PhD in Electronic ICs LIDAR; NiteLiDAR doctoral network and photonic sensors

• Do you want to specialize in mixed-signal Electronic Integrated Circuits?
• Are you eager to electronically control light, like none before?
• Do you want to design ICs to steer the next generation of FMCW LiDARs (Frequency‑Modulated Continuous Wave Light Detection and Ranging)?
• Do you want to collaborate with scientists from Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Denmark?

This PhD research focuses on the design of integrated electronics which must work together with photonic components in order to build advanced integrated photonic systems for sensing applications. An important aim is to advance the state of the art in this completely new field, achieving unprecedented accuracy and energy efficiency. The research is divided in two main steps.

You will focus on electronically controlling massive arrays of light phase shifters to steer the laser beam in LiDAR transmitters. You will investigate the challenges of massively integrating Digital‑to‑Analog converters onto a single chip, thereby generating the control signals needed for photonic beamformers designed for FMCW LiDAR devices. In the course of this research, we may draw upon concepts from various fields, including phased arrays, digital Sigma‑Delta (ΣΔ) modulation, digital signal processing (DSP), and power‑efficient IC design.

The results of your research could potentially pave the way also for breakthroughs in other applications that demand large arrays of data converters, such as wireless communication, UWB ranging and automotive radar.

It is worth noting that this research forms a crucial part of a collaborative initiative within a pan‑European doctoral research network called NiteLiDAR. We want to use the results of this research, together with our partners, to create innovative demonstrators for the next generation of LiDARs.

You will work at ultimately low‑noise and energy efficient amplifiers to interface photonic spectral sensors for measuring at the same time Temperature and Pressure using optical fibers.

The two steps are nicely complementary, offering you a broad experience with both the control and the sensor signal conditioning in novel photonic sensing systems. In this way you will gain a broad experience in the brand new field of electronic‑photonic integration.

is open to researchers regardless of gender, religion, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, political views, language, age and nationality. Applications from highly qualified applicants from outside the EU will thus be equally considered to other applicants. The integration of refugees is an EU priority and we will ensure equal opportunities to the researchers whose scientific careers have been interrupted. To ensure a gender balance in the project and work towards the European Commission’s own policies on narrowing the gap between the genders in research, should two applicants be found to be equally qualified the preference will be given to the one that will balance the gender distribution in the entire Network.

After the deadline, all submitted applications will be checked against the defined admissibility and eligibility criteria (e.g. submitted electronically, readable, complete, in English, including grades and references), and applicants will be informed by email. The following interviews and selection process will be carried out by a temporary Selection Committee constituted by the Coordinator (when possible) and the supervisors. Evaluation criteria include:
Scientific background, capacity for creativity and independent thinking and leadership, mentoring and presentation abilities.