PhD Scholarship in AI Agent Networking

Center for Resilient Networks and Applications (CRNA) at Simula Metropolitan Center for Digital Engineering (Oslo, Norway) is looking for a highly motivated candidate to join our team as a research fellow and pursue PhD thesis in agentic AI communications within resilient critical network systems.

Simula: iCARE: Impact, Curiosity, Ambition, Respect, Excellence.

Simula’s mission is to solve fundamental problems of science and engineering, with the main goal of improving society. We do this by concentrating on five select research areas in ICT (Information and Communication Technology) and performing excellent research, by developing our people, and by spinning out applicable results into profitable startups. 

Learn more about: Working at SimulaandCareers at Simula

Job Description

As society increasingly relies on data communications and AI-driven services, ensuring the resilience, security, and efficiency of the underlying ICT infrastructure becomes increasingly important. The emergence of autonomous AI agents that communicate, coordinate, and collaborate across distributed environments introduces new networking challenges, including reliable agent-to-agent communication, low-latency coordination, resource-aware information exchange, and resilience to network disruptions, congestion, and security threats.

CRNA was established to address these problems. We combine world-class theoretical and empirical research on the robustness and security of ICT infrastructures with real-world critical applications that keep the society running. We collaborate closely with Oslo Metropolitan, as well as industry and public sector in Norway and abroad.

Our research is structured around two main pillars:  

1. Network resilience and sovereignty: Research on networking architectures, protocols, and mechanisms that enable critical networks and applications to remain reliable, secure, and operational under varying conditions, including failures, overload, and malicious activity.  
2. Artificial intelligence and networking: Research on applying AI to improve network performance, security, automation, and self-healing capabilities, as well as investigating how networking can support distributed AI systems, autonomous agents, and emerging Internet of Agents architectures.

A key research direction is AI communications, focusing on the communication, coordination, and resilience requirements of distributed AI agents. This includes investigating mechanisms for agent discovery and communication, network-aware coordination, adaptive resource allocation, and reliable collaboration across cloud, edge, IoT, and cellular environments. The goal is to develop networking solutions that allow autonomous agents to operate efficiently and securely despite dynamic network conditions and partial failures.  CRNA operates advanced laboratory and experimental facilities, including cellular network testbeds, IoT infrastructure, satellite communication systems, and data center facilities. These resources enable research and evaluation of networking mechanisms under realistic conditions.  

CRNA is seeking a new colleague for a full-time, 3-year Research Fellow position. The successful candidate will contribute to research at the intersection of networking and AI, with particular emphasis on resilient network support for distributed AI systems and the emerging Internet of Agents.

Successful applicants must have

• Excellent command of foundational and applied AI technology, from neural networks, distributed reinforcement learning to agentic AI and recent developments in this rapidly evolving field,
• Solid understanding of IP networking across various wired and wireless technologies and scenarios from host-internal communications to WAN and inter-domain networking, as well as general understanding of telecommunications and cellular networks
• Good understanding of virtualization and container orchestration technologies, including Docker and Kubernetes.
• Good personal properties and genuine willingness to collaborate within the team and externally, contributing to the future development of the CRNA.

Some activities of our research group may include security sensitive research.  While not strictly required, eligibility for Norwegian security clearance is an advantage.

Simula Offers

• Excellent opportunities for performing high-quality research, as part of a highly competent and motivated team of international researchers and engineers,
• An informal and inclusive international working environment,
• Generous support for travel and opportunities to build international networks, through  established collaboration with industry, exchange programs and research visits with other universities, and funding to attend conferences,

• Modern office facilities located in downtown Oslo,
• A competitive salary
• Numerous benefits: access to company cabin, sponsored social events, generous equipment budgets (e.g., computer, phone and subscription), subsidized canteen meals, comprehensive travel/health insurance policy,
• Relocation assistance: accommodation, visas, complimentary Norwegian language courses, 
• Administrative research support: e.g., quality assurance process for grant proposals (including RCN and EU programs),
• Wellness and work-life balance. Our employees’ health and well-being is a priority and we encourage them to make use of our flexible work arrangements to help balance their work and home lives efficiently.

Application Requirements

Interested applicants are requested to submit the following:

• CV showing your educational background, working experience (in particular, any relevant academic or industrial work), a list of scientific publications and talks (if applicable)
• Transcripts for both Bachelor and MS degree.  For students finishing the MS degree, please indicate where and when you will graduate, topic and abstract of your thesis
• DOI of any publications you authored
• Cover letter outlining your motivation for applying, relevant experience and qualifications, research interests and how/why you are qualified for the position

Applications can only be submitted via our online application system, applications submitted by email will not be considered.

Contact person: Tarik Cicic

Deadline:  Applications will be screened continuously and a decision will be made as soon as we find the right candidate.

General Information

For more information about SimulaMet and the research environment, see here. 

Employment for this position will be made according to the Security Act and the Act relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and any attachments are considered to be in conflict with these regulations will not qualify for this position.

SimulaMet uses background checks in our recruitment process. All candidates are assessed for affiliation with high-risk countries. This assessment also considers whether the research area involves sensitive technologies, dual-use knowledge, critical infrastructure, or other security-relevant topics.

According to the Norwegian Freedom and Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.