The Chair of Electronic Components and Circuits (EBS) at UDE is part of the Faculty of Engineering and one of the 13 Chairs of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology. The versatile and interdisciplinary research activities of the EBS team in the context of micro- and optoelectronic functional components, CMOS-compatible technologies and learning embedded systems are thematically closely linked with the activities of the Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems (FhG-IMS), whose director Prof. Grabmaier is also the EBS chairholder.

The collaboration of the EBS team at UDE and their colleagues at Fraunhofer IMS combines the expertise of both institutions to research innovative measurement solutions for medical applications. This includes the development of novel sensor principles with a focus on camera-based technologies and image processing using state-of-the-art AI- and ML-based processing techniques in collaboration with clinical partners.

For a consortial project funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) starting mid of the year we are looking for a scientific researcher to support the development of ComplexEye – a novel unique array microscope for simultaneous time-lapse video microscopy, enabling high throughput single-cell analysis of dynamic cell migration processes. The use of ComplexEye to study these processes provides deeper insights into mechanisms related to the human immune system and their role in the onset of diseases such as cancer, stroke and heart attack.

Start of employment

at the earliest possible date

Duration of employment

3 years

Working time

39 h 50 min (part-time employment is possible)

Your main tasks

Your responsibilities will include active participation in a novel and impactful research field as part of a multidisciplinary team. Your tasks will include

• Scientific development of a multi camera-based cell analysis unit with the focus on high speed FPGA-based cell recognition and feature extraction including microelectronics, optics, mechanics, circuitry, programming (GUI and HDL)
• Publication and presentation of the results in scientific journals and at conferences to actively contribute to the scientific discussion
• Supervision of Master’s and Bachelor’s students
• Coworking in an interdisciplinary project setting and team
• Enthusiasm and open-mindedness for the application field of biomedicine especially cell analysis
• Cooperation with microsystem technology and AI-group at Fraunhofer IMS
• Support in the preparation and teaching of B.Sc. and M.Sc. courses

Your profile

• Master or equivalent qualification in engineering (preferred electrical engineering or embedded systems engineering), physics or a similar subject

• At least basic experience preferably in more than one of the fields
  • Design of mixed signal electronic circuits and PCBs
  • Conceptual design and programming of embedded systems based on FPGA (using Verilog or equivalent) and microcontroller (using C, Python or equivalent)
  • Imaging optics and imager usage
  • Image processing and feature extraction (AI-based)
  • Conceptual design and programming of device control software (using Python or equivalent)
  • Interdisciplinary projects in medicine and engineering

• High motivation to solve scientific challenges creatively and independently
• Written and spoken German language skills are preferred

Professor Seidl’s team develops innovative smart sensor systems for medical applications. He is affiliated with the Department of Electronic Components and Circuits (EBS) of the UDE and the Business Unit Health of the Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems (IMS). His team is involved in the DFG research training group RTG2610 for future retinal implants (together with the RWTH Aachen and FZ Julich). Our focus here is on researching novel stimulation schemes of single cells and the fabrication of microelectrode arrays. Furthermore, the team is part of a DFG project for remote photoplethysmography together with e.g., the University Clinic Essen. The research includes the development of AI-based methods for the detection of sleep apnoea.

The collaboration of EBS and Fraunhofer IMS combines the expertise of both institutions to research innovative sensor solutions for medical applications. This includes the development of novel sensor principles, the cleanroom production of micro- and nanosensors, corresponding AI-based biosignal processing and the support of clinical studies in close cooperation with our clinical partners. The fundamental technologies are developed, simulated and characterised at the EBS department and form the basis for transfer to applications at Fraunhofer IMS.

Start of employment

at the earliest possible date

Duration of employment

4 years

Working time

39 h 50 min (part-time employment is possible)

Your main tasks

Your responsibilities will include active participation in a growing research field. Your tasks will include

• Scientific development in neurotechnology (e.g. retinal implants) with the focus on novel electrical stimulation hardware and schemes for cell-specific electrical stimulation and the respective (AI-based) neural signal processing
• Contributing to the strategic direction of our research and expanding the research team
• Publications and presentations in scientific journals and conferences to actively contribute to the scientific discussion
• Supervision of doctoral, Master’s and Bachelor’s students
• Participation in interdisciplinary projects (e.g., RTG2610 and other on-going DFG and BMBF projects) with internal and external partners from science and industry to drive technological breakthroughs
• Initiating new third-party funded projects (DFG, BMFTR, EU)
• Expansion of our biomedical laboratory and measurement technology
• Cooperation with microsystem technology and AI-group at Fraunhofer IMS
• Support in the preparation and teaching of courses (biosignal processing, medical implants)

Your profile

• PhD or equivalent qualification in biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, microsystems engineering, physics or a similar subject

• Proven personality in the field of biomedical and/or neural engineering (i.e., interdisciplinary projects in medicine and engineering) with experience in
  • Medical electronics (analog, digital)
  • Biosignal processing and (AI-based) analysis using Python or Matlab
  • Micro- and nanosystem technology for medical applications (BioMEMS)
  • Modelling and simulation tools (e.g., COMSOL)

• High motivation to solve scientific challenges creatively and independently
• Written and spoken German and English language skills are preferred

Die PIC- (Photonic Integrated Circuits) Forschungsgruppe des Fraunhofer IMS entwickelt neue photonische Plattformen und kooperiert dabei eng mit der Universität-Duisburg-Essen (EBS, Integrierte Photonik). Wir kombinieren bestehende Technologien mit neugeschaffenen (Meta-)materialien und integrieren unsere photonischen Schaltungen nahtlos mit Elektronik. In diesem Umfeld entwickeln wir neue Materialien, die ausgezeichnete optoelektronische Eigenschaften vorweisen. Die Anwendungsgebiete unserer Forschung liegen in den Bereichen Quantenphotonik, künstliche Intelligenz und Sensorik. Unsere Use-cases beinhalten die Entwicklung interferometrischer Systeme und neuromorphe Photonik um Rechenzentren für KI mit umweltfreundlichen niedrigen Energieverbräuchen in Zukunft zu ermöglichen.

In unmittelbarer Nähe (Luftlinie 1 km) zu unserem Fachgebiet EBS der Universität Duisburg-Essen liegt das Fraunhofer Institut für Mikroelektronische Schaltungen und Systeme (IMS) Duisburg. Zwischen beiden Institutionen gibt es eine enge Zusammenarbeit. Am IMS arbeiten ca. 250 Mitarbeiter (studentisch/ technisch/ wissenschaftlich). Eine Vielzahl der IMS-Projekte besitzen einen Forschungs- und Entwicklungscharakter, sodass sich hier für Doktoranden eine hervorragende Möglichkeit zur Promotion bildet.

Innerhalb dieser Zeit kann eine Entwicklung vom Konzept über die Fertigung bis zum Test und Montage verfolgt und dokumentiert werden. Bei Interesse schauen Sie sich bei der Personalabteilung des IMS unter dem Link.