PhD Position in Computer Science (University of Antwerp)

The University of Antwerp is a dynamic, forward-thinking, European university. We offer an innovative academic education to more than 20000 students, conduct pioneering scientific research and play an important service-providing role in society. We are one of the largest, most international and most innovative employers in the region. With more than 6000 employees from 100 different countries, we are helping to build tomorrow's world every day. Through top scientific research, we push back boundaries and set a course for the future – a future that you can help to shape. The Department of Computer Science in the Faculty of Science has the following full-time vacancy: senior academic staff in the field of communication networks and systems. The position will be embedded within the IDLab research group. IDLab targets the most daunting challenges to deliver digital transformation, connecting everything and extracting high value from data. To achieve this, IDLab performs fundamental and applied research on Internet technologies and distributed intelligence. The selected applicant’s research should synergize with one or more existing research tracks within IDLab, which include Programmable Intelligent Networks (focusing on AI-driven future communication networks) and Perceptive Radio Systems (focusing on integrated wireless sensing and communications). IDLab possesses a unique research infrastructure, encompassing a wireless network testbed in the city and nearby highways, an indoor SDR testbed for beyond 5G research on wireless sensing and communications, and a GPU Lab for training of advanced machine learning models. IDLab is both part of the University of Antwerp and the research centre imec. The University of Antwerp is one of the major universities in Belgium. It ranks 12th in the Young University Ranking 2024 of Times Higher Education. The research centre imec is the world-leading R&D and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies. Position You will contribute to the University of Antwerp’s three core tasks: education (40%), research (40%) and services (20%). Your role also includes organisational and managerial aspects. Education You will provide high-quality education in the broad area of computing systems. Your teaching role will evolve along with the study programmes and language certificates obtained. The courses you will teach may include bachelor-level courses, such as Computer Networks, Distributed Systems, Computer and Network Security, Operating Systems, and master-level courses, such as Topics in Computer Networks, Internet of Things, or Advanced Wireless and 5G Networks. You will play a role in developing activating, student-centred and competence-driven programme components and study programmes. You will supervise students during their internship and Master dissertations. Research You will expand high-quality scientific research in the broad area of communication networks and systems, focusing on system-level research. Within this broader area, your research may focus on specific topics such as (but not limited to) wireless communications & network protocols, network management and operations, device-edge-cloud continuum, or security of computer networks and systems. You will initiate new lines of research and coordinate the progress of scientific research projects. You will also participate in ongoing research programmes. You will acquire and manage national and international research funding. You will publish in top journals and conferences in the area of communication networks and systems. This includes top journals such as IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications, IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking, IEEE Transactions on Mobile Computing, and IEEE Transactions on Networks and Service Management. Potentially relevant top conferences include ACM MobiCom, ACM MobiSys, ACM SIGCOMM, ACM SIGMETRICS, ACM IMC, IEEE INFOCOM, or USENIX NSDI. You will develop an international scientific network. You will supervise PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. Services You will play a role in the provision of both academic services and service to society, within the institution and externally. You will participate in student recruitment, boards and committees, popular science communication, and so on. Organisation and leadership You will accept coordinating responsibilities in the areas of education, research and/or service provision and you will contribute to policy. Your leadership style will be motivating and coaching. You will be attentive to your employees’ growth and development processes. Profile You hold a PhD in computer science (engineering) or equivalent. You can demonstrate several years of postdoctoral experience (or equivalent). Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies. You have established an excellent research portfolio including top publications in the area of the vacancy. You have at least two publications as main author in top journals or conferences (e.g., the ones mentioned above or equivalent). Your teaching competences are in line with the University of Antwerp’s educational vision. You are motivated to develop your teaching skills further through the professionalisation opportunities If you do not speak Dutch, the administrative language of the university, you should be willing to obtain a CEFR B2 level of proficiency in Dutch. As soon as you take on teaching duties as a programme component coordinator, you should be able to demonstrate a CEFR C1 level of proficiency in the language of instruction. The University of Antwerp supports international staff members through an integration trajectory and offers tailor-made language coaching in compliance with Flanders’ statutory language regulations. You demonstrate leadership potential and organisational skills. You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation. What we offer We offer a full-time appointment as a member of the Senior Academic Staff (Dutch: Zelfstandig Academisch Personeel, ZAP). The level of your appointment (assistant professor, associate professor, professor or full professor) is determined on the basis of your professional experience and academic qualifications. Junior ZAP members are usually offered temporary appointment as a tenure track assistant professor for five years, which is then followed by permanent appointment as an associate professor. Appointment as an associate professor or higher leads to permanent appointment (tenure) after a maximum of three years. A favourable performance appraisal is always required for permanent appointment. We offer, after a positive evaluation of a PhD project you conducted, an attractive starter package consisting of a four-year PhD project and €15 000 of consumables to boost your research from the start of your employment at the University of Antwerp. Your gross monthly salary is calculated according to the pay scales for Senior Academic Staff. You will receive ecocheques, Internet-connectivity allowance and a bicycle allowance or a full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting. The planned start date is January 1, 2026 or as soon as possible after that date. You will do most of your work at The Beacon (Antwerp City Centre) and Campus Middelheim (Berchem) in a dynamic and stimulating working environment. Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here and discover all the other benefits. Want to apply? You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform up to and including September 3, 2025 (by midnight Brussels time). Click on 'apply', complete the online application form and don’t forget to include the following documents: (1) your motivation letter, (2) the completed job application appendix for ZAP, (3) your academic CV. The selection committee will review all of the applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. As soon as a decision has been made, we will inform you about the next steps in the selection procedure. Please make a note of the following dates: external assessment in the week of November 3, 2025 and selection interview with sample lesson in the week of November 17 or 24n, 2025. If you are invited to the selection interview, you will also be asked to propose a topic for a four-year PhD project. If you have any questions about the online application form, please check the frequently asked questions or send an email to jobs@uantwerpen.be. If you have any questions about the job itself, please contact Prof. Jeroen Famaey (jeroen.famaey@uantwerpen.be). The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award for its HR policy. We are a sustainable, family-friendly organisation which invests in its employees’ growth. We encourage diversity and attach great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse characteristics to apply. If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Computeroxy

