PhD position in flexible and active antenna array for SATCOM applications - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Electrification and digitalisation 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 - renewable energy sources, electric vehicles, industrial IoT, 6G communication and wireless sensor networks as well as research and education within Life Science, smart electronic sensors and medical systems. The Department of Electrical Engineering is an international workplace with around 150 employees that all contribute to important technical energy and health challenges at the Ångström Laboratory.

The position will be at the division Solid-State Electronics, at the Department of Electrical Engineering.

We have an exciting work environment designed by the doctoral student and the research team together. The doctoral student will be supervised by at least two supervisors. The Department of Electrical Engineering also gives a salary supplement in addition to the local guidelines for doctoral students at Uppsala University.

Project description
The EU-funded NANOMAT project pioneers a ground-breaking domain in flexible electronics, specifically focusing on flexible power radio frequency (RF) nanoelectronics. This innovative project integrates various technologies to overcome existing limitations in flexible electronics. The key components include carbon-based electronics and thermoelectrics, wide band gap semiconductor-based monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs), RF microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and acoustic sensors. The project will showcase advancement through two prototypes. The first is a flexible hybrid proof of concept designed for satellite IoT at the Ka-band. The second prototype involves a fully monolithic flexible power RF transceiver tailored for next-generation avionic radars at the X-band. By demonstrating these prototypes, NANOMAT aims to usher in a new era of flexible electronics, enabling enhanced capabilities in satellite communication and avionic radar systems.

Duties

• Realize the electromagnetic design of highly efficient circular polarized low-profile active antenna array for the frequency band 20-30 GHz
• Analyzing the interconnect between the active components and the antenna sub-array
• Realize the integration of active beam former components
• Building demonstrators of the proposed antenna array solution
• And finally, perform antenna array measurements of beamforming and beamsteering in an anechoic chamber
• Project follow-up and reporting.
• Publication of several high ranked journal papers is expected during the project duration.
• The work duties can also include teaching. No more than 20%.

Requirements

• The applicant must hold a master degree in Physics or Electrical Engineering or equivalent. 
• Previous experience in the field of Electromagnetic Fields and Antenna Theory, along with proficiency in using full-wave solvers such as HFSS and CST, is considered necessary. Proven experimental work in amplifier and/or antenna measurements is also required.
• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.
• Beyond technical expertise, emphasis will be placed on qualities such as creative thinking, motivation, collaboration skills, initiative for independent work, and personal suitability for research training. You should be purposeful, structured and be able to work effectively both individually and in groups. 

Additional qualifications
We are looking for competent and enthusiastic applicants with a strong interest in microwave technology and active antenna arrays for SATCOM applications. The project involves travel for research and participation in conferences, and details are available upon request. Excellent academic performance, as reflected in grades. Candidates should be capable of working effectively both independently and as part of a team.

Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University's rules and guidelines.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date as agreed. Placement: Uppsala 

For further information about the position, please contact: Dragos Dancila, +4672/366 31 80. e-post: dragos.dancila@angstrom.uu.se.

Please submit your application by Februari 15th, 2024, UFV-PA 2024/194.

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