PhD position on AI/ML for debugging private 5G networks

Effective operation of 5G/6G private networks requires a deep cellular expertise, which hinders the adoption of this technology in the manufacturing sector. For this purpose, self-configuration, self-monitoring, self-healing and self-optimization are essential to automate service provisioning and network operations. 5G/6G networks are complex infrastructures featuring radio heads, virtualized RAN and Core Network functions running on COTS servers, alongside management frameworks such as ETSI MANO that allow to manage virtualized network and application functions. This complex technology stack generates a tremendous amount of information in terms of: i) base station and core network counters, traces and logs, ii) hypervisor and server compute related metrics, and iii) telemetry generated by transport network devices.

The focus of this PhD. will be the design and implementation of a data processing pipeline and associated AI/ML algorithms that will enable private 5G/6G managed service providers (MSPs) to quickly provision, operate and diagnose multiple 5G/6G private network deployments. Envisioned AI/ML techniques include anomaly detection and root cause analysis.

The topic of the PhD is "Zero-touch operation and service assurance of private 5G/6G networks through AI/ML", and is funded by the 6GSMART project under the Spanish UNICO program and funded by the European Union - NextGenerationEU

The objectives of the PhD include:

1) Survey of the state of the art and definition of target AI/ML use cases for management of private 5G/6G networks

2) Design, development and demonstration of data processing pipeline for a private 5G/6G network.

3) Definition and evaluation of AI/ML self-X or troubleshooting algorithms in laboratory environment

4) Publications in top-tier conferences/journals

5) Patents/standardization contributions with industrial advisors

The selected candidate will be jointly mentored by a UPC professor and a senior researcher from i2CAT

Who we are:

The i2CAT Foundation is a non-profit research and innovation center that promotes mission-driven R&D activities on advanced Internet architectures, applications, and services. More than 15 years of international research define our expertise in the fields of 5G, IoT,  VR,  and  Immersive  Technologies,  Cybersecurity,  Blockchain,  AI,  and  Digital  Social Innovation. The  center  partners  with  companies,  public  administration,  academia,  and  end-users   to leverage   this   knowledge   in   order   to   meet   real   social   and   business   challenges.

The greatest value of i2CAT is the talent of the people who make up our human team. We enjoy a team of people from more than 13 different nationalities and work every day to create and foster a work environment where we all feel comfortable creating, innovating and growing.

Want to know more? Visit our webpage! www.i2cat.net

What do we offer?

• Work from our offices or from home, whichever works best for you. We ask for two days in person at the office to coordinate with the rest of the team.
• This is a full time vacancy
• You will have a flexible work schedule so that you can reconcile your personal life with the professional one.
• Intensive hours every Friday of the year and every day in July and August
• Fix + variable salary
• Possibility of receiving part of your remuneration in kind (restaurant, transport, nursery or medical insurance)
• 25 working days of annual leave (the common 22 + 3 additional ones)
• You can access the UPC gym at a reduced price
• We have fruit in the office to promote a healthy lifestyle
• If you are interested, you can participate in events of your sector.
• You will work with a laptop. You can choose your work environment, Mac, Linux or Windows.
• You can ask us for training of your interest.
• We will work so that you have a career plan to promote your growth and development.

Where will you do it?

At i2CAT we already have an established telework policy for some time. You can work from home or from the office, whichever suits you best. We ask that you attend the office two days per week, one to stay connected with the team and the other one to establish relations.

If you decide to come to the office, we are located in Zona Universitària, next to the Campus Nord of the UPC, within a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment. It is a very well connected area (metro, tram, bus) with bars and restaurants around.

Our offices are designed with an open-office concept where everything is light and transparency (we do not have opaque rooms). We have a variety of workspaces so that you don't have to be at the same table all day.

i2CAT is an organization committed to equal opportunities. That is why we seek to increase the number of women in those areas where they are underrepresented, and therefore explicitly encourage the female collective to apply.

i2CAT is an organization committed to diversity and we seek to increase the number of people with disabilities in our team.

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