LLM-Driven Automated Orchestration for Network Services in Next-Generation Mobile Networks

As 6G mobile networks become more complex, orchestrating network services is becoming major challenge. This PhD research will explore how LLM and Agentic AI can transform human natural-language intent into secure automated controller actions, improving efficiency while providing cyber-protection capabilities.

Research Challenge/Problem: The scale and heterogeneity of the next generation mobile network infrastructures make the orchestration and control of network service increasingly complex and error prone. This creates a need for more reliable automation.

We are interested in investigating how to implement LLM-based orchestration, which can translate administrator natural-language requests into secure network service actions , and enabling their automated execution through an agentic AI framework integrated with network controllers APIs via MCP servers.

Research Aim and Objectives: The main aim of the PhD is to create agentic system capable of interacting operationally with large-scale, 6G next-generation mobile infrastructures in order to provide cyber-protection capabilities to the infrastructure.

The aim will be achieved through the following objectives:

State-of-the-art review on agentic frameworks, network controllers, and the operational aspects of 6G networks.
Design and development of a set of MCP servers that expose AI tools related to network control, such as SDN controllers, O-RAN controllers, etc.
Creation of an architecture that allows users to execute actions in the network by interacting with the infrastructure in natural language.
Application of the architecture to a use case in order to demonstrate the feasibility of the approach.

Main Supervisor: Samara Mayhoub

Associate Supervisor : Jose Maria Alcaraz Calero

Contact Information

For enquiries about this project, contact Samara Mayhoub at s.mayhoub@aston.ac.uk and Jose M Alcaraz Calero at j.alcarazcalero@aston.ac.uk

This project is open to Home students ONLY, covers all tuition fees and includes a stipend at current UKRI rates. The project also includes a generous Research Training and Support Grant.

Please note that the successful candidate will be responsible for any costs relating to moving to Birmingham and/or visiting the Aston campus.

Further information can be found here: Financial Requirements | Aston University

PhD programmes are for those who are seeking to develop greater in-depth knowledge in a specific area. Completing this level of study is about making an original contribution to knowledge, making new discoveries and developing lifelong skills. 

At Aston University, our Engineering and Physical Sciences PhD programmes will provide all the support and facilities you will need to develop into a leading researcher in your chosen field.  You will be welcomed into a supportive community with a shared enthusiasm for original research, where diversity and multidisciplinary is championed.

Candidates should have been awarded, or expect to achieve, EITHER:

• A Bachelors degree in a relevant subject with an award of First Class or 2.1. 

OR 

• A Bachelors degree in a relevant subject with an award of First Class or 2.1, and a Masters degree in a relevant subject with an award of Merit or higher.

Qualifications from other countries which are considered by Aston University to be equivalent to that described above will be eligible to apply.

Desirable characteristics

• Good programming skills, and willingness to develop them throughout PhD

We can only consider applications that are complete and have all supporting documents. Applications that do not provide all the relevant documents will be automatically rejected. Your application must include: 

1. English language copies of the transcripts and certificates for all your higher education degrees, including any Bachelor degrees.
    
2. A Research Statement detailing your understanding of the research area, how you would approach the project, and a brief review of relevant literature. Be sure to use the title of the research project you are applying for. There is no set format or word count. 
    
3. A personal statement which outlines any further information which you think is relevant to your application, such as your personal suitability for research, career aspirations, possible future research interests, and further description of relevant employment experience. 
    
4. Two academic referees who can discuss your suitability for independent research. References must be on headed paper, signed and dated no more than 2 years old. At least one reference should be from your most recent University. You can submit your references at a later date if necessary. 
    
5. Evidence that you meet the English Language requirements. If you do not currently meet the language requirements, you can submit this at a later stage. 
    
6. A copy of your passport. Where relevant, include evidence of settled or pre-settled status.

Interviews

Interviews will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams. If you are shortlisted, you will be contacted directly with details of the interview.  

Please select -  (EPS) Computer Science in the applicaitons system. 

Studying a PhD is great route into academia and industries that are centred on research and innovation. Areas with a demand for very high level and specialised research skills often demand PhDs.

In addition to this specialist knowledge, PhD education will help you to develop a set of valuable transferrable skills. The very nature of studying an intensive research degree will enable you to become a team player, develop problem-solving skills, analytical thinking, and advanced presentation and communication skills.

The variety of PhD project topics at Aston means that the destinations of our graduates vary substantially. Some choose to continue into academia, at either Aston or other leading institutions, while others go onto use their newly acquired skills in a range of research, healthcare, industry or charitable fields. When selecting your chosen PhD path at Aston, your supervisor will be able to provide you with relevant career opportunities that could be available to you in your specialist area.