PhD Position Integrated Circuit Design for Smart Ultrasonic Flow Meters

PhD Position Integrated Circuit Design for Smart Ultrasonic Flow Meters

Are you a talented mixed-signal IC designer with an apetite for research and a drive to make a difference? Join us as a PhD researcher and realize the next generation of smart ultrasonic flow meters!

Job description

Ultrasonic flow meters are key instruments for measuring fluid flow in industries ranging from oil & gas and food processing to semiconductor manufacturing and water management. While clamp-on ultrasonic flow meters are attractive due to their non-invasive installation, traditional single-element designs suffer from limitations in accuracy, stability, and flexibility.

Our research project aims to overcome these limitations by using matrix ultrasonic transducers in combination with advanced measurement techniques. This approach can enable high-accuracy measurements, simplified installation, reduced calibration requirements, and unique capabilities such as multi-path flow profiling. However, realizing these benefits in a compact, cost-effective form factor requires overcoming significant challenges in electronics integration and miniaturization.

As a PhD candidate, you will address these challenges through the design of application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). Building on our prior work in this area, you will develop next-generation scalable and programmable ASICs for clamp-on ultrasonic flow meters. This involves state-of-the-art mixed-signal IC design, research on signal-processing and measurement techniques, and experimental validation using flow-meter prototypes in close collaboration with the industrial partners in the project.

You'll be working at the Electronic Instrumentation (EI) Laboratory, which is part of the Microelectronics Department. The mission of the EI Lab is to realize smart sensor systems for the acquisition of data from physical, chemical and biomedical signals. This involves the design and fabrication of sensors, as well as of the precision analog and digital circuitry required to read them out.

Within the EI Lab, you'll be working in the Smart Ultrasound Group, led by Dr. Michiel Pertijs, which has a long track record in innovative chip designs for ultrasound applications.

If you're passionate about microelectronics and eager to apply your skills to make a tangible impact, we invite you to apply.

Job requirements

• MSc degree in Electrical Engineering, Microelectronics, or a related field.
• Strong background in analog and mixed-signal integrated circuit design, proven by prior chip-design experience, ideally with measured silicon.
• Solid understanding of analog and digital signal-processing techniques.
• Familiarity with acoustics, wave propagation, instrumentation and/or sensors is a plus.
• Experience with EDA tools (Cadence) for IC design and layout.
• Hands-on experience with experimental lab work, including testing and characterization of analog/mixed-signal circuits, PCB prototyping, FPGA programming and measurement equipment.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) brings together three scientific disciplines. Combined, they reinforce each other and are the driving force behind the technology we all use in our daily lives. Technology such as the electricity grid, which our faculty is helping to make completely sustainable and future-proof. At the same time, we are developing the chips and sensors of the future, whilst also setting the foundations for the software technologies to run on this new generation of equipment – which of course includes AI. Meanwhile we are pushing the limits of applied mathematics, for example mapping out disease processes using single cell data, and using mathematics to simulate gigantic ash plumes after a volcanic eruption. In other words: there is plenty of room at the faculty for ground-breaking research. We educate innovative engineers and have excellent labs and facilities that underline our strong international position. In total, more than 1000 employees and 4,000 students work and study in this innovative environment.

Conditions of employment

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1.5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2.5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 3059 per month in the first year to € 3881 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.

Additional information
If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact Dr.ir. Michiel Pertijs, via m.a.p.pertijs@tudelft.nl.