The Department of Microtechnology and Nanoscience focuses on research, innovation and education within the fields of future electronics, photonics, bio- and nanosystems. A close collaboration with Swedish and international partners within academy, industry and society enables scientific excellence and creates an innovative environment. In addition to the 200 researchers and Ph D students, MC2 houses a cleanroom for micro- and nanofabrication with the latest equipment.

Information about the research/the project
Several open positions as PhD students and Postdocs are announced (see other ads with the same title). The project is cross-disciplinary and involves three different departments at Chalmers; the Photonics Lab at Department of Microtechnology and Nanoscience, the Communication Systems Group at the Department of Signals and Systems, and the VLSI group at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. The project will benefit from the prolific research environment in the Fiber-Optic Communication Research Centre (FORCE).

Optical communication links and networks are essential for the Internet backbone as well as for interconnects used in data centers and high-performance computing systems. Therefore, the energy consumption in optical transmission systems is an increasingly important problem within our information society. 

In a newly funded research project on Energy-efficient optical communications, we seek to develop novel power consumption models for electronics, optics, and algorithms as well as demonstrating novel energy-efficient link building blocks. This involves analyzing trade-offs required to minimize the energy consumption of a given system. We aim at experimentally and analytically verifying full links that are 10 times more power efficient than today's state-of-the-art and will verify our models in demonstrator projects, which will vertically integrate the optic, electronic and algorithmic components.

Major responsibilities
The persons filling these positions will participate in research as outlined above and will be spending time at all three departments which will be essential to help cross-fertilize our work. Therefore, working in teams is an essential aspect as is “thinking outside the box”. The appointments offer an opportunity to qualify for further research positions within academia or industry. Included in your work is also to some extent taking part in the supervision and teaching of students. 

Your major responsibilities as PhD student is to pursue your own doctoral studies. You are expected to develop your own scientific concepts and communicate the results of your research verbally and in writing. The position generally also includes teaching on Chalmers' undergraduate level or performing other duties corresponding to 20 per cent of working hours.

Position summary

The role of this particular PhD student, who will be a member of the Photonics Laboratory at MC2, is to be the fiberoptic and optoelectronics expert in the team. Together with the other team members, who will provide algorithm and electronics expertise, the student will investigate tradeoffs between various solutions in terms of energy consumption. In this context, topics include dispersion compensation, spectral efficiency, nonlinear transmission, optical amplifiers, coherent recievers with digital signal processing, etc. Candidates for this position must therefore have a background in optical communication systems.

The position as a PhD student is a full-time temporary employment, limited to a maximum of four years, plus teaching and other departmental duties. A monthly salary is paid. There are no tuition fees for PhD studies at Chalmers.

Qualifications
Applicant should have a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Electrical Engineering, Engineering Physics, or similar, with a strong background in optical communications and signal processing. Excellent team-working skills, presentation skills, and fluency in English are required. As merits will be considered knowledge in optimization, electronics, and optics; experience with with optical tranmission experiments, Matlab and other simulation software; teaching experience; and publications.

Application procedure

Please use the button at the foot of the page to reach the application form. The following files should be uploaded, preferably in PDF format. Note that these instructions replace the column “Other information” in the application form, which should be ignored!

1. Application: Your Curriculum Vitae including publication list (if any). File name: APPLICATION_familyname
2. Qualification: An application letter of 1-2 pages describing your specific qualifications for the position. File name: QUALIFICATIONS_familyname
3. Other documents (click the button once for each file to attach):

• Bachelor’s degree certificate and transcripts. File name: BACHELOR_familyname
• Master’s degree certificate and transcripts. File name: MASTER_familyname
• Selected publications, such as your Master’s thesis or conference articles. File name: PUBLICATIONS_familyname
• Other relevant documents, if any, such as proof of rank in class or English test results. File name: OTHER_familyname

It is important that you use the file names given above. Also, answer all questions at the bottom of the web form. Applications without complete answers to these questions may be delayed or not considered. (Important: Enter your course grade (score) along with the course names in question 12, and make sure that the email addresses for your reference persons in question 13 are valid.)

Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Application deadline: 2014-02-28

Links

• Chalmers
• http://www.chalmers.se/en/departments/mc2/Pages/default.aspx
• Fiber-Optic Communications Research Center (FORCE)

For questions, please contact:
Professor Peter Andrekson
E-mail: peter.andrekson@chalmers.se

Professor Anders Larsson
E-mail: anders.larsson@chalmers.se

Professor Magnus Karlsson
E-mail: magnus.karlsson@chalmers.se