Doctoral Student in Optical Communications and Fiber Sensing

Join us at the Division of Communications, Antenna, and Optical Networks, and help advance knowledge in the rapidly evolving field of fiber sensing in optical communication networks.

Our modern connected world is built on an immense web of fiber-optic cables linking cities, countries, and continents (see, for example, submarinecablemap.com). While this global infrastructure was designed for data transmission, it holds an extraordinary potential: it can also act as a large-scale sensor of the surrounding physical environment. In this project, we explore both the opportunities and risks associated with this potential.

This PhD position is fully funded for 4 years (plus a possible extension based on teaching and department duties) at one of Europe's leading technical universities. The PhD student will be supervised by Assist. Prof. Christian Häger, in collaboration with Prof. Magnus Karlsson (IEEE & Optica Fellow), Prof. Mats Viberg, and Assoc. Prof. Marija Furdek. We have a very large network of international collaboration partners, with many possibilities for longer research visits abroad, for example to Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, or the USA. We offer some of the highest salaries for PhD students in Europe, full social benefits and health insurance, no tuition fees for PhD studies, financial support for relocation, and more; see below for details.

The starting date for this position is Fall 2026.

About us

At the Department of Electrical Engineering, research and education are performed in the areas of Communications, Antennas and Optical Networks, Systems and Control, Signal Processing and Biomedical Engineering, and Electric Power Engineering. We work with sustainable and smart solutions to societal challenges, such as energy efficiency and electrification in areas ranging from transport and production systems to communication solutions and biomedical engineering.

You will be part of a strong research team in optical communications, organized within the research center FORCE. The center brings together experts in communications, photonics, and electronics to tackle challenges in optical communications through a cross-disciplinary approach. The collaboration spans from components to networks, and from theoretical analysis to experimental implementation.

About the research project 

Today’s telecommunication fibers are primarily designed for data transmission, but they can also serve as passive sensors of mechanical and acoustic environmental perturbations. While pervasive fiber sensing could enable many beneficial applications such as infrastructure monitoring and environmental awareness, it may also unintentionally capture sensitive information, including human activity or speech. Your work will focus on developing new numerical models, advanced machine learning algorithms, and signal processing methods to understand what information about the surrounding environment can be inferred from optical communication signals. This includes identifying both intended sensing capabilities and unintended information leakage, such as the detectability of human activity or speech-related vibrations. The goal is to establish a physics-based and system-level understanding of what can—and cannot—be sensed using existing telecom infrastructure, and to assess implications for privacy, security, and system design.

Who we are looking for

• To qualify as a Doctoral student, you must have a Master's degree ( (This email address is for questions only. Please do not email your CV or any other application documents.)

  *** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. *** 

  Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg conducts research and education in technology and natural sciences at a high international level. The university has 3100 employees and 10,000 students, and offers education in engineering, science, shipping and architecture. With scientific excellence as a basis, Chalmers promotes knowledge and technical solutions for a sustainable world. Through global commitment and entrepreneurship, we foster an innovative spirit, in close collaboration with wider society.
  Chalmers was founded in 1829 and has the same motto today as it did then: Avancez – forward.