Post-Doctorate offer for the development of antennas and textile metamaterials for the recovery of ambient electromagnetic energy

Background
In recent years, connected objects have become part of everyday life, and connected textiles are beginning to be offered on the market. Other products, known as intelligent textiles, incorporating sensors and on-board electronics modules, have also been developed for the professional market (military or security clothing) and for the health and sports sectors. However, their reliability remains questionable, in particular because of problems linked to the connectivity and power supply of the electronic modules. Among the various power supply solutions, recovery of ambient electromagnetic energy (Wifi, GSM, DTT waves) is being considered. To recover this energy, it is necessary to develop rectified antennae (rectennas) consisting in principle of an antenna and a rectifier circuit. However, an alternative to the antenna could be to use the field localisation observed in metamaterial structures, and the rectifier circuit could be produced using dedicated electronics. The LUMINOPTEX project (http:/project.web4projects.com/project/Luminoptex/Partenariat) is an Interreg France-Wallonie-Vlaanderen project focusing on the design and implementation of new intelligent textiles for autonomous ambient lighting applications in the context of interior design, decorative fabrics or signage. The project brings together the skills of six partners: the Materia Nova R&D centre in Mons (lead partner), the CENTEXBEL R&D centre in Ghent, the GEMTEX laboratory at the ENSAIT engineering school in Roubaix, the IEMN (Institut d'Electronique de Microélectronique et de Nanotechnologie) in Villeneuve d'Ascq, the ICTEAM at the Catholic University of Leuven, and the CIRMAP at the University of Mons. As part of this project, the work carried out by the IEMN and ENSAIT focuses in particular on the development of textiles for recovering ambient electromagnetic energy.

Job description
As part of the LUMINOPTEX project, the person recruited will be tasked with the design and electromagnetic characterisation of antennae and textile metamaterial structures to capture WiFi and GSM wave energy as efficiently as possible. For this application, textile metamaterials could be considered as a solution for reducing the size of antennae or as clean resonant patterns for localising the electromagnetic field with a view to improving AC/DC conversion.
Initially, we will be asked to define and optimise antennae and metamaterials that can be produced using textile technology (embroidery, knitting, weaving) using simulations on commercial software (HFSS, CST). The structures will then be proposed to the ENSAIT partner and discussed with him. ENSAIT will then be responsible for manufacturing prototypes, and additional simulations may be necessary depending on the manufacturing constraints encountered. The second part of the missions will concern the electromagnetic characterisation of the structures manufactured at ENSAIT (return losses, impedance matching, directivity, radiation diagram). These characterisations will be carried out at the IEMN's RF and EMC characterisation platforms. Finally, the study of the rectification circuit is not one of the main tasks of the person recruited. However, he or she may be called upon from time to time to contribute to the electromagnetic characterisation of dedicated electronic components and circuits, developed in parallel as part of the LUMINOPTEX project.

Candidate profile
You have a PhD in electronics or applied physics specialising in microwave frequencies.
You have significant experience in electromagnetic characterisation and are proficient in HFSS and/or CST simulation software. You will have in-depth knowledge of microwave frequencies, and knowledge of metamaterials would be appreciated. Ideally, you will have already developed rectified antennas.
You are interested in the development of intelligent textiles.

Position conditions
Type of contract: Post-doctorate over 12 months extendable up to 6 months.
Source of funding:Interreg France-Walonie-Vlaanderen LUMINOPTEX contract.
<Location: Institut d'Electronique de Microélectronique et de Nanotechnologie in Villeneuve d'Ascq (www.iemn.fr).
Expected start of contract: last quarter of 2017.
Gross remuneration: ~€30k/year, according to regulatory salary scales and depending on the candidate's profile and experience.

Application
Send your CV and a covering letter developing your experience in pdf format to ludovic.burgnies@iemn.univ-lille1.fr
Please limit the size of all documents sent to a maximum of 2MB.

Context
In recent years, connected objects have interfered in everyday life, and connected textiles are now available on the market. Other products, known as smart textiles, incorporating worm sensors and electronics modules, have also evolved towards the professional market related to military and security health and sports domains. However, their reliability remains questionable, particularly due to the connectivity and power supply issues. Among different solutions for supplying, the ambient electromagnetic energy (Wifi, GSM, TNT) harvesting can be envisaged. To harvest this electromagnetic energy, the development of rectified antennas (rectennas) is required. In principle, they are composed of an antenna and an electronic rectification circuit. However, an alternative to the antenna may be the use of the local field localization observed in metamaterials, and the rectifier circuit may be replaced by dedicated electronics.
The LUMINOPTEX project (http:/project.web4projects.com/project/Luminoptex/Partenariat) is an Interreg France-Wallonie-Vlaanderen project which deals with the design and implementation of new smart textiles for autonomous ambient lighting applications in the frameworks of home design, decorative fabrics or even markings. The project brings together the skills of six partners: Materia Nova R&D center in Mons (Lead Partner), CENTEXBEL R&D center in Gent, GEMTEX laboratory of the ENSAIT engineering school in Roubaix, IEMN research Institute in Villeneuve d'Ascq, the ICTEAM of the Catholic University of Louvain, and the CIRMAP of the University of MONS. As a part of this project, works carried out by the two partners IEMN and ENSAIT focuses on the development of smart textiles dedicated to the ambient electromagnetic energy harvesting.
Job Description
Under the LUMINOPTEX project, the Post-doc researcher will be responsible for the design and electromagnetic characterization of textile antennas and textile metamaterials structures to harvest most efficiently the energy of WiFi and GSM waves. For this application, textile metamaterials would be considered as a solution to reduce the footprint of the antennas or as own resonant patterns allowing the localization of the electromagnetic field in order to improve the AC / DC conversion.
At first, he will have to define and optimize antennas and metamaterials achievable in textile technology (embroidery, knitting, weaving) via simulations produced by commercial software (HFSS, CST). Then, the structures will be proposed to the ENSAIT partner and discussed with him. ENSAIT will support the production of the structures, and complementary simulations could be requested according to the encountered manufacturing constraints.
The second part of the missions will focus on the electromagnetic characterization of structures manufactured at ENSAIT (return loss, impedance matching, directivity, radiation pattern). These characterizations will be carried out within the RF and EMC characterization platforms at IEMN. Finally, the study of the rectification circuit is not in the main scope of the recruited person tasks. However, it could be requested to contribute occasionally to the electromagnetic characterizations of electronic components and dedicated circuits, developed in parallel by other persons involved in the LUMINOPTEX project.
Candidate profile
PhD in electronics or in applied physics and a specialist in microwaves.
Significant experience in electromagnetics characterization and in simulation software as HFSS and/or CST is required.
Extensive knowledge in microwave is expected and background with metamaterials will be appreciated.
Ideally, you have already developed rectified antennas.
You are interested in the development of smart textiles.
Employment situation and conditions
Type of contract: Post-doctoral position over 12 months extendable up to 6 months.
Source of funding: contract Interreg France-Wallonie-Vlaanderen LUMINOPTEX.
Location: IEMN Institute in Villeneuve d'Ascq (France).
Expected contract start date: last quarter of 2017.
Gross salary: ~30k€/year according to the academic salary scales and according to the profile and experience of the candidate.
Application
Please, send CV and cover letter expanding your experience in pdf format at ludovic.burgnies@iemn.univ-lille1.fr
Please, limit to 2Mo maximum the size for the totality of send files.