Image sensors have been used widely in our daily lives. In this project, we will develop a low-power image sensor for IoT applications such as environment monitoring in remote areas. Two key aspects are critical for this application: low power and high dynamic range. While the first requirement is very straightforward, the second requirement enables the image sensor to be used in an outdoor environment where the light intensity can differ throughout the day.

Benefits of Low-Power HDR Image Sensors in IoT

The integration of low-power HDR image sensors in IoT applications offers numerous benefits:

• Extended Battery Life: Low power consumption ensures prolonged operation in remote locations, reducing the need for frequent maintenance and battery replacements.
• Comprehensive Monitoring: HDR capabilities allow for detailed and accurate environmental monitoring, providing valuable data for analysis.
• Scalability: CMOS technology enables scalable solutions that can be deployed widely without prohibitive costs.
• Enhanced Data Quality: HDR ensures that the data captured is of high quality, regardless of varying lighting conditions.
• Cost Efficiency: Reduced power consumption and extended sensor life lead to significant cost savings over time.

Research Focus

The selected candidate will focus on the following key areas:

• Low Power Design: Develop image sensors that consume minimal power, essential for IoT applications that rely on battery power or energy harvesting, especially in remote areas.
• High Dynamic Range (HDR): Design sensors capable of capturing high dynamic range images to provide detailed and accurate data across various lighting conditions, crucial for environmental monitoring.
• CMOS Technology: Utilize CMOS technology to realize and integrate the sensors, ensuring cost-effectiveness and scalability.

Why Join Us?

• Innovative Research Environment: Be a part of a leading research team working on groundbreaking technologies.
• State-of-the-Art Facilities: Access to advanced laboratories and tools to support your research.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for attending conferences, publishing papers, and collaborating with industry partners.

About supervision team

You will work in the Microelectronics department at TU Delft, and receive supervision and support from Dr. Fan and Dr. Rao regarding readout IC design and pixel design respectively. Dr. Fan is leading the APIC research group (www.apictudelft.com) and is a top expert in analog and mixed-signal circuit design, while Dr. Rao specializes in pixel physics and has multiple EU projects on image sensors running in parallel (http://microelectronics.tudelft.nl/People/bio.php?id=818).

Need to have:

1. You should have earned an MSc degree in electronics, preferably at a recognized institute for higher education.
2. You need to have good experience with the integrated circuit design software Cadence Spectre.
3. You need to have basic knowledge of integrated circuit design and semiconductor physics.

Nice to have:

1. Knowledge of image sensor design is highly appreciated.
2. Tapeout experience is highly appreciated.

If you feel this role would be a perfect match, but you cannot yet tick all the boxes but are confident you can, we’d still really like to get to know you!  

General requirements

We make our selection based on the following general requirements:

• Formal requirements regarding prior education: you should have earned an MSc degree at a recognized institute for higher education.
• Background: this depends on the specific project.
• English: you should be able to communicate well in English (written and oral). Provide TOEFL/IELTS scores unless your MSc degree is in English.
• Originality: your MSc thesis or later work (publications) should reflect some original ideas. Critical and independent thinking is very important.
• Team player: you should be able to work well in a team of other project members.

*competitive applications without an MSc might be considered upon extra review

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2770 per month in the first year to € 3539 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

From 1 September next, a salary increase of 3.7% applies due to a Collective Agreement amendment, followed by an additional 1% increase on 1 January 2025. 
In addition, most employees employed on 1 September 2024 will receive a one-off payment of €300 gross based on full-time employment.

The TU Delft offers a customizable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service. This service provides information for new international employees to help you prepare the relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme for partners and they organize events to expand your (social) network.

Delft University of Technology

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) brings together three scientific disciplines. Combined, they reinforce each other and are the driving force behind the technology we all use in our daily lives. Technology such as the electricity grid, which our faculty is helping to make completely sustainable and future-proof. At the same time, we are developing the chips and sensors of the future, whilst also setting the foundations for the software technologies to run on this new generation of equipment – which of course includes AI. Meanwhile we are pushing the limits of applied mathematics, for example mapping out disease processes using single cell data, and using mathematics to simulate gigantic ash plumes after a volcanic eruption. In other words: there is plenty of room at the faculty for ground-breaking research. We educate innovative engineers and have excellent labs and facilities that underline our strong international position. In total, more than 1000 employees and 4,000 students work and study in this innovative environment.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science.