PhD Position in Biomedical Signal Processing & Embedded Hardware

HiPEAC; Bellaterra; Presencial; EUR 18.000 - 28.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

The HiPEAC project, hosted at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), seeks a PhD student to advance biomedical signal processing and embedded hardware for Heart-Now. You will work within a cross-disciplinary consortium including FSJD, FlexiIC, OnaLabs, CNM, and UAB to develop energy-efficient, low-cost devices for home care and monitoring.

You will design and implement robust signal-processing cores, optimize data paths, and contribute to SoC-level integration while producing scientific

Formación

• Advanced knowledge in signal processing for biomedical data.
• Strong programming skills in MATLAB/Python.
• Experience with low-power embedded system design.

Responsabilidades

• Develop intelligent signal processing algorithms for sensor data.
• Design low-latency communication interfaces between modules.
• Architect ultracompact signal processing cores.
• Prototype and validate designs using FPGA-based demonstrators.

Educación

PhD in Electrical/Computer/Biomedical Engineering

Herramientas

FPGA

VHDL/Verilog

Descripción del empleo

Research in the framework of the Heart-Now project (CPP2024-011538). The PhD student will play a fundamental role in a multidisciplinary consortium composed of the Sant Joan de Déu Research and Education Foundation (FSJD), FlexiIC S.L., OnaLabs Inno-Hub, S.L., CNM, and UAB. This project focuses on improving the quality of life of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) by leveraging affordable digital health technologies, such as telemedicine, wearable biosensors, and home monitoring systems, to enable a safe and effective transition from hospital care to home care. In the broader context of increasing global demand for healthcare and an aging population, the initiative specifically addresses the need for cost-effective solutions, ensuring that these innovations remain accessible to as many families as possible. The scope centers on four key pillars: continuous real-time patient monitoring, enhanced home care, development of low-cost devices, and overall system sustainability, all aimed at reducing hospital readmissions and improving long-term pediatric outcomes.\par The student will lead the development of intelligent signal processing algorithms to clean and enhance raw sensor data (removing noise and improving clarity), while exploring compression techniques for efficient transmission. A robust, low-latency communication link will be designed between the flexible body-worn sensors and the main wearable processing unit, carefully selecting protocols that balance speed, power consumption, and reliability under body area network constraints. In addition, they will contribute to the architectural design of ultracompact, low-power signal processing cores and assist in implementing circuit-level communication interfaces that will ultimately be integrated into the final NovaCare System-on-Chip. The overall objective is to ensure that data flows seamlessly from sensor to processor, enabling accurate, real-time monitoring for pediatric heart patients while keeping the entire system energy-efficient and cost-effective.

Functions:

• Conduct research within the Heart-Now project in collaboration with the rest of the consortium.
• Develop sensor data processing algorithms.
• Design communication interfaces with other modules.
• Design and implement domain-specific processors.
• Prototype and validate designs using FPGA-based demonstrators.
• Evaluate performance in terms of accuracy and power consumption.
• Participate in consortium meetings and technical coordination activities.
• Produce scientific publications and technical documentation.

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, established in 1968, champions autonomy in education and research. It ranks among Spain's top universities, noted for its teaching quality and international recognition.

Metadata

Application areas: Bio medicine

Topics: Computer architecture, CPUs, Deep learning, Design Space Exploration, Embedded Systems, FPGAs

Summary

The PhD position at UAB involves developing signal processing algorithms and communication interfaces for the Heart-Now project, focusing on improving outcomes for children with congenital heart disease.

PhD Position in Biomedical Signal Processing & Embedded Hardware

Full-time

The PhD position at UAB involves developing signal processing algorithms and communication interfaces for the Heart-Now project, focusing on improving outcomes for children with congenital heart disease.

Description

Research in the framework of the Heart-Now project (CPP2024-011538). The PhD student will play a fundamental role in a multidisciplinary consortium composed of the Sant Joan de Déu Research and Education Foundation (FSJD), FlexiIC S.L., OnaLabs Inno-Hub, S.L., CNM, and UAB. This project focuses on improving the quality of life of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) by leveraging affordable digital health technologies, such as telemedicine, wearable biosensors, and home monitoring systems, to enable a safe and effective transition from hospital care to home care. In the broader context of increasing global demand for healthcare and an aging population, the initiative specifically addresses the need for cost-effective solutions, ensuring that these innovations remain accessible to as many families as possible. The scope centers on four key pillars: continuous real-time patient monitoring, enhanced home care, development of low-cost devices, and overall system sustainability, all aimed at reducing hospital readmissions and improving long-term pediatric outcomes.\par The student will lead the development of intelligent signal processing algorithms to clean and enhance raw sensor data (removing noise and improving clarity), while exploring compression techniques for efficient transmission. A robust, low-latency communication link will be designed between the flexible body-worn sensors and the main wearable processing unit, carefully selecting protocols that balance speed, power consumption, and reliability under body area network constraints. In addition, they will contribute to the architectural design of ultracompact, low-power signal processing cores and assist in implementing circuit-level communication interfaces that will ultimately be integrated into the final NovaCare System-on-Chip. The overall objective is to ensure that data flows seamlessly from sensor to processor, enabling accurate, real-time monitoring for pediatric heart patients while keeping the entire system energy-efficient and cost-effective.

Functions:

• Conduct research within the Heart-Now project in collaboration with the rest of the consortium.
• Develop sensor data processing algorithms.
• Design communication interfaces with other modules.
• Design and implement domain-specific processors.
• Prototype and validate designs using FPGA-based demonstrators.
• Evaluate performance in terms of accuracy and power consumption.
• Participate in consortium meetings and technical coordination activities.
• Produce scientific publications and technical documentation.

The HiPEAC project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation funding programme under grant agreement number 101296676. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.