PhD Position: Computing and Communicating in Learning Systems — FullyÂ
Funded, at EURECOM on the French Riviera
Location: EURECOM, Sophia Antipolis, France
Language of Work: English
Start Date: Summer or Fall 2025
About the Position
EURECOM (a "Grande Ecole" (french ivy league university -- fully in English)) invites applications for a fully funded PhD position in the emerging foundations of computing and communicating in learning systems. This interdisciplinary research sits at the intersection of wireless communications, distributed computing, and machine learning—driven by the technological and scientific demands of next-generation networks and large-scale AI infrastructures.Â
Located in the heart of the French Riviera’s tech hub, this position offers an exceptional opportunity to tackle fundamental challenges while collaborating with leading academic and industry partners across Europe.
Research Focus: A New Foundation for Distributed Intelligence
The research centers on rethinking how distributed computing and machine learning are performed over multi-user wireless systems, with emphasis on MU-MIMO, edge computing, and PHY-aware protocol design. The work moves beyond traditional abstractions and embraces the joint design of communication and computation in wireless and decentralized environments.
Key directions include:
•   PHY-Aware Distributed Machine Learning:
Leveraging the physical layer (e.g., spatial diversity, interference alignment) to design learning protocols that reduce communication volume and latency while boosting reliability and scalability.
•   Communication-Computation Co-Design:
Designing protocols where large-scale learning, sparse computing, and semantic data processing are adapted to the constraints and opportunities of the wireless medium.
•   Sparse and Semantic-Aware Computing:
Enabling efficient distributed training of large models (e.g., LLMs) under realistic constraints such as device heterogeneity, stragglers, and correlated data.
What We Offer
•   Full tuition waiver and highly competitive salary
•   Social benefits, including healthcare and retirement contributions
•   Access to cutting-edge infrastructure in both wireless communications and AI research
•   Funded participation in top-tier international conferences
•   Integration into vibrant European research projects and networks
•   Mentoring and collaboration opportunities with a world-class research team
•   Life in Sophia Antipolis, minutes from the Mediterranean Sea
Candidate Profile
We are looking for highly motivated students with:
•   A strong mathematical background in probability, linear algebra, optimization, and information theory
•   Interest in distributed systems, wireless networks, and machine learning
•   Solid programming skills and the ability to think across disciplines
•   Curiosity and drive to tackle foundational challenges in computing, communication, and learning
How to Apply
Send your CV, transcripts, and (optionally) letters of recommendation to:
Prof. Petros Elia
[email protected]
www.eurecom.fr/~elia
Institution: EURECOM – www.eurecom.fr/en
Address: EURECOM Campus SophiaTech, 450 Route des Chappes, 06410 Biot, France