Miniaturized magnetic field sensing is beneficial in several applications including navigation of implantable chips, nanosatellites, and power and motor monitoring systems for cleaner energy production. However, state of the art silicon CMOS devices are limited in 3D sensing capability due to the processing restrictions on vertical hall devices. In addition, silicon Hall-sensors have limited temperature operation ranges which restricts its application in extreme environments. These can be overcome with new materials, fabrication methods and geometries.

We seek you as a PhD candidate to create a novel 3D magnetometer that leverages MEMS processing with novel materials, to create a magnetometer that can sense all three magnetic field directions from a single device. You will investigate novel materials in the active layer to improve performance and temperature operation over silicon devices. You will also design and tape-out the circuit for bias and readout in a modern CMOS process. This is a multidisciplinary project which will involve collaboration both in our group, across the microelectronics department (EI – ECTM), and across faculties (EEMCS-3ME).

You’ll join our highly motivated, supportive and cohesive team of professors, teachers, technicians, PhD students and master’s students in the Electronic Instrumentation (EI). At EI you’ll find a welcoming and open atmosphere. We have a track record of nurturing talent at various academic levels and will give you all the support you need to evolve in your PhD. Our world-class facilities include the fully equipped EKL and Kavli Nanolab cleanrooms, as well as dedicated labs for micro-system assembly, electrical measurements and sensor characterization.

We need you to have experience with either analog IC design and hands-on microfabrication. It would be nice if you have experience with both topics but not required. It is also nice to have worked with electrical measurement experiements and finite element simulation tools (example: COMSOL, Silvaco, etc). You also should be a self-motivated researcher with excellent learning, analytical, problem-solving creativity, teamwork and communication skills.

If you feel this role would be a perfect match, but you cannot yet tick all the boxes, we’d still really like to get to know you, as you can learn and grow on the job!  

Additional information

In The Netherlands, almost all PhD positions are linked to funded research projects. This has several implications:

• PhD students are employed: they receive a salary rather than a grant. Most projects have a duration of 4 years.
• Positions become available once a project is funded. This can happen at any time during the year.
• It typically takes 6 to 9 months for a project proposal to receive funding. In this period, a position may be anticipated but the outcome remains insecure. Once a project is funded, the open position needs to be filled as soon as possible.

If you are interested in our research, it merits to inquire whether openings will be available. We collect resumes of prospective PhD students throughout the year, for each of our research tracks.

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.
• Excellence: your Grade-Point-Average should be above 8 (10). Also your MSc thesis should have received a grade above 8 (10). (3.3 on the 4.0 scale)*
• English: you should be able to communicate well in English (written and oral). Provide TOEFL/IELTS scores if available.
• 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.

Your resume should contain contact information of prior advisors/supervisors who can provide feedback.   

*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 € 2541 per month in the first year to € 3247 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.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation.

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 disciplines - electrical engineering, mathematics and computer science. Combined, they reinforce each other and are the driving force behind the technology we use in our daily lives. Technology such as the electricity grid, which our faculty is helping to make future-proof. We are also working on a world in which humans and computers reinforce each other. We are mapping out disease processes using single cell data, and using mathematics to simulate gigantic ash plumes after a volcanic eruption. There is plenty of room here for ground-breaking research. We educate innovative engineers and have excellent labs and facilities that underline our strong international position. In total, more than 1,100 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.