PhD Position GaN-based Electrical Devices for Harsh Environments

Challenge: Silicon chips do not operate in harsh environments

Change: Development of pMOS GaN Technology to complement nMOS GaN

Impact: Operate microelectronics in harsh environments

PhD Position GaN-based Electrical Devices for Harsh Environments

Job description

We seek you as a PhD candidate to investigate enabling CMOS-like operation in GaN Devices. Silicon devices have both nMOS and pMOS to realize power efficient and seamless analog and digital signal conditioning, but are limited to a narrow operation temperature range. GaN is a wide bandgap semiconductor with a strong n-type High Electron Mobility Transistor technology, but the complementary p-type transistor is still under early investigation. P-type GaN transduction could enable a new class of transistor circuits as well as novel sensors and transducers. Your PhD project will focus on both the fundamental physics of these devices with modelling, fabrication, and testing of these materials.

You’ll join our highly motivated, supportive and cohesive team of professors, teachers, technicians, PhD students and master’s students in the Electronic Instrumentation (EI) group. At EI you’ll find a welcoming and open atmosphere. We have a track record of nurturing talent at various academic levels and will give you all the support you need to evolve in your PhD. Our world-class facilities include the fully equipped EKL and Kavli Nanolab cleanrooms, as well as dedicated labs for micro-system assembly, electrical measurements and sensor characterization. On the horizon is a new suite of cleanroom tools that will focus on fabrication of both widebandgap and 2D materials from the Scalable Atomic Processing Line (SAP-NL).

Job requirements

• Master Degree in Electrical Engineering or similar.
• Grade of 8.5 or higher on MSc thesis exam.
• Experience with FEM tools (COMSOL and Sentaurus are ideal).
• Extensive experience with developing electrical benchtop experiments.
• Hands-on experience with microfabrication of widebandgap semiconductors, including lithography, etching, wet benches, and thin film deposition.
• Self-motivated research with excellent learning, analytical and problem-solving creativity.
• Teamwork and communication skills.
• Can communicate well in English (Provide TOEFL/IELTS scores if available).

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.

Faculty of 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 - €3881 gross per month, from the first year to the fourth year based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.

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.

Additional information

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. Dowling (K.M.Dowling@tudelft.nl)