PhD Position Power-Digital Transmitter (DTX) Design

Job Description

Wireless communication has made fantastic progress. However, the biggest concern is the exponential increase in energy consumption of next-generation 5G/6G networks that use "massive Multi-Input/Multi-Output (mMIMO)" techniques. Without a breakthrough, these networks are expected to consume a significant portion of global electricity production by 2030. The main culprits are analog-oriented radio frequency (RF) transmitters (TX), which consume significant energy (even with minimal data traffic) to meet the high-quality requirements of the transmission signal.

This PhD position is part of the ERC Synergy Grant awarded project "DISRUPT", which aims to realize a revolutionary all-digital signal generation in the time domain using new materials, transistors, and design techniques. This approach will, for the first time, deliver the required RF transmission powers using only digital techniques and will be the first to benefit from the theoretical 3000x better RF switching performance of III-Nitride semiconductors compared to silicon.

Foreseen breakthroughs of the DISRUPT project are:

• New material and transistor concepts for digital RF power generation.
• Innovative CMOS controllers in combination with revolutionary (gate-)segmented LDMOS/GaN technologies, containing thousands of small RF-power transistors, that can be individually controlled with picosecond accuracy.
• Broadband coherent signal generation using new waveforms.
• New distributed RF-power signal generation and combining, enabling wideband and highly energy-efficient transmitters.
• Seamless integration of serial high-speed digital data transport, clock recovery, signal processing (DSP), wideband low-power error detection using novel ADC architectures, and artificial intelligence-based error correction.

The unique DISRUPT approach offers unprecedented functionality, integration, and efficiency for wireless systems in terrestrial and satellite applications. When DISRUPT is successful, the energy consumption of wireless networks is expected to be reduced by 50% compared to following current technological development paths. This PhD project (PhD C) in the DISRUPT framework focuses on Power-Digital Transmitter (DTX) design.

It addresses the following scientific challenges and provides hardware solutions for:

• Low-loss RF-power switch banks layouts
• CMOS-LDMOS and CMOS-GaN high-density interconnect schemes
• Novel RF-power combiner topologies/schemes fully exploring DTX functionality
• Wideband efficiency-enhancement schemes for deep power back-off operation
• Ultra-low form-factor / novel package integration
• Thermal design of RF-power DTX

You will be part of a leading team in wireless transmitters within the Electronic Research Laboratory (ELCA) of the Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands. Within ELCA we share a drive to pioneer novel RF/wireless solutions at the device, circuit, and system levels. The daily supervision team consists of Dr. Morteza Alavi and Prof. Dr. Leo de Vreede (IEEE Fellow) from ELCA, complemented by our esteemed DISRUPT partners at UCD and Fraunhofer IAF/IZM, as well as various experts from the wireless industry. Fostering an inspiring, friendly, and supportive environment, we meet regularly, educate you on solving complex problems, share ideas and knowledge, team up, and provide the support you need to evolve as a scientist.

Curious to learn more about this PhD position and DISRUPT? Please visit our website, where you'll also find the other exciting PhD descriptions/opportunities related to DISRUPT.

Requirements

In order to be successful in this project, you bring:

• MSC in Electrical Engineering
• Experience in IC design (Cadence)
• Knowledge of RF/wireless and RF design tools (ADS)
• Good programming skills in Matlab/Python/C/C++
• You are familiar with implementing a digital Design flow.
• Good oral and written skills in English
• Enjoys working in an international and interdisciplinary team and research group

To thrive as a PhD candidate in this project, it's crucial that you are a team player and have a strong research mindset driven by curiosity and passion for your topic. Reflecting on your motivation for pursuing a PhD trajectory is essential, as this path involves unique challenges and uncertainties inherent to scientific exploration. Success requires dedication, adaptability, the ability to analyze/design complex problems, effective time management, innovation, and resilience under pressure. Combined with the ability and willingness to work independently and collaborate well, these qualities are indispensable for a fulfilling PhD journey. These experiences will build you as an independent researcher, expand your professional network, and pave the way for diverse paths, inside or outside academia.

Conditions of employment

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 €3059 - €3881 gross per month, from the first year to the fourth year based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.

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 a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.

Additional information

If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact Beatrice Piovan, via [email protected].

This is an EU-funded Horizon ERC Synergy Grant, call reference ERC-2025-SyG, acronym DISRUPT, Proposal No. 101224664.

Application procedure

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 30 April 2026 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• CV including your educational and research background, Professional skills and List of publications
• Motivational letter
• Copies of your BSc, and MSc, degrees and transcripts

You can address your application to Beatrice Piovan.

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.

Please note:

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