Postdoc –Nanofluidic Memory

Research & development    ·    Leuven, Belgium    ·    Full time

Develop and demonstrate ultra-high-density memory cell concepts based on electrochemistry or nanofluidics.

What you will do

Memories are an essential building block for all electronic systems and great efforts are being made by the industry and academia to improve existing technologies and to invent new ones. Non-volatile data storage is leading the electronics industry today, accounting for over 80% of all transistors manufactured. An ever-expanding and diverse range of applications, such as mobile phones, personal computers, data centers and machine learning, drives a relentless increase in memory density. Advanced 3-dimensional NAND flash memory technologies have reached bit densities of 5 Giga bit per mm2 and continued density scaling would reach bit densities of 256 Gb/mm2 by 2028. A single memory chip of 75 mm2 would hold more than 2 Tera Byte of data and the effective bit area would be as small as 4 nm2. It is widely believed that this is the limit of conventional solid-state memories and further scaling would no longer be cost efficient.

Hence, radically new concepts of data storage and data access are needed. Prominent amongst the few available options is the storage of atomic or molecular scale objects because many can be stacked in small volumes and maintain data integrity over many years. In contrast to electrical charge, which can be transported easily through metallic wires, the manipulation of mass objects will require transport in liquids. Therefore, suitable data storage objects need to be identified, and methods to manipulate them need to be developed and studied. Possible solutions can be envisaged using nanometer sized particles, large molecules or metal ions, which can be manipulated by electrochemical, electrophoretic or electrokinetic methods. What will be the storage element? What are suitable read-write techniques? How can we provide enough retention time? These are some the questions that need to be answered.

Imec is looking for a post-doctoral researcher to develop and demonstrate ultra-high-density memory cell concepts based on electrochemistry and/or nanofluidics. A first step will be the identification and experimental demonstration of elemental mechanisms required for memory operation using available nanofluidic test chips and lab infrastructure. This includes the study of ionic, molecular and/or particle transport in nanochannels, mechanisms to control the flow, to store the ions, molecules, or particles, and to detect them. A second step will be the simulation, design and realization of a prototype memory and testing infrastructure in collaboration with our nanofabrication and modeling experts.

What we do for you

We offer you the opportunity to join one of the world’s premier research centers in nanotechnology at its headquarters in Leuven, Belgium. With your talent, passion and expertise, you’ll become part of a team that makes the impossible possible. Together, we shape the technology that will determine the society of tomorrow. 

We are proud of our open, multicultural, and informal working environment with ample possibilities to take initiative and show responsibility. We commit to supporting and guiding you in this process; not only with words but also with tangible actions. Through imec.academy, ‘our corporate university’, we actively invest in your development to further your technical and personal growth.

We are aware that your valuable contribution makes imec a top player in its field. Your energy and commitment are therefore appreciated by means of a competitive scholarship.

Who you are

• You have a PhD degree in Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science, Electrical Engineering or Nanotechnology.
• You have a solid experience in multi-physics simulations.
• We are looking for your background in electrochemistry and nanofluidics.
• We are looking for your 3+ years hands-on experience in electrochemistry of microelectrodes.
• We are looking for your 2+ years hands-on experience in micro- or nanofluidics.
• Experience with microfabrication is an important advantage.
• We are looking for a self-motivated team player with good communication skills, yet able to independently solve complex problems with limited supervision.
• We appreciate your open mind and multi-disciplinary attitude.
• Given the international character of imec, good knowledge of (spoken and written) English is a must

This postdoctoral position is funded by imec through KU Leuven. Because of the specific financing statute which targets international mobility for postdocs, only candidates who did not stay or work/study in Belgium for more than 24 months in the past 3 years can be considered for the position (short stays such as holiday, participation in conferences, etc. are not taken into account).

Please click here to apply.