The LUMIRing project at ISCTE - Instituto Universitário de Lisboa offers a unique postdoctoral opportunity to advance multicore fiber (MCF) technology in a real-world metro environment. The project deploys a live MCF testbed within Lisbon Metro’s Yellow Line, enabling researchers to explore weakly coupled MCF transmission under challenging mechanical stresses. This initiative is at the forefront of optical communications, aiming to design, implement, and validate machine learning techniques for crosstalk mitigation and develop new passive optical network architectures.

The infrastructure includes a 12-tube cable, each with 12 fibers, comprising 74 weakly-coupled MCFs of various types and 70 conventional single-mode fibers. The project is coordinated by ISCTE-IUL and involves collaborations with national and international partners such as Metropolitano de Lisboa, Heraeus Covantics, Tratos, Telcabo, Chiral Photonics, and Instituto de Telecomunicações. Together, the consortium fosters a dynamic, open-access platform for rigorous testing, monitoring, and demonstration of diverse MCF configurations, supporting comparative performance analysis and technological innovation in telecom solutions.

The postdoctoral position focuses on leveraging machine learning to address real-life transmission challenges, integrating data transmission with sensing, and pushing the limits of current MCF capabilities. Candidates will contribute to advancing optical network architectures and supporting digital transformation and AI integration in telecommunications.

The position offers a 36-month employment contract with an annual gross salary of 55,000 euro and full public sector benefits. ISCTE-IUL is certified with the HR Excellence in Research European Award, ensuring a supportive and ethical research environment. Applicants must hold a PhD in Telecommunications Engineering, Optics, Electrical Engineering, Communication Engineering, or Computer Science, with preference for those experienced in optical communications and multicore fiber technology. Proficiency in English is required.

To apply, candidates should submit their CV, motivation letter, official transcripts, and contact details of their PhD advisor or employer by email to [email protected]. The selection process includes an eligibility check, assessment of scientific merit, and an online interview for shortlisted candidates. The application deadline is March 29, 2026, and the position starts May 1, 2026. For further details, visit https://lumiring.iscte-iul.pt/.