Postdoctoral Associate - Electrical and Computer Engineering

Rice University, located in Houston, Texas, is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. With a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio and a residential college system, Rice fosters close-knit, diverse communities and is highly ranked for quality of life and value among private universities. The university values Responsibility, Integrity, Community, and Excellence (RICE), shaping its collaborative and inclusive culture.

About the George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing

The George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing is ranked among the top 20 undergraduate engineering programs by U.S. News & World Report. The school is committed to inclusivity, seeking greater representation of women, minorities, people with disabilities, veterans, and international students. It fosters an environment that encourages interaction and understanding within its diverse community.

About the Role

Rice University is seeking a highly driven Postdoctoral Researcher to join the Center for Large Aperture Secure Sensing, Imaging, and Communications (CLASSIC), led by Principal Investigator Edward Knightly. Funded by the Army Research Office, this project leverages Extremely Large-Scale Antenna Arrays (ELSAA) and all-spectrum access to develop new capabilities in the nearfield. The role includes project management responsibilities, such as reporting and coordinating among seven collaborating academic institutions and eight industrial partners.

This is a one-year, term-limited position supported by grant-funded or restricted funds. Continued employment is contingent upon funding availability and renewal. The position is exclusively on-site at Rice University.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate project reporting and operations across seven collaborating academic institutions and eight industrial partners to transition technology into practical applications.
• Advance foundational ELSAA science to drive technological innovation.
• Engineer advanced sensing techniques for rapid threat detection.
• Construct resilient, high-speed wireless networks for mission-critical operations.
• Analyze wireless jamming vulnerabilities and validate mitigation technologies through laboratory and field testing.
• Develop an AI-driven modeling framework to simulate complex electromagnetic environments in real time.
• Execute laboratory experiments and drone-based field trials to evaluate system performance under realistic conditions.
• Validate high-density antenna arrays scaling from hundreds to tens of thousands of radiating elements.
• Perform all other assigned duties.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or other doctoral degree in Electrical Engineering or a related technical field.
• Proficiency in millimeter wave to sub-THz systems.
• Familiarity with large-scale antenna arrays.
• Strong communication, organization, and time management skills.
• Ability to work in a collaborative environment.