be interested in working in an international team with a multi-disciplinary set of backgrounds, where sharing resources and teamwork is essential.

The following requirements of the applicant are essential: 

• A Ph.D. degree in Telecommunication Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Computer Science/engineering with a focus on wireless communications
• Good understanding of the different ML architectures and suitability depending on the considered scenario
• Knowledge of wireless underground sensor networks and underground wireless channel modelling.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English

The following qualifications of the applicant are a bonus:

• Experience with software-defined radio implementation
• Strong programming skills in MATLAB, Python/TensorFlow,and C++
• Knowledge of LoRa communication protocols, especially onthe physical layer

Here’s what awaits you at SnT...

• Exciting infrastructures and unique labs. At SnT’s two campuses, our researchers can take a walk on the moon at the LunaLab, build a nanosatellite, or help make autonomous vehicles even better
• The right place for IMPACT. SnT researchers engage in demand-driven projects. Through our Partnership Programme, we work on projects with more than 55 industry partners
• Be part of a multicultural family. At SnT we have more than 60 nationalities. Throughout the year, we organise team-building events, networking activities and more

Find out more about us!

In Short...

• Contract Type: Contrat à durée déterminée 24 Mois
• Work Hours: Full Time 40.0 Heures par Semaine
• Location: Kirchberg
• Job Reference: UOL05539

The yearly gross salary for every Postdoctoral Researcher at the UL is EUR 77167 full time

How to apply...

Applications should include:

• Full Curriculum Vitae, including list of publications
• The name (and email address, contact details) of three referees
• Research statement and topics of particular interest to the candidate (300 words)

All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.

Early application is highly encouraged, as the applications will be processed upon reception. Please apply ONLINE formally through the HR system. Applications by Email will not be considered.

The University of Luxembourg embraces inclusion and diversity as key values. We are fully committed to removing any discriminatory barrier related to gender, and not only, in recruitment and career progression of our staff.

About the University of Luxembourg...

University of Luxembourg is an international research university with a distinctly multilingual and interdisciplinary character. The University was founded in 2003 and counts more than 6,700 students and more than 2,000 employees from around the world. The University’s faculties and interdisciplinary centres focus on research in the areas of Computer Science and ICT Security, Materials Science, European and International Law, Finance and Financial Innovation, Education, Contemporary and Digital History. In addition, the University focuses on cross-disciplinary research in the areas of Data Modelling and Simulation as well as Health and System Biomedicine. Times Higher Education ranks the University of Luxembourg #3 worldwide for its “international outlook,” #20 in the Young University Ranking 2021 and among the top 250 universities worldwide.

Further information

For inquiries, please contact us at hui.huang@uni.lu