The University of Antwerp is a dynamic, forward-thinking, European university. We offer an innovative academic education to more than 20000 students, conduct pioneering scientific research and play an important service-providing role in society. We are one of the largest, most international and most innovative employers in the region. With more than 6000 employees from 100 different countries, we are helping to build tomorrow's world every day. Through top scientific research, we push back boundaries and set a course for the future – a future that you can help to shape.

The Department of Computer Science in the Faculty of Science has the following full-time vacancy: senior academic staff in the field of communication networks and systems.

The position will be embedded within the IDLab research group. IDLab targets the most daunting challenges to deliver digital transformation, connecting everything and extracting high value from data. To achieve this, IDLab performs fundamental and applied research on Internet technologies and distributed intelligence. The selected applicant’s research should synergize with one or more existing research tracks within IDLab, which include Programmable Intelligent Networks (focusing on AI-driven future communication networks) and Perceptive Radio Systems (focusing on integrated wireless sensing and communications). IDLab possesses a unique research infrastructure, encompassing a wireless network testbed in the city and nearby highways, an indoor SDR testbed for beyond 5G research on wireless sensing and communications, and a GPU Lab for training of advanced machine learning models. IDLab is both part of the University of Antwerp and the research centre imec. The University of Antwerp is one of the major universities in Belgium. It ranks 12th in the Young University Ranking 2024 of Times Higher Education. The research centre imec is the world-leading R&D and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies.

Position

You will contribute to the University of Antwerp’s three core tasks: education (40%), research (40%) and services (20%). Your role also includes organisational and managerial aspects.

Education

You will provide high-quality education in the broad area of computing systems.
Your teaching role will evolve along with the study programmes and language certificates obtained. The courses you will teach may include bachelor-level courses, such as Computer Networks, Distributed Systems, Computer and Network Security, Operating Systems, and master-level courses, such as Topics in Computer Networks, Internet of Things, or Advanced Wireless and 5G Networks.
You will play a role in developing activating, student-centred and competence-driven programme components and study programmes.
You will supervise students during their internship and Master dissertations.

