Research Associate in Device Fabrication and Characterization

City of Bristol College; Clifton; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Centre for Device Thermography and Reliability (CDTR) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher role focusing on design, fabrication and characterization of wide and ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor materials and devices for power and RF electronics.

You will access a state-of-the-art cleanroom, extensive electrical testing, and collaboration within our 35-member team and with industrial partners across the supply chain.

Qualifications

• PhD (or near completion) in Physics, Materials Science or Engineering.
• Experience in semiconductor device processing/fabrication.
• Willingness to co-supervise PhD students.
• Desirable experience in Labview, TCAD simulation, and physics-based modelling.

Responsibilities

• Advance wide and ultra-wide bandgap materials device technologies and its understanding.
• Fabrication/processing of power semiconductor devices in the cleanroom using advanced techniques and electrical characterization of wide/bandgap materials.
• Develop TCAD models to complement experiments and analyze device failure, breakdown and reliability.
• Manage thermal characterization laboratory and advise junior group members.
• Support short-term industrial contracts.

Skills

Semiconductor device fabrication

Labview familiarity

TCAD simulation

Physics-based modelling

PhD supervision experience

Education

PhD or near completion in Physics, Materials Science or Engineering

Tools

Labview

Silvaco Victory/ATLAS

ANSYS

Job description

Research Associate in Device Fabrication and Characterization

Applications are invited for the role of Postdoctoral Researcher at the Centre for Device Thermography and Reliability (CDTR ), led by Professor Martin Kuball.

This role encompasses the design, fabrication and characterization of wide and ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor materials and devices, including GaN, Ga2O3, SiC and diamond (key enabling materials for power and RF electronics). Examples of interest include vertical GaN power transistors on native and non-native substrates, AlGaN-based high power devices and N-polar AlN-based devices. You will have the opportunity to develop and study unique device structures, and to access the extensive electrical device testing suite available in Bristol, in addition to thermal and electric field analysis of devices, and simulation tools (Silvaco Victory/ATLAS, ANSYS). You will also have access to a state-of-the-art Cleanroom and the opportunity to collaborate within our 35-member team as well as with our industrial partners spanning the semiconductor supply chain.

The CDTR leads/contributes to numerous UK and international strategic programmes on power and RF electronics, including ESA programme S2CANT, EPSRC programme grant ULTRAlGaN and the £11M UKRI Innovation and Knowledge Centre REWIRE , focusing on GaN, Ga 2 O 3 , SiC and diamond power materials and devices, from their fundamental understanding/development, to commercialization of device technology, in part co-designed with industry. This position also benefits from the Chair in Emerging Technologies awarded to Professor Kuball by the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) in 2020, and various US funded programmes the CDTR is partnered in. You will have the opportunity to make a major impact on future semiconductor device technology.

What will you be doing?

You will advance wide and ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor materials device technologies and its understanding.

Responsibilities include the fabrication/processing of power semiconductor devices in the cleanroom using advanced fabrication techniques, and the electrical characterization of wide and ultra-wide bandgap materials.

You will develop TCAD models to complement experiments, support device design and to analyse device failure, breakdown and reliability.

You will also contribute to managing our thermal characterization laboratory, advise junior group members and support short-term industrial contract.

You should apply if

• A PhD or near completion in Physics, Materials Science or Engineering, or equivalent research experience in an academic, industrial or clinical setting equivalent to a PhD
• Ideally with a good publication record.
• Prior experience in semiconductor device processing/fabrication is essential (photolithography/laser writer or e-beam lithography).
• Desirable experience in interfacing and automation of lab equipment using Labview or similar, TCAD simulation and physics-based modelling.
• A willingness to work together with, and co-supervise, PhD students is necessary

Additional information

Contract type: Open ended with two years fixed funding

Work pattern: 35 hours/week

Grade: I

School/Unit: School of Physics

This advert will close at 23:59 UK time on Wednesday 7th October

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