EXTENDED: Postdoc in instrumentation and electronics for surface NMR based groundwater exploration
The Department of Engineering, Aarhus University, Denmark invites applications for a 2-year postdoc position in the field of electrical engineering.
Starting Date and Period
The position is for 2 years and is available from January 1. 2021 or as soon as possible hereafter.
Project description
Surface nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is an emerging geophysical technique for groundwater exploration. The surface NMR method is unique being the only geophysical technique that can non-invasively, i.e. using only measurements conducted from the surface, provide depth-resolved estimates of the water content and porosity of the sub-surface layers. The method is based on the same physical principles as other NMR techniques. It works by pulsing a strong, resonant current (>100 A) in a coil at the surface. The current gives rise to an electromagnetic field that excites the nuclear spins of the hydrogen nuclei in sub-surface water molecules within the depth. The subsequent decay of the nuclear spins gives rise to an NMR signal, which is measured in an induction coil at the surface. The amplitude of the NMR signal is directly proportional to the number of water molecules and the decay of the NMR signal is controlled by the host material of the water.
Our research group has recently developed our own surface NMR instrument, denoted Apsu, with advanced transmit and receive capabilities. In a new project, we will explore novel surface NMR transmit and receive protocols to improve the depth penetration and resolution of the measurements. To reach this goal, further advances in our surface NMR instrument technology are required and we are hiring one talented researcher in a postdoc position to drive instrumentation development, in particular focusing on transmitter technology. The postdoc will work closely with the other members of the research group, including opportunities to contribute to co-supervision of Masters and PhD students. He/she is therefore expected to have strong communication and collaboration skills. The part of the research group that focus on surface NMR currently consist of one Associate Professor, one Assistant Professor, one research engineer, two PhD students and several master thesis students.
The tasks undertaken by the postdoctoral fellow include the following:
- Instrument development, with a focus on transmitter electronics, but also receiver and communication electronics
- System integration, including possible integration with solar power sources and radio communications
- Fieldwork, including stress-testing of equipment under challenging field/weather conditions, but also participating in large-scale surface NMR mapping campaigns
- Implementation of data processing in instrument software
- Communication of research results, including an expectation that the research will culminate in multiple journal articles
The qualified candidate will have the opportunity to contribute to other on-going research projects in the group.
The postdoctoral fellowship is funded by the Villum Foundation. There is funding for 2 years of employment.
Required qualifications for the position:
- PhD degree in electrical engineering, experimental physics, geophysics or similar
- Experience with instrumentation and firmware development
- Programming experience, preferentially in C and Python
- Experience with programming of FPGA/ARM systems is an advantage, but not required
- Strong analytical skills
- Experience with surface NMR or other geophysical methods is an advantage, but not required
- Excellent English skills both oral and in writing
About the Electrical and Computer Engineering Section
Electrical and computer engineering are closely related engineering disciplines that focus on the development of hardware and software for intelligent units and networks. This includes hardware at system and component levels as well as many different types of software for controlling electronic devices and networks.
The research areas within the Electrical and Computer Engineering Section at Department of Engineering support the development within this area. The outcome greatly influences our daily lives as advanced technologies are incorporated into an increasing number of products, for example in industrial processes, at hospitals and in information infrastructures.
Place of Work
The place of work is Finlandsgade 22, 8200 Aarhus N, and the area of employment is Aarhus University with related departments.
A process has been initiated in terms of reorganizing of engineering at Aarhus University. Read more here: https://eng.au.dk/en/news-and-events/news/show/artikel/new-organisation-to-strengthen-engineering-at-aarhus-university-1/
Contact Information
Further information about the position may be obtained from / For further information please contact: Associate Professor Jakob Juul Larsen, phone +45 41 89 32 73, jjl@eng.au.dk
Due to a temporary IT system failure, the university has decided to extend the application deadline for this position until November 23, 2022.
Application procedure
Shortlisting is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the appointment committee if necessary, – the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. All applicants will be notified whether or not their applications have been sent to an expert assessment committee for evaluation. The selected applicants will be informed about the composition of the committee, and each applicant is given the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that concerns him/her self. Once the recruitment process is completed a final letter of rejection is sent to the deselected applicants.
Letter of reference
If you want a referee to upload a letter of reference on your behalf, please state the referee’s contact information when you submit your application. We strongly recommend that you make an agreement with the person in ques-tion before you enter the referee’s contact information, and that you ensure that the referee has enough time to write the letter of reference before the application deadline.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to ensure that letters of reference received after the application deadline will be taken into consideration.
Formalities and salary range
Technical Sciences refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.
The application must be in English and include a curriculum vitae, degree certificate, a complete list of publications, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching portfolio and verified information on previous teaching experience (if any). Guidelines for applicants can be found here.
Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities.
Salary depends on seniority as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Confederation of Professional Associations.
All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background. Research activities will be evaluated in relation to actual research time. Thus, we encourage applicants to specify periods of leave without research activities, in order to be able to subtract these periods from the span of the scientific career during the evaluation of scientific productivity.
Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners. Read more here. Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here.
Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU. You can read more about it here.
The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed via "Ansøg".
Please write in your application that you've seen the job at Jobfinder.
Aarhus University
Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,000 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 885 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/