PhD in Integrated Circuits for advanced driving and control of Lidar sources

Irène Curie Fellowship

No

Department(s)

Electrical Engineering

Reference number

V36.7324

Do you want to specialize and deepen in Integrated Circuits and mixed-signal design? Are you eager to electronically control light, like none before? Do you want to influence the next generation of FMCW LiDARs (Frequency-Modulated Continuous Wave Light Detection and Ranging) devices and integrated-circuits? Do you want to closely collaborate with scientists from Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Denmark? 

This exceptional opportunity presents a chance for us to explore the realm of electronically controlling massive arrays of small lasers that enable novel architectures of LiDAR transmitters. We shall investigate the challenges of tunable lasers in the framework of FMCW LiDAR devices, designing precision and high efficiency circuits for driving and controlling lasers that feature novel feedback loops for wavelength control. In the course of this research, we may draw upon concepts from various fields, including phased arrays, digital Sigma-Delta (ΣΔ) modulation, digital signal processing (DSP), and power-efficient IC design. This challenge creates a new PhD position that you may help fill in! In this role, you will fuse your passion for analog and mixed-signal IC design with the latest advancements in integrated power management circuits and their control.

It's worth noting that this research project forms a crucial part of a collaborative initiative within a pan-European research network called NiteLiDAR. We want to use the results of this research, together with our partners, to create innovative demonstrators for the next generation of LiDARs.

NiteLiDAR is open to researchers regardless of gender, religion, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, political views, language, age and nationality.  Applications from highly qualified applicants from outside the EU will thus be equally considered to other applicants. The integration of refugees is an EU priority and we will ensure equal opportunities to the researchers whose scientific careers have been interrupted. To ensure a gender balance in the project and work towards the Commission’s own policies on narrowing the gap between the genders in research, should two applicants be found to be equally qualified the preference will be given to the one that will balance the gender distribution in the entire Network. After the deadline, all submitted applications will be checked against the defined admissibility and eligibility criteria (e.g. submitted electronically, readable, complete, in English, including grades and references), and applicants will be informed by email. The following interviews and selection process will be carried out by a temporary Selection Committee constituted by the Coordinator (when possible) and the supervisors. Evaluation criteria include: Scientific background, capacity for creativity and independent thinking and leadership, mentoring and presentation abilities.

The personal data of the applicants will be handled in compliance with applicable EU and national law on data protection (GDPR).

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 researching, developing and implementing key architectural and circuits related aspects for an integrated tuneable laser driver that maximizes power efficiency and enables accurate wavelength control. Furthermore, you will be responsible for designing, fabricating via IC foundry and characterizing experimentally a chip controlling the laser driver exploiting wavelength sensing and suitable algorithms, including AI. Finally, you will be responsible for designing, fabricating, and characterizing experimentally a chip enabling FMCW (15GHz) chirps, and which is able to interface the other two designed ICs.

Thus, we actively search now for suitable candidates, who are eager to assume these responsibilities and answer key research questions, from an IC perspective, like:

• What should be the circuits of the laser driver, the feedback and control loops, and the FMCW chirp generation/driving, which will be designed using a suitable CMOS technology available from commercial foundries, fabricated by the foundry, and experimentally characterized?
• How can we make a  system demonstrator (including the tunable laser source), built and experimentally characterized together with an integrated laser?
• Can we demonstrate capability to build a miniature tunable laser source, based only on integrated components?

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

• Year 1: Secondments at partners premises, to study the challenges of co-integrating photonic with electronic ICs; optimal co-design of the driver and laser (PhD 1);
• Year 2-4: design and fabrication of an IC test chip featuring drivers; Design and fabrication of test Printed-Circuit-Board (PCB) to characterize the test chips; Measurements in the framework of an FMCW LiDAR.
• Year 4: PhD thesis and defense.

In this PhD position, you will be one of the 10 key researchers within our research network. To fit into the team, a set of key requirements is needed:

• A MSc degree in Electrical Engineering;
• Due to the mobility rules of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie program, the applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment date.
• Experience and interest in IC, RF, mixed-signal circuit design, data converters and signal processing;
• Excellence in analog electronics analysis and design.
• Design skills in MATLAB and Cadence with relations to analog IC design;
• 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), Dutch is a plus

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation (go/no-go) after nine months. You will spend 10% of your employment on teaching tasks.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. €2,770 max. €3,539).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process .
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates.

More information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more?
Please contact the hiring manager prof.dr.ir. Eugenio Cantatore [email protected] . 

Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. You can also contact mrs Linda van den Boomen, HR advisor, email: [email protected] .

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page .

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.