Post doctorate on robust estimation for vector sensors

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) 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 work within the SIGNAV group at ENAC, in collaboration with national and international experts in signal processing, GNSS, and statistical learning.

Scientific objectives:

The postdoc will be involved in both theoretical developments and practical evaluations related to interference mitigation using vector antennas. 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 suppression methods that exploit prior information (such as known waveforms or satellite geometry), with a focus on civil GNSS applications.

·        Contributing to the collection and exploitation of real GNSS data, including laboratory experiments with vector antennas and GNSS replay systems.

·        Supporting the open dissemination of research outputs, including code publication, dataset curation, and contributions to a dedicated project website.

Academic environment:

The successful candidate will join a dynamic research team based at ENAC (Toulouse), with strong ties to 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) 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.

·        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.