Keywords
Robust estimation, vector antenna, vector sensors
Scientific Context
The increasing vulnerability of GNSS receivers to intentional or unintentional interference—such as jamming or spoofing—is a critical concern, especially in civil aviation. The ANR VEGETA project explores new directions to enhance the resilience of ranging systems by combining vector antennas and statistical geometric methods for time-delay and direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation.
Unlike traditional antenna arrays, vector sensors provide six-dimensional measurements (electric and magnetic field components) using polarisation diversity, and offer opportunities for interference mitigation even in compact systems. This project aims to leverage such sensors along with tools from robust statistics, non-Gaussian modeling, and Riemannian geometry to improve the estimation of signal parameters in hostile radio environments.
The postdoctoral researcher will join the SIGNAV\footnote{\url{https://signav.recherche.enac.fr/}} research axis at ENAC under the supervision of {Dr. Julien Lesouple}\footnote{\url{http://perso.recherche.enac.fr/~julien.lesouple/fr/}}, and collaborate with a national and international team of experts in polarized signal processing, antennas, and statistical learning.
Position Description
The postdoctoral researcher will contribute to both theoretical and experimental aspects of the project. Responsibilities include:
- investigating the estimation capabilities of vector sensors for multiple interfering signals, including identifiability analysis and the role of polarization diversity.
- designing and analyzing robust algorithms for joint DOA and polarization estimation in the presence of non-Gaussian noise (e.g., Complex Elliptically Symmetric-distributed interference). This includes the development of M-estimators, performance assessments (e.g., CRB), and comparative simulations
- developing interference mitigation strategies that exploit prior knowledge (e.g., known signal structure, emitter positions, or polarization)
- participating in the collection and use of real-world GNSS data, including laboratory experiments involving vector antennas and GNSS signal replay
- supporting the open dissemination of research outputs, including code publication, dataset curation, and contributions to a dedicated project website
Candidate profile
Candidate Profile
- PhD in Signal Processing, Telecommunications, Navigation Systems, or Applied Mathematics
- strong background in statistical estimation, array signal processing, or robust estimation. Prior exposure to GNSS, vector antenna modeling, or polarized signal processing is a plus
- solid programming skills in MATLAB or Python; experience with GNSS software-defined radio tools (e.g., GNURadio, USRP) is a plus
- excellent analytical skills, autonomy, and a strong interest in both theoretical research and experimental validation.
- fluent in English (written and spoken); French is not mandatory but can be helpful
Research Environment
The successful candidate will join a dynamic research team based at ENAC (Toulouse), Gipsa-lab (Grenoble), and Aalto University (Finland). Regular interactions with these partners are planned through collaborative meetings, visits, and joint publications.
This position provides an opportunity to publish in leading journals (e.g., IEEE TSP, ELSEVIER Signal Processing, EURASIP JASP) and present at major international conferences (ICASSP, EUSIPCO,). The candidate will also contribute to a broader open-science effort, with public sharing of data and algorithms.
Applications: https://careers.flatchr.io/fr/company/enac/vacancy/w67mknk6yv3dj120-post-doctorate-on-robust-estimation-for-vector-sensors/
