Openings at ECTM

Smart sensing and driver IC design in power modules

Opening for: PhD student

This project aims to bring power modules to the next level by developing smart sensing functionalities and smart drivers that can continuously monitor the operating status of key power devices, such as a power inverter, and drive it in the most efficient and reliable way, regardless of the varying environmental temperature and load current and etc. Such smart sensing and driving can be very challenging as there are often many interferences due to the high-voltage switching actions and the parasitics related to the packaging of the power devices. Therefore, optimal system performance requires a good understanding from a system-level point of view and a co-design of smart integrated circuits and packaging.

The PhD candidate needs to tackle these issues from a system point of view, derive the specifications of the sensing and driver IC and propose novel solutions while working with an existing industrial partner which will provide packaging expertise and solutions.

Requirements

The candidate should have very good analog integrated circuit design background.

The candidate should be skilled with Cadence Virtuoso.

The candidate should be highly self-motivated.

The candidate should be a team player and good at communication.

Please send your CV to q.fan@tudelft.nl and a short text why you are applying for this position and why you are the right candidate for this position.

Contact

dr.ir. Qinwen Fan

Assistant Professor

Electronic Components, Technology and Materials Group

Department of Microelectronics

Additional information

In The Netherlands, almost all PhD positions are linked to funded research projects. This has several implications:

• PhD students are employed: they receive a salary rather than a grant. Most projects have a duration of 4 years.
• Positions become available once a project is funded. This can happen at any time during the year.
• It typically takes 6 to 9 months for a project proposal to receive funding. In this period, a position may be anticipated but the outcome remains insecure. Once a project is funded, the open position needs to be filled as soon as possible.

If you are interested in our research, it merits to inquire whether openings will be available. We collect resumes of prospective PhD students throughout the year, for each of our research tracks.

General requirements

We make our selection based on the following general requirements:

• Formal requirements regarding prior education: you should have earned an MSc degree at a recognized institute for higher education.
• Background: this depends on the specific project.
• Excellence: your Grade-Point-Average should be above 8 (10). Also your MSc thesis should have received a grade above 8 (10).
• English: you should be able to communicate well in english (written and oral). Provide TOEFL/IELTS scores if available.
• Originality: your MSc thesis or later work (publications) should reflect some original ideas. Critical and independent thinking is very important.
• Team player: you should be able to work well in a team of other project members.

Your resume should contain contact information of prior advisors/supervisors who can provide feedback.