UPD-USAID Scholarship & Fellowship for Next Generation Networks Research & Development (intake AY 2024-2025)

Scholarship Portal

https://forms.gle/xd4WdkjmsiZnAGwY7 

Deadline for Application – July 15, 2024

Overview/Background

UP Diliman and USAID have partnered in developing a graduate research program in the field of telecommunications research with specializations in the areas of next generation networks, Open RAN, software-defined radios, software-defined networking, network function virtualization, mmWave, and related topics. The program aligns with UP’s official mandate through UP EEEI as an electrical and electronics engineering institution dedicated to providing telecommunications, wireless networks, and software engineering education. Moreover, the program complements the Open RAN Laboratory that USAID and UP is establishing at UP EEEI.

As part of the scholarship agreement, aside from doing the coursework and academic research work that is part of the graduate curricula (see Plans of Study), the scholars are expected to contribute part of their time (full time during midyear term) to the operations, and development of the Open RAN Laboratory which includes but not limited to designing and developing tools, and materials for demonstrating Open RAN and related topics that may be determined by USAID, UP EEEI, and the Asia Open RAN Academy.

Eligibility Requirements for Scholars

        An applicant must:

  1. be a Filipino citizen;
  2. not more than 50 years of age at the start of the program;
  3. have a BS/Masters degree in engineering or related field;
  4. must be in good health condition, as certified by licensed medical doctor;
  5. not have criminal/administrative cases (i.e., no criminal record in National Bureau of Investigation);
  6. have passed the admission requirements of EEEI through NGSE;
  7. pass the interview and other screening procedures;
  8. write a two-page research proposal on any of the relevant topics (see Recommended References); and
  9. [optional] have had experience in the telecommunications or communication networks industry or projects.
Selection Criteria and Process
  • To apply for the UPD-USAID Scholarship for telecommunications research, an eligible applicant must file for admission at the National Graduate School of Engineering to the MSEE or Ph.D.EEE  programs.
  • A separate UPD-USAID scholarship application form (link to be updated here) shall be submitted to the UPD-USAID scholarship committee which shall include a 2-page research proposal (see recommended references below).
  • An applicant who is already a graduate student is still eligible to apply laterally to the Scholarship Program. The acceptance to the scholarship is hereby named as “lateral entry”.
  • All applicants shall be informed by the UPD-USAID scholarship committee both via email and/or in writing on the result of their scholarship application. In no circumstance that an applicant with probationary admission status to the graduate program be awarded with UPD-USAID scholarship.
  • A successful applicant who decides to accept the UPD-USAID scholarship shall enter into a scholarship contract with the UPD-USAID. The applicant may also be allowed to defer the scholarship award for one semester only and not later than AY 2025-2026.
Selection Timeline

Deadline for NGSE application:  June 30, 2024

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCSFBnYksNnD62I8f81DwU3LvKkrOzcOtHVgfvdG8m9zTJGA/viewform 

 

Deadline for scholarship application: July 15, 2024

Release of results: August 2, 2024

Scholarship Support / Coverage

Master’s Program (2 years; 2 slots)

 

Benefit

Amount (Php)

Frequency

Tuition fee and other school fees

15,000

 

Every semester; estimate at 15,000 for 9 units

Stipend

45,000

Monthly

Outright thesis and research allowance

100,000

During thesis (i.e., enrolled in EE 300)

One time Gadget allowance

50,000

Upon first enrolment

Learning materials allowance

20,000

Annually

Premium Insurance Coverage

3,000

Monthly

Research and Dissemination Grant

150,000

May be availed anytime and up to 12 months from graduation.

Mentor’s Fee

36,000

Upon Graduation

Total

1,588,000.00

 

 

 

Doctorate Program (3 years; 1 slot)

 

Benefit

Amount (Php)

Frequency

Tuition fee and other school fees

15,000

Every semester; estimate at 15,000 for 9 units

Stipend

50,000

Monthly

Outright thesis and research allowance

100,000

During thesis (i.e., enrolled in EE 400)

One time Gadget allowance

50,000

Upon first enrolment

Learning materials allowance

20,000

Annually

Premium Insurance Coverage

3,000

Monthly

Research and Dissemination Grant

300,000

May be availed anytime and up to 12 months from graduation.

