PhD Position Integrated Circuit Design for Wearable Ultrasound

Are you a talented mixed-signal IC designer with an apetite for research and a drive to make a difference? Join us as a PhD researcher and design the smart ICs that will power wearable ultrasound.

Job description

Join us in shaping the future of healthcare through cutting-edge technology! We are offering a PhD position in mixed-signal integrated circuit design as part of SonoSkin, an ambitious research consortium developing wearable ultrasound devices for real-time monitoring of vital body functions. The goal: create affordable, scalable technology that brings deep-tissue ultrasound monitoring from hospitals to homes.

As a PhD researcher, you’ll design innovative low-power ASICs to drive and process signals from MEMS ultrasound transducers, enabling compact, intelligent wearable systems. You'll work in a multidisciplinary team at the intersection of microelectronics and biomedical engineering, contributing to real-world applications like lung monitoring and musculoskeletal tracking.

You'll be working at the Electronic Instrumentation (EI) Laboratory (https://ei.ewi.tudelft.nl/), which is part of the Microelectronics Department. The mission of the EI Lab is to realize smart sensor systems for the acquisition of data from physical, chemical and biomedical signals. This involves the design and fabrication of sensors, as well as of the precision analog and digital circuitry required to read them out.

Within the EI Lab, you'll be working in the Smart Ultrasound Group (https://ei.ewi.tudelft.nl/Research/theme.php?id=41), led by Dr. Michiel Pertijs, which has a long track record in innovative chip designs for ultrasound applications.

If you're passionate about microelectronics and eager to apply your skills to make a tangible impact on healthcare, we invite you to apply.

Job requirements

• MSc degree in Electrical Engineering, Microelectronics, or a related field.
• Strong background in analog and mixed-signal integrated circuit design, proven by prior chip-design experience, ideally with measured silicon.
• Experience with EDA tools (Cadence) for IC design and layout.
• Hands-on experience with experimental lab work, including testing and characterization of analog/mixed-signal circuits, PCB prototyping, FPGA programming and measurement equipment.
• Knowledge of ultrasound electronics, sensor interfaces, or biomedical systems is a plus.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology) 

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science 

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) brings together three scientific disciplines. Combined, they reinforce each other and are the driving force behind the technology we all use in our daily lives. Technology such as the electricity grid, which our faculty is helping to make completely sustainable and future-proof. At the same time, we are developing the chips and sensors of the future, whilst also setting the foundations for the software technologies to run on this new generation of equipment – which of course includes AI. Meanwhile we are pushing the limits of applied mathematics, for example mapping out disease processes using single cell data, and using mathematics to simulate gigantic ash plumes after a volcanic eruption. In other words: there is plenty of room at the faculty for ground-breaking research. We educate innovative engineers and have excellent labs and facilities that underline our strong international position. In total, more than 1000 employees and 4,000 students work and study in this innovative environment.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science.

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 € 2901 per month in the first year to € 3707 in the fourth year. 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

 For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. ir. Michiel Pertijs, via M.A.P.Pertijs@tudelft.nl.

Application procedure

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 6 July 2025 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• A cover letter describing your personal motivation and specific qualifications for this position (max 1 page).

• Your CV.

• Abstract of your MSc thesis.

• Copies of prior publications (if applicable).

• Contact information of up to two referees.

You can address your application to Dr.ir. Michiel Pertijs.

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:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. 
• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• For the final candidates, a knowledge security check will be part of the application procedure. For more information on this check, please consult Chapter 8 of the National Knowledge Security Guidelines. We carry out this check on the basis of legitimate interest.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.