PhD project: ERC-Intranet of Neurons: Energy-efficient and miniature CMOS transceiver IC system for high-bandwidth brain-computer interface

What you will do

The number of channels in neural interface is continuously increasing to improve the quality of the neural recording/stimulation. A millimeter-scale high-bandwidth transceiver as a wireless interface is critical to minimize the invasiveness and risk of infection, and for long-term stability. To support up to few hundreds or even thousands channels of neural signal recording/stimulation, this transceiver needs to be capable of transferring data up to hundreds Mbps, and delivering power to implants up to 10mW. However, this is severely constrained by the limited energy source available inside the body, e.g., through wireless powering, extreme volume constrains, and potential tissue heating.

In this PhD project, an implantable wideband, miniature and energy-efficiency CMOS transceiver for neural-recording/stimulation applications will be developed, using unconventional propagation methods. The implantable transceiver will be also be validated in-vitro using equivalent phantom and tissues. You will be working on:   

• Microsystem design for implantable applications
• Low-power mixed-signal IC design
• Multi-physics propagation modeling
• High-data rate wireless data and power link design
• Biological impact investigation

This PhD position will be part of a ground-breaking research project “Intranet of Neurons” and a team of PhD researchers, under the ERC (European Research Council) Consolidator grant. The position will be based in our Eindhoven office on the High Tech Campus.

What we do for you

We offer a PhD position in a challenging and international environment at the forefront of technology, in an international network of renowned industrial customers. This is your opportunity to work in an environment where new technologies are created and brought to the market to have an impact on tomorrow’s society. More specifically you:

• Pursue your PhD with full financial funding in a close-to-industrial environment, through employment at imec in the Netherlands.
• Work in a group known as the “centre of excellence” in low-power wireless communication and health research.
• Access to the world-class research facility from imec internationally.
• Opportunity to collaborate with top international research groups via imec’s semiconductor and neurotechnology ecosystem.
• High visibility under renown ERC grant in scientific community. 

Imec in the Netherlands itself is not giving PhD degrees but acts as a host research institute for PhD and postdoc research in collaboration with Dutch universities, e.g., TU Delft, TU Eindhoven. Both Engineers and Scientists can apply because of the multidisciplinary character of our research. PhDs get supported by professors of both national and international universities, all of them experts in their domains.

Who you are

• MSc degree in electronics engineering or equivalent.
• Experience in mixed-signal IC design and tapeout, and is familiar with the relevant CAD tools (e.g., Cadence)
• Experience in PCB design and electrical testing, e.g., spectrum analyzer, oscilloscope.
• Sufficient knowledge in wireless power transfer and/or communication system, (e.g., link budget, bit error rate)
• Experience in multi-physics or EM simulation (e.g., Comsol, HFSS) is a plus.
• Experience in biomedical implantable devices is a plus.
• Passionate about linking microelectronics to biomedical applications to create societal impact.
• Excellent English writing and presentation skills.

Interested 

Click on ‘apply’ to submit your application. You will then be redirected to e-recruiting.

Interested 

Cv’s can be send in until 15 April 2021.
Interviews will be scheduled in May 2021.
The candidate is expected to start 1 September 2021