Mentor’s Fee

72,000

Upon Graduation

Total

2,580,000.00

 

 

Duration of Scholarship

MS

2 years

PhD

3 years

Recommended References
  1. Polese, M., Bonati, L., D’oro, S., Basagni, S., & Melodia, T. (2023). Understanding O-RAN: Architecture, interfaces, algorithms, security, and research challenges. IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials, 25(2), 1376-1411.
  2. Polese, M., Bonati, L., D’Oro, S., Basagni, S., & Melodia, T. (2022). ColO-RAN: Developing machine learning-based xApps for open RAN closed-loop control on programmable experimental platforms. IEEE Transactions on Mobile Computing, 22(10), 5787-5800.
  3. srsRAN Project.“srsLTE – Open Source LTE and 5G Software Radio Toolkit.” [Online]. Available: https://www.srslte.com/4g
  4. Open5GS.“Open5GS – Open Source 5G Core Network.” [Online]. Available: https://open5gs.org/
  5. S. Iqbal and J. M. Hamamreh, “A Comprehensive Tutorial on How to Practically Build and Deploy 5G Networks Using Open-Source Software and General-Purpose, Off-the-Shelf Hardware,” RS Open Journal on Innovative Communication Technologies, vol. 2, no. 6, 2021.
  6. P. S. Upadhyaya, A. S. Abdalla, V. Marojevic, J. H. Reed, and V. K. Shah, “Prototyping Next-Generation O-RAN Research Testbeds with SDRs,” [Online]. Available: arXiv:2205.13178 [cs.NI], 2022.
  7. Niall Keleher, Mary Claire Barela, Joshua Blumenstock, Cedric Festin, Matthew Podolsky, Erin Troland, Arman Rezaee, Kurtis Heimerl, “Connecting Isolated Communities: Quantitative Evidence on the Adoption of Community Cellular Networks in the Philippines”, International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development (ICTD ’20). ACM, June 17-19, 2020. Guayaquil, Ecuador.
  8. Mary Claire Barela, Maria Theresa Cunanan, Philip Martinez, Ronel Vincent Vistal, Cedric Angelo Festin, “Community Cellular Networks in the Philippines: Challenges and Opportunities towards Sustainability”, IEEE Region 10 Humanitarian Technology Conference (R10 HTC) 2019.
  9. C. A. G. Hilario et al., “LokaLTE: 600 MHz Community LTE Networks for Rural Areas in the Philippines,” 2020 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC), Seattle, WA, USA, 2020, pp. 1-8.
Plan of Study for Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (2 years)

Year 1 – 1st semester

EE 270: Digital Communications I (2.0u lec, 1.0u lab) (lab will use SDRs)

EE 214: Probability and Random Processes for Electrical Engineering (3.0u)

EE 298-C: Advanced Cellular Networks (3.0u lec)

Total: 9 units

 

Year 1 – 2nd semester

EE 298-KA: Computer and Network Security (3.0u)

EE 298-AC: Cloud Computing Technologies (3.0u)

EE 290: Directed Studies in Open RAN Technologies I (3.0u)

Total: 9 units

 

Year 2 – 1st semester

EE 298-[]: Software-defined Networking (2.0u lec, 1.0u lab)

EE 290: Directed Studies in 5G/6G Technologies (3.0u)

EE 296: Seminars (1.0u)

Total: 7 units

 

Year 2 – 2nd semester

EE 300: Thesis (6 units)

Total: 6 units

Plan of Study for Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering (3 years, Straight BS-PhD)

Year 1 – 1st semester

EE 270: Digital Communications I (2.0u lec, 1.0u lab) (lab will use SDRs)

EE 214: Probability and Random Processes for Electrical Engineering (3.0u)

EE 298-C: Advanced Cellular Networks (3.0u lec)

Total: 9 units

 

Year 1 – 2nd semester

EE 370: Digital Communications II (3.0u)

EE 277: Coding and Information Theory (3.0u)

EE 290: Directed Studies in Open RAN Technologies I (3.0u)

Total: 9 units

 

Year 1 – Midyear

EE 290: Directed Studies (3.0u)

Total: 3 units

 

Year 2 – 1st semester

EE 298-[]: Software-defined Networking (2.0u lec, 1.0u lab)

EE 290: Directed Studies in 5G/6G Technologies (3.0u)

EE 374: Digital Signal Processing I (2.0u lec, 1.0u lab)

EE 296: Seminars (1.0u)

Total: 10 units

 

Year 2 – 2nd semester

EE 374: Digital Signal Processing II (3.0u)

EE 298-AC: Cloud Computing Technologies (3.0u)

EE 400A: Dissertation (3.0u)

Total: 9 units

 

Year 3 – 1st semester

EE 279: Networking Technologies II (2.0u lec, 1.0u lab)

EE 272: Radiowave Propagation and Radio Link Design (3.0u)

EE 400B: Dissertation (3.0u)

Total: 9 units

 

 

Year 3 – 2nd semester

EE 400C and 400D: Dissertation (6.0u)

EE 298-KA: Computer and Network Security (3.0u)

Total: 9 units