PhD Fellowship in AI-native Networks, Oslo University Hospital HF (OUS), Norway

Summary

Oslo University Hospital (OUS), in collaboration with the University of Oslo (UiO), is offering a fully funded, full-time 3-year PhD Fellowship within the SYNAPSE project (SYnergetic Network-AI Platform for Semantic Efficiency), funded by the Research Council of Norway (12 MNOK). The candidate will join the Wireless Sensor Network Research Group at the Intervention Centre (Section for Medical ICT) and focus on AI-native network architecture, semantic hypergraph intelligence, and multi-agent reinforcement learning for mission-critical healthcare applications.

Key Overview

Research Area

• Field: AI-native Networking, Semantic Communication, and Medical ICT
• Focus Topics:
  • Semantic hypergraph representations encoding urgency propagation paths, device relationships, and resource constraints in distributed networks.
  • Temporal Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) for unified network and semantic priority embeddings.
  • Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning (MARL) for cross-layer network orchestration and real-time decentralized link adaptation.
  • Application to mission-critical healthcare scenarios (e.g., remote patient monitoring).

Location

• Workplace: Section for Medical Information and Communication Technology, The Intervention Centre, Oslo University Hospital HF
• Address: Sognsvannsveien 20, 0372 Oslo, Norway

Eligibility & Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Education:
  • MSc degree (120 ECTS) in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field (including a Master’s thesis).
  • BSc degree (180 ECTS).
• Academic Performance: Minimum grade B (Grade A preferred) overall and on the Master’s thesis (Norwegian grading scale or equivalent).
• Technical Skills:
  • Strong background in Machine Learning / Deep Learning (PyTorch or TensorFlow).
  • Solid grounding in at least one area: Graph Neural Networks (GNNs), Reinforcement Learning, Federated Learning, or Network Optimization.
  • Proficient in Python programming.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English (if not proficient in a Scandinavian language):
  • TOEFL: ≥ 92 (internet-based) or ≥ 600 (paper-based)
  • IELTS (Academic): ≥ 6.5 (no subscore below 5.5)
  • Cambridge CAE/CPE: Grade A or B

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with semantic communication, network simulation, software-defined networking (SDN), or distributed/networked systems.
• Experience with hypergraphs or higher-order network models.
• Prior publications in peer-reviewed venues (e.g., NeurIPS, IEEE/ACM journals/conferences).
• Familiarity with High-Performance Computing (HPC) environments.

Scholarship Description & Benefits

• Tenure: 3 years fully funded doctoral fellowship.
• Remuneration: Annual gross salary between NOK 550,800 – 587,000 (Norwegian state salary scale).
• Infrastructure: Direct access to advanced high-performance computing (HPC) resources at OUS and national e-infrastructure.
• Benefits: Comprehensive Norwegian public welfare, health insurance, and pension schemes.
• Supervisory Team:
  • Dr. Roufaida Laidi (Project Leader / PI)
  • Prof. Ilangko Balasingham (Head of Section)
  • Dr. Hemin Qadir
  • International academic partners (including Ruhr University Bochum, Germany).

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted electronically through the Webcruiter application portal:

1. Visit the Official Webcruiter Application Portal.
2. Register/Log in, fill out the application form, and upload required documents (CV, cover letter, diplomas/transcripts, Master’s thesis, and language proficiency proof).

Contact Persons:

• Dr. Roufaida Laidi (PI): roufaida.laidi@ous-hf.no
• Prof. Ilangko Balasingham: ilangko.balasingham@ous-research.no

Last Date to Apply

• September 13, 2026

Link