PhD in Energy-Efficient Sensors and Computing Hardware from 2D Materials

Are you eager to shape the next generation of chips using atomically thin materials? In this PhD position, you will develop 2D nanomaterials and devices for more energy-efficient sensing and computing. The project will be undertaken within the NanoComputing Research Lab in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), at the heart of Europe’s leading semiconductor region.

Information In this PhD position, you will investigate 2D materials as a platform for next-generation sensing and computing devices. You will develop growth recipes for 2D materials and fabricate and characterize devices that could contribute to emerging energy efficient brain-inspired computing hardware.

What you’ll contribute to Specifically, you will:

• develop metal-organic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD) growth recipes for large-area 2D materials, such as MoS and WSe , with controlled defect densities;
• optimize transfer processes to integrate the grown 2D materials onto target device substrates, enabling heterogeneous integration;
• develop scalable fabrication processes in the TU/e cleanroom (NanoLab@TU/e) for device arrays, including sensors and transistors;
• engineer metal-semiconductor and dielectric interfaces to improve device performance;
• characterize materials and devices, and work with circuit designers to link material properties to device and circuit performance;
• publish your results in leading journals and present them at international conferences;
• supervise Bachelor’s and Master’s student projects.

Your research environment You will join the NanoComputing Research Lab (NanoComputing Research Lab), in the Integrated Circuits group of the Department of Electrical Engineering at TU/e. You will be supervised by Dr. Abhishek Singh Dahiya (project leader) and Prof. Aida Todri-Sanial. You will have access to TU/e’s state-of-the-art cleanroom and characterization facilities., A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station.

A master’s degree in electrical engineering, nanotechnology, or a related field, with a solid foundation in semiconductor materials and device physics, and prior experience in the growth of nanomaterials (preferably 2D materials using CVD), nanofabrication processes such as atomic layer deposition, lithography, etching etc., and 2D material transfer process., * A master’s degree (or an equivalent university degree) in electrical engineering, nanotechnology, or a related field.

• A research-oriented attitude.
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team.
• Motivated to develop your teaching skills and mentor bachelor/master’s students.
• Fluent in spoken and written English (C1 level).

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate assessment after nine months. You will spend a minimum of 10% of your four-year employment on teaching tasks, with a maximum of 15% per year of your employment.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. € 3,204 - max. € 4,051 gross base salary per month (full-time)).
• In addition to your base salary, you will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus, both calculated based on your annual gross base salary.
• Generous leave options: a standard 29 days (based on a 38 hour working week) per year that you can increase to 41 days by working two hours more per week (flexible working hours). This is prorated if you work part-time.
• As a TU/e employee, you participate in the ABP pension scheme, providing retirement pension and pension benefits for surviving dependents and occupational disability. TU/e pays 70% of the pension premium, while employees contribute the remaining 30%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, and on-campus children’s day care.
• Unlimited access to the modern on-campus TU/e Student Sports Center at an exceptionally affordable rate.
• We support your wellbeing with free 24/7 access to OpenUp, providing you and your family with mental health support, expert guidance, and online training.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the Expat Scheme) for international candidates.

TU/e

We are a leading international university where scientific curiosity meets a hands-on mindset. We work in an open and collaborative way with high-tech industries to tackle complex societal challenges. Our responsible and respectful approach ensures impact - today and in the future. TU/e is home to over 13,000 students and more than 7,000 staff, forming a diverse and vibrant academic community. Discover what Light Up means to TU/e in our short company video.

Our university is located in Brainport Eindhoven - a world-leading tech region with more than 7,000 high-tech companies and strong R&D activity. Known for breakthroughs in AI, photonics, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, Brainport is a place where technology serves people and society. Learn more about the Brainport region here.

The mission of the Department of Electrical Engineering is to acquire, share and transfer knowledge and understanding in the whole field of Electrical Engineering through education, research and valorization. We work towards a ‘Smart Sustainable Society’, a ‘Connected World’, and a healthy humanity (‘Care & Cure’). Activities share an application-oriented character, a high degree of complexity and a large synergy between multiple facets of the field.

Research is carried out into the applications of electromagnetic phenomena in all forms of energy conversion, telecommunication and electrical signal processing. Existing and new electrical components and systems are analyzed, designed and built. The Electrical Engineering department takes its inspiration from contacts with high-tech industry in the direct surrounding region and beyond.

The department is innovative and has international ambitions and partnerships. The result is a challenging and inspiring setting in which socially relevant issues are addressed.