Applications are invited for 6 PhD positions (“Doctoral Researchers (DRs)”) within the PARASOL Doctoral Network. In total 12 DRs will be trained in the network of which 6 positions have now been filled. The following positions are currently still open. Applications need to be done by the vacancy websites of the hiring universities by using the link provided.

DR2: EM Material characterization method applied to carbon-fiber-filled plastic

Host: TU/e (NL)
Main supervisor: Dr. Ir. Anne Roc’h (a.roch@tue.nl)
Duration: 48 months
Salary: the monthly gross salary in the first year will be €2,541 and in the fourth year €3,247.
Objectives: We are looking for a Doctoral Researcher who will develop neat methods for RF material characterization, covering a large frequency band (100MHz-20GHz), to measure the complete constituent parameters without modifying the material under test. While broad-band methods for material characterization at frequencies are relatively well established for dielectric materials, convenient methods for characterization of magnetic materials are much rarer and often cumbersome. Furthermore, most methods are destructive. For the materials at hand here, we need to know the complex permittivity and permeability, possibly in their tensor forms for anisotropic materials, without modifying the material itself. Therefore, we need to develop new methods to do this, using techniques from the antenna, RF, microwave, and millimeter-wave engineering fields. After developing the method(s), its’ uncertainty needs to be estimated. This novel (in-situ) material characterization method will then be applied to a set of carbon-fiber-filled plastics produced with specialists from the company DSM. To overcome the intrinsic connection limitations in such fiber composites, synergistic filler combinations will be exploited (e.g., with carbon fillers).  Your techniques will be used for real life test and analysis at the company Jaguar-Land Rover.

Currently closed for applications.

DR5: Time-domain shielding for on-board power-electronics

Host: University of York (UK)
Main supervisor: Dr.ir Yihua Hu (yihua.hu@york.ac.uk)
Duration: 36 months
Salary: the gross salary will be £41,330 per year.
Objectives: This DR aims to further the understanding of on-board electromagnetic shielding for power electronics and provide tools to allow engineers to optimize this shielding. An innovative strategy to shield on-board EMI generated by power-electronic equipment will be explored. It consists in a holistic shielding technique including both software and hardware. This will enable a trade-off between waveform control (complexity and efficiency) and shielding techniques (mass and cost) in the overall on-board design. This trade-off will be assessed with respect to the Safe and Sustainable-by-Design approach.

Link to local vacancy will follow soon

DR7: Interconnects characterization

Host: UT (NL)
Main supervisor: Dr. ir. Robert Vogt (r.a.vogtardatjew@utwente.nl)
Duration: 48 months
Salary: the monthly gross salary in the first year will be €2,541 and in the fourth year €3,247.
Objectives: This task is about investigating the shielding effectiveness (SE) of real complex 3D structures like boxes, enclosures, and (parts of) cars, planes or ships. The currently used, simplified techniques are based on flat-panel structures, while the most critical aspect of SE is the interconnection of those panels, especially for composite materials. Even the most high-tech industries are forced to manufacture and test several prototypes, because the actual performance of interconnection techniques is unpredictable. A major factor is also the lack of interaction between material engineers, mechanical engineers, and electromagnetic engineers. The SE of a complex structure is only as good as its weakest point, therefore it needs to be characterized to expose the bottlenecks and adapt its design to balance and optimize the performance overall. This DR focuses on the characterization of various interconnect types that will serve as a tool for estimating and optimizing the SE following the steps: modelling, validation, correction, and conversion to parameters usable by industry depending on the application ranging from small full-metal, composite, and embedded plastic structures, interfaces, feedthroughs, to complete ships, rooms, or buildings, including monitoring the effects of breaching, corrosion, and deterioration over time.

Application via: link

DR8: Electromagnetic Characterization of the Screening Effectiveness of Cables

Host: TU/e (NL)
Main supervisor: Dr. Ir. Anne Roc’h (a.roch@tue.nl)
Duration: 48 months
Salary: the monthly gross salary in the first year will be €2,541 and in the fourth year €3,247.
Objectives: Cables are at the heart of the revolution occurring in our electronic and electric systems for mobility. They are the key propagator of EMI: they catch, radiate, and amplify noise. Parasitic EM noise propagates in a cable as a current, or around it as EM waves.
You will develop an accurate measurement procedure to measure the energy exchange through the shield of a cable. The Reverberating Chamber (RC) is the most accurate means to measure radiation efficiencies because it allows isotropic device measurements. There is no need for device alignment or three-dimensional scans, as there would be in an anechoic chamber. Your measured Shielding efficiency in the RC will be compare with real-life performances on board at the companies: Jaguar-Land Rover, Siemens, Lotus, and Ford.

Currently closed for applications.

DR9: Statistical Shielding Metrics for Enclosures

Host: UoY (UK)
Main supervisor: Dr.ir. Simon Bale (simon.bale@york.ac.uk)
Duration: 36 months
Salary: the gross salary will be £41,330 per year.
Objectives: Electromagnetic shielding is essential in nearly all electronic systems to prevent electromagnetic interference affecting the operation of sensors and wireless communications. To date, all current electromagnetic shielding enclosure measurement standards ignore the internal electronics that the shield is there to protect. This can lead to unpredictable outcomes when the shield is installed. Working as part of the Applied Electromagnetics and Devices research group at the University of York, you will develop more accurate shielding metrics, modelling and measurement techniques that will allow the real-world shielding effectiveness of enclosures with contents to be quantified. This will allow engineers to better predict the risk of EMC failures and optimise the shielding design of their equipment resulting in a reduced design overhead and therefore lower costs. Our previous work has shown that the shielding effectiveness (SE) of an enclosure is not an intrinsic property of the enclosure itself. It depends on the absorption cross-section (ACS) of the enclosure contents as well as the transmission cross-section (TCS) of the enclosure apertures. In this work we aim to measure the TCS of an enclosure and the ACS of its contents in a statistical sense so that the SE of an enclosure can be statistically quantified. You will have the opportunity to work with EVEKTOR and apply the techniques developed in this work to aircraft structures. This is a fully funded (salaried) post for 3 years, and as well as working towards your PhD in the research group at York, you will spend several secondments with our industrial and University partners to further your skills.

Application via: link.

DR10: Trade-off SE solutions for enclosures

Host: UPC (ES) / UT (NL)
Main supervisor: Dr. ir. Robert Vogt (r.a.vogtardatjew@utwente.nl)
Duration: 48 months
Salary: the monthly gross salary in the first year will be €2,541 and in the fourth year €3,247.
Objectives: This task is about addressing the fundamental concept of shielding achieved by reflection and/or absorption. The corresponding trade-offs regard the material properties, design, and implementation, as well as performance evaluation methods, also in their designated applications, with a strong focus on reverberant enclosures such as airplanes and cars. These reverberant enclosures can generate hot sports of (much) higher field strength rendering reflective SE measures much less effective than absorption. However, the currently available absorbing materials have disputable stable performance, and the materials are used in a trial-and-error process, based on measurement techniques which have been developed, but not (yet) standardised. The DR will focus on the selection of materials (e.g., carbon-fibre filled plastics, ferrite, sprayed-cold composite, or metal, also as a frequency selective surface (FSS)), trade-offs (considering e.g., weight, volume, shape, frequency range and selectivity), implementation type (e.g., coating, paint, gasket/rivet/screw, FSS mesh), design fit and integration in the designated application, as well as cost/performance trade-offs. Although this task looks interesting for material research, it is focused on electromagnetics in the microwave range 1-100 GHz.

Application via: link