PhD in Adaptive Connectivity Architectures for Cyber-Physical Systems

The mission of the Department of Electrical Engineering is to acquire, share and transfer knowledge and understanding in the whole field of Electrical Engineering through education, research and valorization. We work towards a ‘Smart Sustainable Society’, a ‘Connected World’, and a healthy humanity (‘Care & Cure’). Activities share an application-oriented character, a high degree of complexity and a large synergy between multiple facets of the field.

Research is carried out into the applications of electromagnetic phenomena in all forms of energy conversion, telecommunication and electrical signal processing. Existing and new electrical components and systems are analyzed, designed and built. The Electrical Engineering department takes its inspiration from contacts with high-tech industry in the direct surrounding region and beyond.

The department is innovative and has international ambitions and partnerships. The result is a challenging and inspiring setting in which socially relevant issues are addressed. Introduction Are you passionate about high-tech systems and in particular connectivity within and between complex system? Would you like to apply efficient AI techniques for adaptive configuration and optimization of industrial communication networks to enhance their reliability and real-time performance? Then apply for the PhD position on Adaptive Connectivity Architectures for Cyber-Physical Systems!
Job Description Modern cyber-physical systems (CPS), such as semiconductor manufacturing machines and advanced mechatronic systems, rely on ultra-reliable, low-latency, and deterministic communication between distributed sensors, controllers, and actuators. Ensuring such performance under dynamic workloads, strict real-time constraints, and limited computational resources remains a key technical challenge. This PhD project addresses these challenges by developing efficient optimization methods for run-time network configuration and control. You will design efficient and lightweight learning-based techniques for automated scheduling, network resource allocation, and parameter setting, enabling fast and predictable adaptation with minimal overhead. A central focus is the co-design of algorithms with edge hardware and embedded platforms. You will investigate implementation strategies that account for limited compute, timing constraints, and energy efficiency, bridging theory and deployable solutions. This includes integration of wired and wireless communication technologies and support for run-time adaptation and fault resilience. The developed concepts will be validated through prototyping and experimental evaluation in realistic setups or digital twins, with performance assessed in terms of latency, reliability, and scalability, in close collaboration with academic and industrial partners. Research group and lab: The position will be hosted by the Networked Embedded Systems (NES-Lab) research Lab in the Electronic Systems (ES) group of the Electrical Engineering department. The ES group is a top research group and is world-renowned for its design automation and embedded systems research. Our ambition is to provide a scientific basis for design trajectories of electronic systems, ranging from digital circuits to cyber-physical systems. The trajectories are constructive and lead to high-quality, cost-effective systems with predictable properties (functionality, timing, reliability, power dissipation, and cost). Design trajectories for applications that have strict real-time requirements and stringent power constraints are an explicit focus point of the group. NES-Lab focusses on design, analysis, and optimization of reliable and low-power embedded networks as a main building block of the Internet-of-Things (IoT). Job Requirements

• A master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline.
• A research-oriented attitude.
• Solid background in machine learning and optimization methods.
• Knowledge and experience in (wireless) communication and networking technologies, embedded system design, and computer programming (C++, Python, etc.).
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team and interested in collaborating with industrial partners.
• Motivated to develop your teaching skills and coach students.
• Fluent in spoken and written English.

Conditions of Employment A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate assessment after nine months. You will spend a minimum of 10% of your four-year employment on teaching tasks, with a maximum of 15% per year of your employment.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. € 3,059 - max. € 3,881).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• Unlimited access to the modern on‑campus TU/e Student Sports Center at an exceptionally affordable rate.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates.

On our website you can discover even more information about our conditions of employment. Build on your career at TU/e!
About us We are a leading international university where scientific curiosity meets a hands-on mindset. We work in an open and collaborative way with high-tech industries to tackle complex societal challenges. Our responsible and respectful approach ensures impact — today and in the future. TU/e is home to over 13,000 students and more than 7,000 staff, forming a diverse and vibrant academic community. Our university is located in Brainport Eindhoven — a world‑leading tech region with more than 7,000 high‑tech companies and strong R&D activity. Known for breakthroughs in AI, photonics, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, Brainport is a place where technology serves people and society. Learn more about the Brainport region here. The mission of the Department of Electrical Engineering is to acquire, share and transfer knowledge and understanding in the whole field of Electrical Engineering through education, research and valorization. We work towards a ‘Smart Sustainable Society’, a ‘Connected World’, and a healthy humanity (‘Care & Cure’). Activities share an application-oriented character, a high degree of complexity and a large synergy between multiple facets of the field.

Research is carried out into the applications of electromagnetic phenomena in all forms of energy conversion, telecommunication and electrical signal processing. Existing and new electrical components and systems are analyzed, designed and built. The Electrical Engineering department takes its inspiration from contacts with high-tech industry in the direct surrounding region and beyond.

The department is innovative and has international ambitions and partnerships. The result is a challenging and inspiring setting in which socially relevant issues are addressed.
Information Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact the hiring manager Dr. Majid Nabi, m.nabi@tue.nl, head of the NES lab. Visit our website for more information about the application process. You can also contact HRServices.ee@tue.nl. Curious to hear more about what it’s like as a PhD candidate at TU/e? Please view the video. Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.
Application We invite you to submit a complete application by using the apply button. The application should include a:

• Cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications and the contact information of three references. Kindly note that we may reach out to references at any stage of the recruitment process. We recommend notifying your references upon submitting your application.
• Copies of diplomas and transcripts (with course grades), proof of English proficiency,
• MSc thesis or any other relevant document in English of which you are the main author.

Ensure that you submit all the requested application documents. We give priority to complete applications.

We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible. The vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.
Please note

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• A pre-employment screening (e.g. knowledge security check) can be part of the selection procedure. For more information on the knowledge security check, please consult the National Knowledge Security Guidelines.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.

Type of employment: temporary position | Contract type: full time | Number of positions: 1 | Full-time equivalent: 1.0 FTE | City: Eindhoven | County: Noord-Brabant | Country: Netherlands | Reference number: 2026/246 | Published: 2026-04-15 | Last application date: 2026-05-15