Doctoral Thesis: High-performance Waterproof Mems Microphones

In the recent years, research and development (R&D) activities for MEMS microphones have been devoted to not only enhancing the key acoustic performance parameters but also increasing their robustness level towards mechanical and environmental interference factors (i.e., ingressions of solid particles and liquid). Thereby, exploring optimal tradeoffs between maintaining a high acoustic microphone performance (e.g., SNR) and inheriting high ingress protection (IP) levels towards dust and water ingress became a key research topic.
Here, Infineon Technologies AG offers an industrial PhD student position dealing with R&D of advanced concepts for creating waterproof MEMS microphones with high acoustic performance. This PhD work involves mainly experiments in the industry-standard laboratories (i.e., design and wafer-scale fabrication of MEMS devices, assembly and packaging of microphone modules, and characterization of MEMS microphones at wafer, chip, and module levels) and modelling to understand the physical phenomena found during electroacoustic and robustness tests as well as to optimize the device designs.

The tasks within the PhD thesis will include:

- **Research and development of MEMS microphones**with high acoustic performance and ingress protection (IP) level
- **Electroacoustic characterizations and robustness tests**of MEMS microphones on wafer, chip, and system/module levels
- **Investigation of the mechanical, structural, and chemical properties of novel materials**used in MEMS microphones
- **Development and optimization of the measurement/test setups**in laboratories
- **Organization and testing of the MEMS devices**in cooperation with Infineon colleagues at front-end and back-end semiconductor manufacturing processes
- **Theoretical analysis, finite-element modeling (FEM), and system simulation**of MEMS microphones to optimize the device design and performance
- **Support on execution of funding projects**by writing technical reports and collaboration with external partners including universities
- Evaluation of the **newly developed MEMS microphones**against the state-of-the-art
- Publication of research results in **highly reputable scientific journals and international conferences
**Your Profile**
You are best equipped for this task if you have:

- A PhD student is a research enthusiast, _
- who enjoys working in an industrial environment in combination with an Infineon partner university. _
- who appreciates open communication and the contribution of an international environment. _
- **Eligibility for full-time PhD study and master’s degree**in materials science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, semiconductor engineering, physics, chemistry or related fields with very good grades
- **In-depth knowledge and research experiences**in the fields of materials science, sensors, membrane technology, semiconductor technology, or micro-/nanosystems
- **Self-driven initiative**to technically conduct the experiments in the project (detailed planning for sample preparation, evaluation, report) and to explore the opportunity for further required characterizations
- **High responsibility**to further develop different test setups needed in the project besides the already existing
- **Good networking and communication skills**to work in an international industrial environment and to support collaborations with various research partners including universities
- **Strong willingness to learn simulations**on MEMS microphones
- **Fast learning curve**with high degree of analytical skills and self-discipline
- **High interest on the scientific research**combined with the passion for producing highly innovative Infineon sensor products

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