Aalto University is where science and art meet technology and business. We shape a sustainable future by making research breakthroughs in and across our disciplines, sparking the game changers of tomorrow and creating novel solutions to major global challenges. Our community is made up of 13 000 students, 400 professors and close to 4 500 other faculty and staff working on our dynamic campus in Espoo, Greater Helsinki, Finland. Diversity is part of who we are, and we actively work to ensure our community’s diversity and inclusiveness. This is why we warmly encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to join our community.  

The School of Electrical Engineering promotes high-quality science, technology and innovations for the benefit of the Finnish society and all of humankind. In our research environment, the natural sciences, engineering and information technology intertwine to form smart systems and innovations that save energy and promote well-being. We have around 2000 students in total, and around 200 master’s and 40 doctoral degrees annually. Our personnel consists of 700 people with over 60 professors.   

The Department of Electronics and Nanoengineering conducts research and arranges related courses in the fields of electromagnetics, micro and nanotechnology, radio engineering, and space technology. The department research groups have active national and international collaboration with several institutes and companies. Research groups are working with world-class research facilities and instruments; the largest clean rooms in the Nordic countries are located in the Micro- and nanotechnology centre Micronova.  

The Antennas and Propagation group of Aalto University School of Electrical Engineering is looking for a 

Master’s thesis worker or full-time research assistant for ray-optics simulations of sub-THz wave propagation, targeting 6G cellular communications. 

Job description 

The fifth-generation (5G) cellular wireless has started its roll out in many countries. Now, research on future generation radio communications started to aim at defining sixth-generation (6G) technical features, applications and ecosystems. One of the most distinguishing features of 6G radios is the more aggressive use of millimeter-wave bands. Present deployments of 5G cellular are limited to lower millimeter-wave frequencies.  Due to the availability of wider bandwidth, the higher end of millimeter-wave frequencies, i.e., above-100 GHz or sub-Terahertz (sub-THz), gains attention in the research community. Within the community, a common question about the use of sub-THz radios is, “is it possible to achieve uniform cellular coverage of mobile data link in urban areas, given the significant link blockage and diffraction losses?” The work in this position addresses this question through implementing a ray-optics simulation tool of multipath radio wave propagation at sub-THz and then comparing its outputs with already-obtained coverage measurements. Establishing the simulation tool that reproduces the measured coverage and gaining improved understanding of wave-object interaction at sub-THz frequency band are the main goal of the present thesis.  

The chosen candidate is expected to accomplish the following tasks: 

1. Understanding the available ray-optics wave propagation simulation codes, the measured coverage data in various outdoor cellular sites at 140 GHz, along with the map data of each cellular site. Getting familiarized with the data and being able to refine, convert and integrate them through appropriate software, e.g., MATLAB and Cloud Compare; 

2. Improving the ray-optics wave propagation simulation codes so that they reproduce the measured outdoor coverage at 140 GHz. This step involves iterations of finding gaps between simulated and measured coverage, debugging/tweaking codes and remodeling the wave propagation simulation method in the codes, and improving the agreement between simulated and measured coverage; and finally 

3. Writing a scientific report about the improvement of the ray-optics wave propagation simulation methods and their ability to reproduce the measured coverage.  

The study will be performed in close collaboration with a doctoral student who has performed the coverage measurements and developed ray-optics wave propagation simulation codes for other purposes. The candidate is expected to communicate with international academic institutions and wireless industry committed to the development of 6G radio systems. 

Research group 

Associate Professor Katsuyuki Haneda leads the Antennas and propagation research group, which has been involved in several EU FP7 and Horizon 2020 projects about 5G-and-beyond physical layer studies and hence is known internationally to scientific and industrial research communities. Applications of the developed knowledge and experimental facilities about 5G-and-beyond cellular to industries are one of the key research missions of the group. 

Requirements 
Basic knowledge of electromagnetic fields such as plane waves and reflection and diffraction of plane waves is necessary. A study transcript record must show that the applicant attended relevant courses covering the necessary knowledge and achieved a good grade. It is expected that the applicant is familiar with the use of MATLAB. Good written and oral English language skills are required, possibly justified by a certificate of an English-language proficiency test.  

It is advantageous if the applicant also has the following knowledge and skills: 

• Experience in radio frequency measurements of microwave components and/or antennas. 

• Basic knowledge of 5G radio communications and radar systems. 

Only students studying for a master’s degree can apply for this position. Those who already have a master’s degree are not eligible for this position. 

Salary and contract 

This position will be filled for up to six (6) months. A full-time work contract is granted if the candidate finishes all the other master level courses, while a part-time work is granted if the candidate needs to attend other courses in parallel to this employment. The salary follows the standard salary level of research assistants in the School of Electrical Engineering, based on the acquired study credits. We prefer that the work starts as soon as possible, but no later than in January 2024. 

How to apply 

Please submit your application through our recruiting system by using "Apply now!" link below and include the following documents in English: 

• Course transcripts of master’s (and if necessary, bachelor) studies 

• Curriculum Vitae 

• A single-page letter of motivation (optional) 

Deadline for applications is October 31, 2023, but we will start reviewing candidates immediately upon receiving new application documents. Applications will be considered until the position is filled.  

Please note: Aalto University’s employees and visitors should apply for the position via our internal system Workday à Internal Jobs by using their existing Workday user account.    

More Information 

For additional information, please contact Associate Professor Katsuyuki Haneda, katsuyuki.haneda(at)aalto.fi. In recruitment process relating questions, please contact HR Partner Karoliina Walldén, karoliina.wallden(at)aalto.fi. 

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SUOMEKSI 

Aalto-yliopisto hakee diplomityöntekijää tai tutkimusassistenttia Antennit ja radioaallot-tutkimusryhmään. Tutustu tehtävän tavoitteisiin ja odotuksiimme englanninkielisestä ilmoituksesta yllä. 

Haethan tehtävää 31.10.2023 mennessä lähettämällä pyydetyt hakudokumentit rekrytointijärjestelmäämme ”Apply now!” -linkistä. Toimitathan dokumentit englannin kielellä. 

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