Lund University, Faculty of Engineering, Electrical & Information Technology

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world’s top universities. The University has around 47 000 students and more than 8 800 staff based in Lund, Helsingborg and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain and improve our world and the human condition.

Lund University welcomes applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We regard gender equality and diversity as a strength and an asset.

The Department of Electrical and Information Technology consists of four divisions: ‘Secure and Networked Systems’, ‘Communication Engineering’, ‘Integrated Electronics Systems’, and ‘Electromagnetics and Nanoelectronics’. The department participates in the strategic research area Excellence Center at Linköping-Lund in Information Technology (ELLIIT) together with other departments at Lund University, Linköping University, Blekinge Institute of Technology, and Halmstad University.

Subject description
Electrical Engineering at LTH comprises electromagnetics, electronics, networks, security, signal processing, and wireless and wired communication. The aim of research within the field is to arrive at an understanding of the underlying physical context through theoretical and experimental methods and to formulate, realize and verify effective solutions in different applications. This position focuses on electromagnetics.

Electromagnetic fields exist all around us and are an integral part of our lives. Applications grow with each technological advancement and we are now surrounded by electromagnetic devices and rapidly growing IoT. These uses give several interesting research areas such as large multiband antenna arrays, and intelligent reflecting or transmitting surfaces with complex radiation patterns. The projects listed below include research areas within the design of radiating structures and measurement techniques to verify them.

Work duties
The main duties of doctoral students are to devote themselves to their research studies which include participating in research projects and third cycle courses. The work duties will also include teaching and other departmental duties (no more than 20 %).

The basis for the research and teaching activities in electromagnetics is the fundamental macroscopic electromagnetic laws (Maxwell’s equations) as they apply to the generation and propagation of electromagnetic fields. Special emphasis is also given to the theoretical study of the various devices that can be constructed to amplify and regulate these phenomena. In our ambition to meet these goals all methods analytic, numerical, and measurements are relevant to us. Two possible research directions are described below. The final choice of project and thesis advisor will be made jointly by the candidate and the department. 

  1. Measuring radiation to verify and develop devices is key in the next generation connected society. In this project, we intend to develop a real-time sensor of the radiated electromagnetic fields. The technique is made possible by a non-intrusive metasurface constructed to transform mm-Wave radiation from 5G/6G and beyond systems to heat imaged by an infrared camera. With the suggested technique, low power levels corresponding to devices in consumer products can be measured, enabling rapid verification and testing of 5G and beyond systems.
    Contact person: Prof. Mats Gustafsson.                                                                                          
  2. To reduce the area needed for each wireless sensor on a given platform, it is desirable with multi-functional antenna apertures, where several antenna functions can coexist at different frequencies. In this project, we intend to develop antenna elements for an array antenna that can coexist with another array antenna at a significantly higher frequency, i.e., the antenna element should work very well at its fundamental frequency and be virtually invisible on another.
    Contact person: Prof. Daniel Sjöberg.

The positions include analysis and further development of existing solutions, use of electromagnetic field theory to identify new solutions, and verification mainly through numerical simulations and experimental verification of prototypes may also be relevant. Different project directions can be envisaged, with collaboration with other universities and/or industries.

Project 1 is a joint ELLIIT project with one PhD position at Lund University and one at Linköping University (in the research group of Printed Electronics at the Laboratory of Organic Electronics, separately advertised). The LU and LiU teams are together setting up a tight collaboration environment where theoretical modelling, design, production of flexible metasurfaces and final characterization goes hand in hand. PhD students will here perform science and engineering in a highly twinned fashion where a fast feedback from modelling to characterization is crucial to advance the understanding and technology of the suggested metasurface sensors.

Admission requirements
A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if the applicant:

  • has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
  • has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or
  • has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

A person meets the specific admission requirements for third-cycle studies in Electrical Engineering if the applicant has:

  • at least 60 second-cycle credits in subjects of relevance to electrical engineering, or
  • a MSc in Engineering in biomedical engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, engineering mathematics, nano engineering, engineering physics, or information and communication engineering.

Finally, the student must be judged to have the potential to complete the programme.

Additional requirements:

  • Very good oral and written proficiency in English.
  • Very good knowledge of one or several subjects in electromagnetics, mathematics, or classical physics.

Assessment criteria
Selection for third-cycle studies is based on the student’s potential to profit from such studies. The assessment of potential is made primarily on the basis of academic results from the first and second cycles. Special attention is paid to the following:

  1. Knowledge and skills relevant to the thesis project and the subject of study.
  2. An assessment of ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems.
  3. Written and oral communication skills.
  4. Other experience relevant to the third-cycle studies, e.g. professional experience.

Other assessment criteria:

  • Experience in electromagnetic design problems.
  • Experience in numerical simulation and optimization.
  • Experience in experimental setups and characterization.

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant, through his or her experience and skills, is deemed to have the abilities necessary for successfully completing the third cycle programme.

Terms of employment
Only those admitted to third-cycle studies may be appointed to a doctoral studentship. Third cycle studies at LTH consist of full-time studies for 4 years. A doctoral studentship is a fixed-term employment of a maximum of 5 years (including 20% departmental duties). Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §.

Instructions on how to apply
Applications shall be written in English and include a cover letter stating the reasons why you are interested in the position and in what way the research project corresponds to your interests and educational background. The application must also contain a CV, degree certificate or equivalent, and other documents you wish to be considered (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.). You are also asked to answer the job specific questions.

Type of employment Temporary position
First day of employment As soon as possible according to agreement
Salary Monthly salary
Number of positions 2
Full-time equivalent 100
City Lund
County Skåne län
Country Sweden
Reference number PA2021/1923
Contact
  • Daniel Sjöberg, Professor, daniel.sjoberg@eit.lth.se
  • Mats Gustafsson, Professor, mats.gustafsson@eit.lth.se
Union representative
  • OFR/ST:Fackförbundet ST:s kansli, 046-222 93 62
  • SACO:Saco-s-rådet vid Lunds universitet, 046-222 93 64
  • SEKO: Seko Civil, 046-222 93 66
Published 09.Jun.2021
Last application date 30.Jun.2021 11:59 PM CEST

Return to job vacancies