Prof Ronan Farrell
Applications accepted all year round
About the Project
Maynooth University as a partner in the SFI CONNECT Centre for the Internet of Things is offering a 3 Year PhD scholarship in the area of RF frontend design for high performance 5G radio systems. The SFI CONNECT Centre is Ireland’s national research centre for Future Networks and Communications and is a close collaboration between ten Irish academic institutions and over 35 companies including large multinationals, SMEs and start-ups. Maynooth University is leading a key research theme in the area of next generation high performance communication links for 5G and the Internet of Things.
There is a continuing demand for improvements in data rates and energy efficiency for all forms of radio communication systems. A number of techniques, such as smaller cells, cognitive radio, have been proposed to solve this but the physical technology to create the radio signal remains a fundamental challenge. RF circuits face a range of challenges including: high-power amplifier nonlinearity, crosstalk, leaky passive filters, antenna coupling, low noise amplifier (LNA) saturation, to name just a few Our research is to look at improvements in RF design close to the antenna and to evaluate techniques where digital signal processing can be used to enhance RF performance. Our work is focussed on the newer frequency bands at 14, 30 and 70 GHz where existing solutions are immature, lower quality and costly.
The ideal candidate should be interested in radio and wireless telecommunications. They should have had some prior undergraduate experience in RF or microwave circuit design. This project will have a number of industry partners with whom the student must engage and may have the opportunity to undertake an internship.
Interested candidates should hold a first or upper second class honours degree in Electronic Engineering, Computer Science or a cognate discipline. Applicants who hold research masters or work experience in a relevant area are particularly welcomed. This work is inherently multidisciplinary and the successful applicant will need to collaborate with computer scientists, engineers and with industry.
The standard scholarship is €18,000 per annum and all fees are included.
The expected start time for research postgraduates is in September of each year. If an applicant is available significantly earlier, then we are open to an earlier start date. If this applies, please state this clearly in your cover letter.
Applicants should email a detailed CV and a cover letter explaining your areas of interest and why they wish to undertake a research degree in Maynooth University. Please include two references. Please include CONNECT in the subject of your email. Applicants from outside of the EU are welcome to apply for all positions, however please state clearly your visa requirements in your initial emails. Please clearly state your citizenship in your application.
For all queries please email: [Email Address Removed]. Applications will be accepted until all positions are filled. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted in April.