Nanoelectromechanical relay-based computing

The project aims to develop nanoelectromechanical relay-based computing and memory circuits for emerging paradigms such as the Internet of Things (IoT), all-electric vehicles and more-electric aircraft that require extreme energy efficiency and harsh-environment capability. This is an exciting opportunity to do a PhD working alongside international partners and be part of a team that aims to produce the first nanoelectromechanical relay-based FPGA.
Within the PhD, you will design, fabricate and characterise nanoelectromechanical relay-based circuits and functional blocks. You will have the opportunity to fabricate circuits using state-of-the-art facilities for nanofabrication at the University of Bristol. You will be exposed to the latest industry practices in design, nanofabrication and assembly.
It represents an opportunity for a committed and motivated student to read for a PhD at a premier British University in collaboration with a glittering array of partners and establish a track record in a very novel area of semiconductor electronics.

Candidate Requirements
PhD applicants must hold/achieve a minimum of a masters degree (or international equivalent) in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Microelectromechanical / Nanoelectromechanical Systems (MEMS / NEMS), Physics or a relevant discipline. Applicants without a masters qualification may be considered on an exceptional basis, provided they hold a first-class undergraduate degree. Please note, acceptance will also depend on evidence of readiness to pursue a research degree.

Basic skills and knowledge required:
Physics of semiconductor devices and fields, theory of mechanics and structures, fundamentals of materials, operation and design of digital and analogue electronic circuits and systems, and assembly and characterisation of electronic devices as typically covered in an undergraduate course in Engineering.

Scholarship Details
The scholarship will start when a suitable candidate has been found.

Informal enquiries
Please email Dr Dinesh Pamunuwa ([Email Address Removed])
For general enquiries, please email [Email Address Removed]

Application Details
Prior to any application please email your full CV to [Email Address Removed]
To apply for this studentship submit a PhD application using our online application system [www.bristol.ac.uk/pg-howtoapply]
Please ensure that in the Funding section you tick “I would like to be considered for a funding award from the Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department” and specify the title of the scholarship in the “other” box below with the name of the supervisor.