30-Month Postdoc Position in Spiking Neural Network (SNN) Algorithm Development for Biomedical Applications

The Department of Engineering, Aarhus University, invites applicants for a 30-month Postdoc position offering applicants an exciting opportunity to join a new research project on a real-time brain-inspired system-on-chip for upper limb patient intention extraction out of EEG or EMG signals.

We are seeking a motivated postdoctoral researcher to develop high-accuracy algorithms for extracting patient upper limb function intention. These algorithms will be implemented on a spiking neural network (SNN) processing unit deployed on FPGA and custom-designed chips with an integrated detection mechanism.

Application deadline: 27 March 2025.


Expected start date and duration of employment

This is a 30-month position from 1st May 2025 or as soon possible.

This is a fixed-term position to end on 31st October 2027.
 

Job description

This project aims to advance brain-inspired data processing techniques to enhance the accuracy of intention extraction from EEG and EMG signals. The developed algorithms will have applications in epilepsy monitoring, Parkinson’s disease assessment, neuroprosthetic control, and other biomedical fields.

The appointed researcher will be involved in crafting and applying high-accuracy algorithms for a Spiking Neural Network (SNN) processing unit, to be executed on FPGA and ASIC.
As a Postdoc, your key responsibilities will be:

• Develop algorithms for translating the EEG or EMG recorded signals for extracting the patient intention for upper limb functions.
• Implementing the developed algorithms on FPGA-based SNN and/or ASIC designed SNN chip with focus on accuracy as a primary parameter and power consumption reduction as a secondary parameter.
• Work closely with Digital system designer to understand the hardware specifications and limits in order to match the developed algorithms with the designed hardware in the best way.
• Document design specifications, and design trade-offs clearly.

 Applicants should hold a PhD in electronics, computer engineering, or biomedical engineering (the degree should have been completed within the last 5 years at most) with at least 3 years of experience in designing Artificial Neural Network (ANN) or Spiking Neural Network (SNN) algorithms. Candidates, who will complete and defend their PhD thesis by May 2025, are welcome as well:

• Strong expertise in algorithm development for neural networks.
• In-depth knowledge of biosignals features and processing techniques.
• Experience in designing Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) or deep learning algorithms
• Preferably, experience with FPGA development of SNNs
• ASIC design experience is a plus.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.

Who we are

Electrical and computer engineering department 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 Department 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.
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/
 

What we offer

The department/centre offers:

• a well-developed research infrastructure, laboratories and access to shared equipment
• an exciting interdisciplinary environment with many national, international and industrial collaborators
• a work environment encouraging lively, open and critical discussion
• a work environment with close working relationships, networking and social activities
• a workplace characterised by professionalism, equality and a healthy work-life balance

 

Place of work and area of employment

The place of work is at Finlandsgade 22, 8200 Aarhus N, and the area of employment is Aarhus University with affiliated institutions.
 

Contact information

Prof. Farshad Moradi: (+45) 41893344, [email protected], or Associate Prof. Hooman Farkhani: (+45) 50361206, [email protected]
 

Deadline

Applications must be received no later than 27th March 2025.
 


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 question 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.

If you wish to add a referee after you have submitted your application, you must send this person’s details (name, job title, place of work, and email address) as well as the name of the position you have applied for to: [email protected]


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 Taxation 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 Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Associations.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

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 under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.
 


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 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/