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

Uppsala University’s tenure track system grants associate professors the possibility to be assessed for promotion to the position as 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 160 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 and optical 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 electronics and 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, wireless in-body communication, 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 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, wireless communication, and machine learning.

Duties: 

• Teaching, research and administration. Teaching duties include course responsibility and course administration and supervision of Ph.D. students. Teaching in electronic-related subject areas, e.g., basic electronics, analogue and digital electronics will be essential. As Associate Professor, you are expected to teach courses for first-cycle (bachelor), second-cycle (master), and third-cycle (doctoral) students. Course development for new teaching programs and in cooperation with other universities and university colleges.
• Follow developments within the subject area and the development of society in general that is important for the work at the university.
• As Associate Professor, you will set up and develop your own research line as well as acquire external funding. In particular, you will lead/consolidate the research in design of 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. The research includes chip design in different technologies for fabrication at foundry or in the Uppsala MyFab, and evaluation/verification.

Qualifications Required:

• PhD (doctoral degree in electronics, electrical engineering, embedded systems, engineering physics or related subject area)
• 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 must have completed teacher training of relevance to operations at the University, comprising ten 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, which will be given equal weight. 

Research Expertise comprises research merits. In addition to academic merits, research merits from other activities, including merits obtained outside the academia such as technology development and innovation, may also be taken into account. 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, wireless 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 related measurement technology and techniques, 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 and education in the third cycle, the ability to acquire funding for research in competition, as well as the demonstrated capacity to interact with others both within academia and in the wider community.

Teaching Expertise comprises educational and teaching qualifications. This expertise can have been achieved outside the academy through supervision, internal training, mentoring programs, etc. 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 teaching electronics and semiconductor device related courses all levels. 

Furthermore, consideration must be given to the capacity to plan, initiate, lead, and develop teaching and instruction, as well as the ability to connect research to teaching in respect to research in the subject at hand, subject didactics, as well as teaching and learning in higher education. The ability to interact concerning issues of teaching and learning in higher education with actors inside and outside the University is also included in teaching expertise.

Collaboration Expertise is important and will be afforded high consideration. Collaborative expertise is demonstrated by collaboration with industry and research institutes, patent applications and commercialization, and activities of importance to the education's development and quality, such as evaluation of research and education in national and international contexts. 

Other Expertise:

Experience from research and development at industry or research institute.

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

About the employment
The employment is a permanent position. Scope of employment is 100 %. Starting date as agreed. Placement: Uppsala.

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

Please submit your application by 14 August 2023, UFV-PA 2023/2144.

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

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