Raf Berkvens

The University of Antwerp is offering a full-time doctoral scholarship in Near-Field Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC) for future 6G wireless networks within the Department of Electronics and ICT Engineering Technology, Faculty of Applied Engineering. The position is linked to the Horizon Europe QUEST-6G project and is based in the IDLab research group at imec and the University of Antwerp. The doctoral research focuses on the emerging near-field regime enabled by XL antenna arrays in future 6G systems. You will develop novel theoretical frameworks and signal processing techniques, including traditional and AI-based approaches, for distributed cell-free 6G networks. The research will study hybrid near-field/far-field wave propagation and beamforming, with the goal of jointly optimizing communication and sensing performance. Core topics include beamforming, beam focusing, localization, target detection, tracking, environmental sensing, and the use of XL and distributed reconfigurable antenna arrays. The project aims to exploit the spatial degrees of freedom of spherical wavefronts to support simultaneous communication and sensing in next-generation wireless systems. You will be part of a strong research environment with access to the 6G Perceptive Radio Lab , Software Defined Radios, programmable beamformers, an AI compute cluster, and laboratory infrastructure for experiments across multiple frequency bands. The position includes technical evaluation, simulation, and experimental validation, and is expected to lead to publications in major conferences and journals in wireless communications and/or embedded computing. The scholarship is offered for one year initially and may be renewed for up to three additional years after positive yearly evaluation. The planned start date is 1 October 2026 , or as soon as possible thereafter. The scholarship includes the standard monthly doctoral scholarship amount plus benefits such as eco vouchers, internet-connectivity allowance, and either a bicycle allowance or full public transport reimbursement for commuting. Applicants should hold, or expect to hold before the start date, a master’s degree in Computer Science, Telecommunications, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field. Strong grades are expected, together with knowledge of wireless communications, signal processing, electromagnetics, antenna systems, and programming in C/C++, Python, and/or MATLAB. Experience with machine learning tools, SDR hardware, and relevant software environments is considered an advantage. A high level of English proficiency (C1) is required. Applications must be submitted via the University of Antwerp online job portal by 10 August 2026 at midnight Brussels time. Required attachments include a motivation letter, the requested degree, an academic CV, a transcript of study results, two reference letters, and an English proficiency certificate.