SAR Imaging from Drone-Borne Radar Platforms

Imec; Vlaams-Brabant; On-site; EUR 12,000 - 18,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Guidance from researchers

Potential to contribute to scientific/

Job summary

imec in Leuven, Belgium is offering a Master Thesis internship focused on SAR imaging from drone-borne radar platforms. You will explore principles of radar sensing, implement SAR image formation algorithms, and study motion compensation and phase error corrections under supervision from researchers in advanced radar imaging and signal processing.

The internship provides hands-on experience with state-of-the-art radar sensing technologies and exposure to real-world UAV-based radar measurements,

Qualifications

• Master's level background in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, Physics or related field.
• Familiarity with radar systems and signal processing.
• Programming experience in Python or MATLAB.

Responsibilities

• Understand radar sensing and SAR imaging principles.
• Implement SAR image formation algorithms (Range-Doppler, Backprojection).
• Investigate motion compensation and phase error correction techniques.
• Evaluate image quality using experimental or simulated datasets.

Skills

DSP concepts

FFT

Radar basics

Image processing (asset)

Education

Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

Python

MATLAB

Job description

/ SAR Imaging from Drone-Borne Radar Platforms

SAR Imaging from Drone-Borne Radar Platforms

Enabling drones to see beyond vision limits

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is a powerful remote sensing technology capable of generating high-resolution images independent of daylight and weather conditions. Recent advances in compact radar sensors and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) enable the deployment of SAR systems on drones, opening new opportunities for applications such as environmental monitoring, infrastructure inspection, precision agriculture, security, and mapping.

Objectives

The objectives of this thesis/internship are as follows:

• Understanding the principles of radar sensing and SAR imaging.
• Implementing SAR image formation algorithms (e.g., Range-Doppler and Backprojection).
• Investigating motion compensation and phase error correction techniques.
• Evaluating image quality using experimental or simulated datasets.

Required Background

Applicants should have:

• A Master's-level background in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, Physics, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• Basic knowledge of radar systems.
• Familiarity with digital signal processing concepts such as FFT, filtering, and spectral analysis.
• Programming experience in Python or MATLAB.

Preferred Skills

The following skills are considered an asset:

• Knowledge of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR).
• Experience with image processing or machine learning.

What We Offer

• Hands-on experience with state-of-the‑art radar sensing technologies.
• Exposure to real‑world UAV‑based radar measurements.
• Guidance from researchers working on advanced radar imaging and signal processing.
• Opportunity to contribute to scientific publications or conference presentations, depending on project outcomes.
• A challenging and interdisciplinary research environment at the intersection of radar, signal processing, and autonomous systems.

Practical Information

• Type: Master Thesis / Internship
• Duration: 6-9 months
• Start Date: Flexible

Practical Information

• Type: Master Thesis / Internship
• Duration: 6-9 months
• Location: imec, Leuven, Belgium
• Start Date: Flexible

Type of internship: Master internship, PhD internship

Duration: 6 months

Required educational background: Electrotechnics/Electrical Engineering, Physics

Supervising scientist(s): For further information or for application, please contact Hamed Javadi ( [e-mail] ) and Adnan Al baba ( [e-mail] )

The reference code for this position is 2026-INT-261. Mention this reference code in your application.

Imec allowance will be provided for students studying at a non-Belgian university.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

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