PhD student on Integrated Circuits and Signal Processing systems

Updated: over 1 year ago
Deadline: 03 Jul 2022

Multi-mode high-resolution automotive radar with dense analog to information converter arrays (Mi-RAYS)


Department(s)

Electrical Engineering


Reference number

V36.5701


Job description

Are you eager to make the next generation car radars? Do you want to enable future cars with the options of turning 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 Artificial Intelligence, Integrated Circuits, and ADC design, in order to enable the next generation of radars in 140GHz that convert analog signals into meaningful information. We want to use the results of this research in order to create some of the first demonstrators of the next generation car radars together with our industrial partner NXP.

In this position, you will combine your passion for integrated circuit 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.

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 are 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 like:

  • Can we justify acquiring radar data at such 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 to the information it is supposed to generate, exploiting the richness of information available in the scene of observation?
  • How can we optimize the conversion function in the radar without compromising functional safety needs to monitor the whole scene continuously for threats?
  • How can we optimize the power efficiency and energy per conversion bit?
  • How can we combine the MIMO and beamforming arrays and accommodate range doppler processing that allows obtaining information about the scene of observation?
  • 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?

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 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.

Job requirements

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
  • Experience and interest in 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), Dutch is a plus

Conditions of employment
  • A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university with the possibility to present your work at international conferences.
  • A full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation (go/no-go) after nine months.
  • To develop your teaching skills, you will spend 10% of your employment on teaching tasks.
  • To support you during your PhD and to prepare you for the rest of your career, you will make a Training and Supervision plan and you will have free access to a personal development program for PhD students (PROOF program ).
  • A gross monthly salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities.
  • Additionally, an annual holiday allowance of 8% of the yearly salary, plus a year-end allowance of 8.3% of the annual salary.
  • Should you come from abroad and comply with certain conditions, you can make use of the so-called ‘30% facility’, which permits you not to pay tax on 30% of your salary.
  • A broad package of fringe benefits, including an excellent technical infrastructure, moving expenses, and savings schemes.
  • Family-friendly initiatives are in place, such as an international spouse program, and excellent on-campus children day care and sports facilities.

Information and application

More information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact
dr.ir. Georgi Radulov, g.radulov[at]tue.nl or dr.ir. Ruud van Sloun, r.j.g.v.sloun[at]tue.nl.

For information about terms of employment, click here or contact Mrs Linda van den Boomen,
HR advisor, l.j.c.v.d.boomen[at]tue.nl

Please visit www.tue.nl/jobs to find out more about working at TU/e!

Application

We invite you to submit a complete application by using the 'apply now'-button on this page.
The application should include a:

  • 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).

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

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.

We do not respond to applications that are sent to us in a different way.

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