Research

You will expand high-quality scientific research in the broad area of communication networks and systems, focusing on system-level research. Within this broader area, your research may focus on specific topics such as (but not limited to) wireless communications & network protocols, network management and operations, device-edge-cloud continuum, or security of computer networks and systems.
You will initiate new lines of research and coordinate the progress of scientific research projects. You will also participate in ongoing research programmes.
You will acquire and manage national and international research funding.
You will publish in top journals and conferences in the area of communication networks and systems. This includes top journals such as IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications, IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking, IEEE Transactions on Mobile Computing, and IEEE Transactions on Networks and Service Management. Potentially relevant top conferences include ACM MobiCom, ACM MobiSys, ACM SIGCOMM, ACM SIGMETRICS, ACM IMC, IEEE INFOCOM, or USENIX NSDI.
You will develop an international scientific network.
You will supervise PhD students and postdoctoral researchers.

Services

You will play a role in the provision of both academic services and service to society, within the institution and externally. You will participate in student recruitment, boards and committees, popular science communication, and so on.

Organisation and leadership

You will accept coordinating responsibilities in the areas of education, research and/or service provision and you will contribute to policy.
Your leadership style will be motivating and coaching. You will be attentive to your employees’ growth and development processes.

Profile

You hold a PhD in computer science (engineering) or equivalent.
You can demonstrate several years of postdoctoral experience (or equivalent).
Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies. You have established an excellent research portfolio including top publications in the area of the vacancy. You have at least two publications as main author in top journals or conferences (e.g., the ones mentioned above or equivalent).
Your teaching competences are in line with the University of Antwerp’s educational vision. You are motivated to develop your teaching skills further through the professionalisation opportunities
If you do not speak Dutch, the administrative language of the university, you should be willing to obtain a CEFR B2 level of proficiency in Dutch. As soon as you take on teaching duties as a programme component coordinator, you should be able to demonstrate a CEFR C1 level of proficiency in the language of instruction. The University of Antwerp supports international staff members through an integration trajectory and offers tailor-made language coaching in compliance with Flanders’ statutory language regulations.
You demonstrate leadership potential and organisational skills.
You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation.

What we offer

We offer a full-time appointment as a member of the Senior Academic Staff (Dutch: Zelfstandig Academisch Personeel, ZAP). The level of your appointment (assistant professor, associate professor, professor or full professor) is determined on the basis of your professional experience and academic qualifications. Junior ZAP members are usually offered temporary appointment as a tenure track assistant professor for five years, which is then followed by permanent appointment as an associate professor. Appointment as an associate professor or higher leads to permanent appointment (tenure) after a maximum of three years. A favourable performance appraisal is always required for permanent appointment.
We offer, after a positive evaluation of a PhD project you conducted, an attractive starter package consisting of a four-year PhD project and €15 000 of consumables to boost your research from the start of your employment at the University of Antwerp.
Your gross monthly salary is calculated according to the pay scales for Senior Academic Staff.
You will receive ecocheques, Internet-connectivity allowance and a bicycle allowance or a full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting.
The planned start date is January 1, 2026 or as soon as possible after that date.
You will do most of your work at The Beacon (Antwerp City Centre) and Campus Middelheim (Berchem) in a dynamic and stimulating working environment.
Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here and discover all the other benefits.

Want to apply?

You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform up to and including September 3, 2025 (by midnight Brussels time). Click on 'apply', complete the online application form and don’t forget to include the following documents: (1) your motivation letter, (2) the completed job application appendix for ZAP, (3) your academic CV.
The selection committee will review all of the applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. As soon as a decision has been made, we will inform you about the next steps in the selection procedure. Please make a note of the following dates: external assessment in the week of November 3, 2025 and selection interview with sample lesson in the week of November 17 or 24n, 2025. If you are invited to the selection interview, you will also be asked to propose a topic for a four-year PhD project.
If you have any questions about the online application form, please check the frequently asked questions or send an email to jobs@uantwerpen.be. If you have any questions about the job itself, please contact Prof. Jeroen Famaey (jeroen.famaey@uantwerpen.be).

The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award for its HR policy. We are a sustainable, family-friendly organisation which invests in its employees’ growth. We encourage diversity and attach great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse characteristics to apply.

If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Computeroxy

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