Assistant Professor in Solid-State Electronics with specialisation in neuromorphic circuit design - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Uppsala University’s tenure track system grants assistant professors the possibility to be assessed for promotion to the position as associate professor. The university provides support in various areas, such as scientific and educational development, leadership development as well as patent and innovation support.

Electrification, digitalisation and healthcare-technology are among the largest areas for the future in the conversion to sustainable societies. The Department of Electrical Engineering conducts successful research and education in the areas of renewable energy sources, electric vehicles, industrial IoT, 5G communication and wireless sensor networks as well as smart electronic sensors, medical systems and device technology for next-generation computing. The Department of Electrical Engineering is an international workplace with around 140 employees that all contribute to important technical energy and health challenges at the Ångström Laboratory.

The announced position will be placed at the Division of Solid-State Electronics, the Department of Electrical Engineering. The research at the Division has three major focus areas: Electronics for Life Science, Electronics for Healthcare Technology and Electronics for Next-Generation Computing. The technological base for our research is thin-film technology, semiconductor processing and semiconductor device technology using the in-house state-of-art cleanroom facilities, supported by device and process simulation as well as advanced electrical, optical and mechatronic characterisation. The purpose of our research within life science is to develop technological solutions, from devices to small systems for comprehensive analysis of biomolecules at different levels in an individual, thereby enabling AI assisted predictive diagnosis and preemptive therapy. As to healthcare technology, we strive for innovations such as near-body-network systems, flexible and wearable self-powered systems including electronic skin and prosthetics, and medical systems for continuous and real-time health monitoring. Finally, for next-generation computing we harness novel materials and electronic device solutions towards a new computing paradigm wherein quantum and neuromorphic electronics play a crucial role.

Description of subject area of the employment: The subject area involves the development of neuromorphic (brain-inspired) circuit solutions dedicated to the focus areas Electronics for Life-Science and Electronics for Healthcare Technology. Our research in these areas span from novel electronic materials, semiconductor processing, electronic/optoelectronic devices to smart systems. Finding novel circuit solutions is key to system demonstration of advancements in our various unique bioelectronic and healthcare sensors, and sensor arrays.

The profile of the position is research on brain-inspired circuits by design, fabrication and testing of circuits and systems related to the focus areas. The circuit research is to take advantage of our established and emerging technical expertise in multiple specialisations involving detections based on electronics, optics and mechatronics principles, fluidics, material interface/interphase, sensor design/characterisation, and machine learning.

Duties: 

• Teaching, research and administration. Teaching duties include course responsibility and course administration and supervision of second- and third-cycle students. Teaching in electronic-related subject areas, e.g., basic electronics, analogue and digital electronics will be essential. As Assistant Professor, you will primarily teach courses for second-cycle (master) and third-cycle (doctoral) students.
  
  
• Follow developments within the subject area and the development of society in general that is important for the work at the university.
  
  
• As Assistant Professor, you will set up and develop your own research line and research group as well as acquire external funding. In particular, you will lead the research in design of neuromorphic electronic systems related to division’s focus areas; analogue and digital integrated circuits and systems, and measurement technology for this, mainly using silicon-based electronics. Chip design in different technologies for fabrication at foundry or in the Uppsala MyFab, and evaluation/verification.

Appointment Period: The position can be held for a maximum of six years. An Assistant Professor can apply for promotion to Associate Professor. If the Assistant Professor is deemed suitable and fulfills the criteria for promotion established by the Faculty Board he/she shall be promoted to and employed as Associate Professor.

Qualifications Required:

• PhD (doctoral degree in electronics, electrical engineering, embedded systems, engineering physics or related subject area). Applicants who have obtained a PhD degree or achieved the equivalent competence in five years or less prior to the end of the application period will be given priority.
  
  
• Research Expertise and Teaching Expertise. It is necessary that the pedagogical skills, the research expertise and the professional skills are relevant to the content of the employment and the tasks that will be included in the employment.
  
  
• Applicants should have completed teacher training of relevance to operations at the University, comprising five weeks, or have acquired the equivalent knowledge. If special circumstances apply, this training for teachers in higher education may be completed during the first two years of employment.
  
  
• Documented ability to teach in Swedish and English is a requirement unless special reasons prevail.
  
  
• Personal capabilities necessary to carry out fully the duties of the appointment.

Assessment Criteria/Ranking of applicants that fulfil the above-mentioned qualifications required

The ranking of eligible applicants will be based primarily on research and teaching expertise, of which weight will be primarily given to research expertise.

Research Expertise comprises research merits as well as the applicant´s potential to contribute to the future development of both research and teaching. In assessing research expertise research quality must be the prime consideration. The scope of research, primarily in regard to depth and breadth, must also be afforded consideration. In assessing research expertise special weight will be attached to research merits in design of electronics and electronic systems, analogue and digital integrated circuits and systems, chip design with industrial-grade tools (Cadence IC design, Mentor, Keysight ADS), PCB level circuit design (SPICE, PCB layout programs), and measurement technology for this, mainly using silicon-based electronics. Development of machine learning algorithms relevant to electronic systems may be a key part of the research. Application of microcontrollers and FPGA control systems may also be included. Experience in semiconductor device characterisation, development of low-noise electrical measurement systems and machine learning for signal processing is especially meritorious.

Furthermore, consideration must be given to the capacity to plan, initiate, lead and develop research the ability to acquire funding for research in competition, as well as the demonstrated capacity to interact with others across disciplinary boundaries both within academia and in the wider community.

Teaching Expertise comprises educational and teaching qualifications. In assessing teaching expertise teaching quality must be the prime consideration. The scope of teaching experience, in terms of both breadth and depth, must also be afforded consideration. In assessing teaching expertise special weight will be attached to merits in undergraduate teaching (first and second circles) in electronics and sensor related courses.

Other Expertise International postdoctoral experience in different research environment than for the doctoral studies is a merit.

All merits must be documented in a manner that makes it possible to assess both quality and scope.

In filling this position the university aims to appoint the applicant who, following a qualitative holistic assessment of her/his competence and expertise, is judged to have the best potential to carry out and develop the relevant duties and to help advance operations.

Further information

In an overall assessment of the applicant’s qualifications, parental leave, part-time work relating to care of children, union assignments, military service, or the like are to be regarded as work experience.

University appointment regulations

Faculty appointment regulations

Instructions for application

Type of position: Temporary full-time position six years.

Salary: Individually negotiated salary.

Number of positions: 1

Working hours: 100%

Town: Uppsala.

Salary: Individually negotiated salary.

Starting date: 01-09-2023 or as otherwise agreed

For further information about the position, please contact Professor Shi-Li Zhang, telephone: +46 18 4719247, e-mail: shili.zhang@angstrom.uu.se.

Please submit your application by April 28 2023, UFV-PA 2022/4649.

In the event of any disagreement between the English and the Swedish versions of this announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.

If you are an international candidate, you will find a lot of information about working and living in Sweden at www.uu.se/joinus.