Research Associate

Salary: £34,308 - £42,155 per annum

FTE: 1.0 FTE (6 posts)

Term: Fixed to 31 March 2025

Closing date: 6 March 2023

The LiFi Research and Development Centre (LRDC) of the Electronic and Electrical Engineering Department announces six new openings of research associate (RA) funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to develop a more diverse telecommunications market under the Future Open Networks Research Challenge (FONRC). Candidates with a strong proven track record in either research and/or development in one or more of the following subjects are encouraged to apply: Optical wireless communications (OWC) (preferred), optical fibre communications, satellite communication, optics, photonics and optoelectronic design, digital signal processing, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) for communication networks. We are seeking to recruit for the following positions (Please indicate which role you believe you would be most suited to in your application):

1. A software research engineer to develop and implement AI/ML algorithms on the novel REASON architecture and platforms
2. A system researcher to model novel system concepts involving optical reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) as well as LiDAR sensing co-designed with grid-of-beam vertical layer surface emitting laser (VCSEL) optical wireless transmitters.
3. A systems research engineer for long range and high speed free-space optical (FSO) systems building massive MIMO photovoltaic receivers for simultaneous energy harvesting and gigabit/s transceivers towards net-zero FSO systems deployable anywhere.
4. An analogue electronics design engineer developing ultra-high bandwidth and low power optical wireless drivers and receivers (detector arrays and transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs) for LiFi systems. Candidates with analog chip design expertise are preferred.
5. A digital research engineer developing ML algorithms for hybrid multi-access integration of radio frequency (RF) and optical wireless communication (OWC) systems, and implementing them on field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and digital signal processer (DSP) platforms.
6. An optoelectroncis research engineer designing the segmented optics (such as new flat freeform optics) for our LiFi, multiuser system including the integration of new detectors and transmitter technologies for massive MIMO LiFi systems.

The Realising Enabling Architectures and Solutions for Open Networks (REASON) project led by the University of Bristol, was awarded almost £12M to develop and industrialise technologies and solutions for future 6G mobile networks. It brings together an ecosystem representing the entire telecommunication research and development supply chain. REASON will significantly contribute to the global 6G standardization.

The researchers will actively engage with the different project partners including University of Bristol, Kings College London, University of Southampton, Queens University of Belfast, Thales, among many others. This provides unique opportunities for collaboration and career development. Successful candidates will be guided to achieve project deliverables and also establish a personal research portfolio. It is expected that the candidate engages in relevant student supervision, professional and knowledge exchange activities and administrative activities.

The Research Associates will be part of the LiFi Research and Development Centre (LRDC) at the University of Strathclyde which has established an international reputation in collaboration with, and on behalf of industry, aiming to accelerate society’s adoption of LiFi and emerging wireless technology through engagement with major industrial partners, to fully harness the commercial and innovative potential of LiFi. To be considered for the role, you will be educated to a minimum of PhD level in an appropriate discipline, or have significant relevant experience in addition to a relevant degree.

Informal enquiries about the post can be directed to Hannah Brown, (h.brown@strath.ac.uk).