PhD in Integrated Circuits, ADC and AI research for mm-wave automotive radars

Irène Curie Fellowship

No

Department(s)

Electrical Engineering

Reference number

V36.5983

Are you eager to make the next generation car radars? Can future cars turn at will into autonomous driving robots? Do you want to eliminate the accidents in the city streets?

This is a unique opportunity in which we would like to explore together the possibilities of combining concepts from the fields of Integrated Circuits, ADC design, and Artificial Intelligence in order to enable the extraction of meaningful information from the environment. We want to use the results of this research to create demonstrators of the next generation car radars, which are based on our own original Integrated Circuits (IC) prototypes.

In this position, you will combine your passion for analog and mixed-signal IC design with the state-of-the-art achievements from the fields of data converters, RF front-ends, artificial intelligence, and algorithms and architectures for radars. Your work will be guided by supervisors from both Integrated Circuits and Signal-Processing area, while also being closely aligned with the application via our collaboration with NXP and the world-leading experts in the field.

Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) is an internationally oriented research university, specialized in engineering, science and technology.  TU/e is known for its major scientific impact and development of technological innovations. Our university is at the heart of society: TU/e focuses on complex societal challenges by specifically targeting three Strategic Areas with education and research: Energy, Health, and Smart Mobility.

The Department of Electrical Engineering (EE) is one of the most successful departments in the Netherlands in the field of research in collaboration with industry. The department currently has approximately 1200 Bachelor and Master students and more than 300 PhD students.

Responsibilities

You will be responsible for developing and implementing key architectural and circuits related aspects of a wireless receiver being developed with the project “Multi-mode high-resolution automotive radar with dense analog to information converter arrays (Mi-RAYS)”. This project defines three trajectories: a) the interface between the IC and the antennas; b) the power-efficient transmitter; c) information driven Data Converter architectures for MIMO radars .  There are already PhD-students working on the first two trajectories, while for the third trajectory we have the present vacancy and we actively search for suitable candidates, who are eager to assume responsibilities for answering key research questions from the IC perspective, like:

• Can we justify acquiring radar data at high rates (hundreds to thousands of Gbits/s) when the important, actionable information rate is small? 
• How can we optimize the conversion function of a whole MIMO ADC array, exploiting the richness of information available in the scene of observation, in the context of modern CMOS IC processes?
• How can we use modern AI functions (e.g. task-adaptive compressed sensing to derive domain optimized conversion and associated use of conversion resources (sampling rate, SNR, etc.) tailored for the information residing in the scene of observation?
• What circuit level solutions should we use to realize the radar ADC function in a modern CMOS IC process node?

The PhD research needs to be concluded in 4 years. A possible work plan with milestones can be:

• Year 1: requirement analysis, proposal and first proof of principle with simulations: AI algorithms that control hardware (MIMO) ADC, taking into account the application driven constraints (automotive radar).
• Year 2: initial test IC chip and demo (relaxed requirements, lower speeds; mainly test interaction between AI and ADC).
• Year 3 -4: final test chip and proof of concept (optimized requirements, high-speed operation).
• Year 4: PhD thesis and defense.

In this PhD position, you will be one of the three key researchers in the Mi-RAYS project. To fit into the team, a set of key requirements is needed:

• A MSc degree in Electrical Engineering from a technical university in EU or EFTA.
• Experience and interest in IC, RF, mixed-signal circuit design, data converters and signal processing.
• Excellence in analog electronics analysis and design.
• Affinity with machine learning methods.
• Strong communication skills – you will interface and mutually relay on other members of the team and you will interface with many people from the academia and industry.
• Excellent mastering of the English language (both written and verbal).

• A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university.
• A full-time temporary employment for four years, preferably starting as soon as possible.
• You will have free access to high-quality training programs  on general skills, didactics and topics related to research and valorization.
• A gross salary between € 2541,-  and € 3247,- per.
• Additionally, an annual holiday allowance of 8% of the yearly salary, plus a year-end allowance of 8,3 % of the annual salary.
• A broad package of fringe benefits (including an excellent technical infrastructure, moving expenses, and savings schemes).
• Family-friendly initiatives  are in place, excellent on-campus children day care, and sports facilities.

For more information about the content of the position, please contact dr.ir. Georgi Radulov, email g.radulov[at]tue.nl or dr.ir. Ruud van Sloun, email R.J.G.v.Sloun[at]tue.nl.

Other information can be obtained from Mrs Linda van den Boomen, HR advisor, email: l.j.c.v.d.boomen[at[tue.nl.

Application

If interested, please use 'apply now'-button at the top of this page. You should upload the following:

• A cover letter explaining your motivation and suitability for the position.
• A detailed Curriculum Vitae (including English proficiency level, nationality, VISA requirements, date of birth as well as programming skills, experience overview, publication list (if any), and key achievements in research project(s)).
• Contact information of two academic references.
• Copies of diplomas with course grades.
• Copy of the master thesis work (or equivalent self-written paper).

Candidates will be selected based on graduation mark and proficiency at university including consideration of the reputation of the university, relevant experience and skills, writing skills and publications, work experience as well as performance in interviews.

Please keep in mind you can upload only 5 documents up to 2 MB each. If necessary please combine files.

We look forward to your application and will screen it as soon as we have received it. Screening will continue until the position has been filled.