PhD on the physics of ion and water detection in micro-electronics

Do you want to unravel the physics of water and ion transport in micro-electronics? Do you want to lay the foundation for early warning methods and sensors in chips and electronic circuits?

Irène Curie Fellowship

No

Department(s)

Applied Physics and Science Education

Reference number

V34.7222

The presence of water and ions will trigger corrosion inside chips and micro-electronics. The key challenge of the project is to equip a chip with an early warning sensor for ions and water. Therefore, profound knowledge is needed of the physics of electric field driven water and ion transport at low concentrations, along (metallic) interfaces, such as leads and wires, in chips and printed circuit boards. Sources for ions and water might be from the environment or the chip-materials itself.

Your task is to investigate and model transport processes leading to degradation of micro-electronics, focusing on ion and water transport, combined with finding the driving forces (electric fields) as well as preferential pathways (interfaces).

This PhD work is laying the foundation for warning principles in micro-electronic systems. This project is part of a larger TTW-NWO Perspectief Program (‘Circular Circuits’) with the ambition to design extremely robust or fully reusable or recyclable microelectronics in the future. Understanding the processes in current microelectronics using models and measurements can help to assess the impact on the major damage originating processes, allowing fast development of future microelectronic products. Together with other PhD's in this program, the work should lead to predictive models and a demonstrator of a health sensor.

Working location
The work will be performed in the group Transport in Permeable Media (TPM) in the Applied Physics department of the Eindhoven University of Technology.

• Do you have a MSc degree in physics, and/or physical chemistry?
• Do you have experience and like experimental work?
• Do you have knowledge on fluid mechanics and physical transport phenomena?
• Do you have good programming and modelling skills (Matlab, C, COMSOL)?
• Do you like to collaborate with industrial partners?
• Do you like to collaborate with other universities and PhD’s?
• Are you motivated to develop your teaching skills and coach students?
• Do you fluently speak and write English (C1 level)?.

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.

About us

Eindhoven University of Technology is an internationally top-ranking university in the Netherlands that combines scientific curiosity with a hands-on attitude. Our spirit of collaboration translates into an open culture and a top-five position in collaborating with advanced industries. Fundamental knowledge enables us to design solutions for the highly complex problems of today and tomorrow. 

Information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more?
Please contact the hiring manager dr. S.J.F.Erich: s.j.f.erich[at]tue.nl.

Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. You can also contact HR Services Flux, HRServices.Flux[at]tue.nl.

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

Application

We invite you to submit a complete application by using the apply button. The application should include a:

• Cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications and the contact information of three references.

We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible. The vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.

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