PhD and Postdoc vacancies

CONNECT investigators at UCD have the following open positions:

1. Post-doctoral Researcher Post on Analog to Digital Data Converters (ADCs)

Analog to Digital data Converters (ADCs) are today required to operate at ever increasing speeds with high precision. To achieve such high speeds (GHz) at the required precision, specifically with the linearity requirements, novel solutions are required to be developed to extend the existing performance beyond the current state of the art.

Applications are invited for a Post-doctoral Researcher post in the UCD School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. This post is to develop, analyse, simulate, implement and verify digital algorithms that seek to address the shortcoming of existing solutions. The successful candidate will work as part of a mixed skilled team to develop novel algorithms and digital correction techniques to compensate and correct for the inherent non-linearity associated with existing high-speed ADCs. This work will be undertaking in conjunction with a leading multi-national company prominent in the field.

This position may be appointed at either UCD Post-Doctoral Research Fellow Level 1 (PD1) or Level 2 (PD2) with a 2-year contract (Salary: PD1 – €36,854 – €42,603 per annum; PD2 – €43,828 – €47,728 per annum), depending on the relevant qualifications and experience of the successful candidate. Application should be made via UCD HR website: https://www.ucd.ie/workatucd/jobs/ Select: External Applicants, then Search by School/Unit: Electrical & Electronic Eng., Job Ref: 010072. Informal Enquiries ONLY to: Dr. Barry Cardiff (barry.cardiff@ucd.ie).

2. PhD Studentships in Broadband Millimetre-Wave Transceivers for High Speed UAV-based Wireless Communications

One of the key requirements for next generation (5G) communication networks is to provide ubiquitous connections to diversified users and device types. In the existing cellular networks, the radio access points are usually installed at fixed locations. At times of sudden and unpredictable demand, such as the occurrence of natural disasters or traffic congestions, the fixed-location supply infrastructure struggles to satisfy demand and connections may thus be lost. This project aims to develop advanced integrated circuits and systems for multi-antenna-based mm-wave transceivers to enable future high speed wireless communications using low-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, also known as drones). Thanks to their high mobility and flexible deployment, UAV-based wireless communication can adequately address the need of matching the distribution of supply of services to user traffic demands by dynamically deploying base stations at desired locations with different transmission power levels and with reconfigurable data rates that can guarantee ubiquitous connections in 5G networks.

This research will focus on advanced mixed signal CMOS IC design, high efficiency mm-wave GaN MMIC power amplifier research, novel lens phased array antenna design and digital linearization algorithms development. The PhD positions are fully funded by Science Foundation Ireland with tuition fees and scholarships covered, starting in May or September 2018 for four years. The research will be conducted in the IoE2 Lab under the supervision of Professor Anding Zhu in collaboration with industry partners and international academic collaborators.

Applicants should have Bachelors or Master’s degree in electronic engineering or relevant disciplines with excellent background in RF and analog circuit design, communication theory and signal processing algorithms. Potential candidates should send (1) CV; (2) Transcripts; (3) English Test Certificate (for non-native English speaker); and (4) Contact details of two referees (email and phone number) to Professor Anding Zhu via email anding.zhu@ucd.ie before the deadline 31st March 2018.