PhD position on the analysis and modeling of 5G traffic

Networks Data Science Group

Deadline for receipt of applications: December 1st, 2024 23:59 AoE (02 December 2024, 13:59h Europe/Madrid Time)

The Networks Data Science group (http://nds.networks.imdea.org/) at IMDEA Networks Institute has an opening for one PhD student in the area of mobile network traffic analysis. The successful candidate will analyze massive Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and service-level demands collected in operational 4G/5G networks, and draw insights on their dynamics and long-term evolution as the 5G technology becomes more pervasive in terms of both deployment and user adoption. To his end, the PhD student will have privileged access to large-scale
measurement datasets from leading operators amounting to Terabytes of records daily in their raw form, and to a big data analysis platform with substantial compute resources for their processing via Apache Spark. Thanks to these unique means, the candidate will make new contributions to the long track record of the NDS group in producing new knowledge of and modeling approaches for the spatial, temporal and service-level dynamics of real-world mobile traffic, along with their implications for production-grade network operations and beyond [1-9].

The position offers:

• hands-on training in telecom big data analysis and modeling with Apache Spark
• a unique opportunity to work with large-scale real-world measurement data
• a vibrant, collaborative, multi-cultural and English-speaking environment
• the prospect to publish at top-tier venues in networking
• an advantageous path to a successful career in industry or academia [10]
• the high quality of life of the region of Madrid, Spain, where we are based.

The position requires:

• a degree in Computer Science or related field, with a solid academic record
• excellent programming skills
• a strong interest in big data analysis (prior experience is a plus)
• fluency in written and spoken English
• enthusiasm for interdisciplinary research.

Inquiries on the position can be directed to the thesis supervisor, Dr. Marco Fiore, via email at marco.fiore@imdea.org.

Candidates shall submit by the call deadline a CV, a motivation letter, and the contact details of two references through the IMDEA Networks Institute hiring portal, at https://careers.networks.imdea.org/.

This position could be co-financed by the project “6G-IRONWARE: Predicción de tráfico de red móvil robusta en el tiempo para el 6G” (grant CNS2023-143870), funded by MICIU/AEI /10.13039/501100011033 and by the European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR.

This position could be co-financed by the project “ORIGAMI: Optimized resource integration and global architecture for mobile infrastructure for 6G” (Grant Agreement n. 101139270), funded by the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) and the European Commission through Horizon Europe program call HORIZON-JU-SNS-2023.

[1] A.F. Zanella, D. Madariaga, S. Mishra, O.E. Martínez-Durive, Z. Smoreda, M. Fiore, Characterizing, Modeling and Exploiting the Mobile Demand Footprint of Large Public Protests, IEEE IMC 2024
[2] S. Mishra, A.F. Zanella, O.E. Martínez-Durive, D. Madariaga, C. Ziemlicki, M. Fiore, Characterizing 5G Adoption and its Impact on Network Traffic and Mobile Service Consumption, IEEE INFOCOM 2024
[3] S. Bakirtzis, A.F. Zanella, S. Rubrichi, C. Ziemlicki, Z. Smoreda, I. Wassell, J. Zhang, M. Fiore, Characterizing Mobile Service Demands at Indoor Cellular Networks, ACM IMC 2023
[4] A.F. Zanella, A. Bazco-Nogueras, C. Ziemlicki, M. Fiore, Characterizing and Modeling Session-Level Mobile Traffic Demands from Large-Scale Measurements, ACM IMC 2023
[5] A.F. Zanella, O.E. Martínez-Durive, S. Mishra, Z. Smoreda, M. Fiore, Impact of Later-Stages COVID-19 Response Measures on Spatiotemporal Mobile Service Usage, IEEE INFOCOM 2022
[6] S. Mishra, Z. Smoreda, M. Fiore, Second-level Digital Divide: a Longitudinal Study of Mobile Traffic Consumption Imbalance in France, ACM WWW 2022
[7] I. Ucar, M. Gramaglia, M. Fiore, Z. Smoreda, E. Moro, News or Social Media? Socioeconomic divide of mobile service consumption, Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 2021
[8] K. Xu, R. Singh, H. Bilen, M. Fiore, M. Marina, M. Usama, H. Benn, C. Ziemlicki, SpectraGAN: Spectrum based Generation of City Scale Spatiotemporal Mobile Network Traffic Data, ACM CoNEXT 2021
[9] C. Marquez, M. Gramaglia, M. Fiore, A. Banchs, X. Costa-Perez, How Should I Slice My Network? A Multi-Service Empirical Evaluation of Resource Sharing Efficiency, ACM MobiCom 2018
[10] https://networks.imdea.org/team/imdea-networks-team/alumni-network/

Equal Employment Opportunity

IMDEA Networks Institute aims to increase the proportion of women and therefore qualified female applicants are explicitly encouraged to apply. Until a balanced ratio of men and women has been achieved at the institute, preference will be given to women if applicants have similar qualifications. IMDEA Networks Institute actively promotes diversity and equal opportunities. Applicants are not to be discriminated against in personnel selection procedures on the grounds of gender, ethnicity, religion or ideology, age, sexual orientation (anti-discrimination). People with disabilities who have the relevant qualifications are expressly invited to apply.