Microwave engineering: PhD student position in Wireless Battery-free Open Sensing Platform

Offer Description

Human engineering has generated marvelous inventions, buildings and apparatus. But, in the past, short‑term profits have often been prioritized over long‑term benefits, with consequences on the future of mankind. A sustainable society is possible, where sensors bring timely and critical information to people and industrial processes, enabling radical cuts on energy consumption and resources usage.

Our goal at IMS lab is to develop sustainable electronics sensors, with infinite operation time, consuming zero power, and compatible with essential infrastructure. To harness the transformative potential of sensors, while meeting the Sustainable Development Goals, IMS lab is developing a customizable sensing platform, operating with so little energy that it can tap into the ambient microwave background to harness power.

We believe sustainable zero‑power wireless sensor can provide a mediating link between people and their environments towards better life in the long run. We also believe connecting by designing a customizable sensing platform as a mediating tool engaging youth in playful creative scientific learning experiences.

• Develop the technology that will be found in next generation industry
• Develop your career and network through collaborations and participation to premier meetings and conferences with the worldwide research community
• Teaching opportunities: expand your academic impact with possible teaching at Univ. Bordeaux and Bordeaux Institute of Technology

You hold a Master / engineering degree with sound bases in microwave engineering and have a pronounced interest in developing wireless technologies together with sharing scientific mediation activities towards a sustainable future. You have early experience in circuit & 3D electromagnetic simulation, as well as microwave design & measurement. Skills in microtechnologies, Wireless Power Transmission, backscattering modulation, “zero‑power circuits” with dedicated experimental setups are advantageous, but not mandatory.

You have a track record in problem‑solving skills and creative thinking. You possess excellent communication skills and are fluent in both spoken and written English. On top of that, you are rigorous and motivated by working in an interdisciplinary and international research environment. You are also an autonomous and diligent person who can independently pursue a given project and bring it to a successful end.

The successful candidate will be part of a team dedicated to the design and development of wireless zero‑power sensors. We are a research team unconstrained by traditional disciplines and apply engineering excellence to enable breakthrough scientific discovery. The IMS lab offers a friendly and dynamic research environment with close, daily interaction among all group members and strong collaborations with many international academic partners. Technical support is excellent with in‑house state‑of‑the‑art facilities. We are situated in the heart of University of Bordeaux campus, one of the leading technical universities of Europe, where we enjoy newly renovated office and lab space. The University of Bordeaux has a leading role within the European wireless power and wireless sensor research community. It has organised the largest conferences on the topic, including the Wireless Power Week in July 2022, and the RadioFrequency and Identification conference technology and applications in Oct. 2025.

Benefits

• Future Assistant professor positions opportunities at Univ. Bordeaux
• Interesting area of responsibility
• Collegial and friendly working atmosphere
• Flexible working schedule (e.g. possibility for home office)
• International training and teaching opportunities
• Subsidy for public transport
• University’s sports and language programs
• Top research infrastructure and access to the latest technologies
• Exciting opportunities for professional and personal development
• Safe and stable working environment

Univ. Bordeaux actively promotes diversity and equal opportunities. Applicants will not be discriminated in personnel selection procedures on the grounds of gender, ethnicity, religion or ideology, age, sexual orientation (Anti‑discrimination). People with disabilities and who have the relevant qualifications are expressly invited to apply.

The contract is meant to start in autumn 2026.