Research Associate in Radio Systems

Contract Type: Fixed term until 31 March 2025

A Research Associate position is available on the DSIT funded Yorkshire Open Radio Access Networks (YO-RAN) project to develop sub-6GHz Open-RAN radio units (O-RUs).

YO-RAN is a prestigious £4.8M project funded by DSIT as part of the UK government’s Future Open Networks Research Challenge (FONRC). The partners in YO-RAN will develop new Open RAN technology aimed at diversifying the UK radio access network (RAN) supply chain. YO-RAN’s vision is to develop an Open RAN neutral host network incorporating Open Networking principles, which will ensure they are embedded in future neutral host networks by default.

YO-RAN will operate within the expected Open RAN network architecture, comprising the Radio Unit (O-RU), Distributed Unit (O-DU), Centralised Unit (O-CU), Core, RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) and transport/hosting technology, including the fronthaul connections between the O-RU and the O-DU. The focus of the YO-RAN project is the development of new O-RU and RIC technologies.

A key challenge in deploying public neutral host services on Open RAN technology is the availability of Radio Units (RUs) with the appropriate capabilities, including configurable multiband and wideband capabilities: this requires challenging advances in the RF technology incorporated into the RU. Developing such a flexible O-RU is a primary objective of the research to be carried out at the University of Sheffield. The main objectives of the research at Sheffield relevant to the post available are to: 

1. Develop sub-6GHz O-RUs with configurable multiband and wideband capabilities.
2. Integrate the O-RUs into an Open RAN testbed developed with our partners.
3. Evaluate the performance of O-RUs in designated national testbed trails. 

The Research Associate will work on the design, manufacture, and testing of Open RAN radio units primarily for the sub-6GHz bands. The main roles of the Research Associate are to: a) design a configurable multiband and wideband radio frequency front-end (RFFE); b) manufacture and characterise the designed RFFE; and c) integrate the RFFE into a radio unit prototype, currently under development, for trials testing and evaluation. 

Sheffield’s partners on YO-RAN include the University of York, ADVA, AMRC North West, AQL, BT, CellNex, Jet Engineering, Radio Design, Safenetics and Slipstream Engineering Design.

The University of Sheffield is one of the best not-for-profit organisations to work for in the UK. The University’s Total Reward Package includes a competitive salary, a generous Pension Scheme and annual leave entitlement, as well as access to a range of learning and development courses to support your personal and professional development.

We build teams of people from different heritages and lifestyles from across the world, whose talent and contributions complement each other to greatest effect. We believe diversity in all its forms delivers greater impact through research, teaching and student experience.

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