The opportunity
- Great opportunity for an early career researcher with a PhD or engineering degree plus Masters in electrical engineering, computer science/engineering, astrophysics/physics, mathematics or software engineering
- Directly support the upcoming Low-frequency Australian Megametre Baseline Demonstrator Array (LAMBDA) project
- Work with co-located engineers and astronomers at our Space & Astronomy research sector
Our Early Research Career Postdoctoral Fellowships provide opportunities to scientists and engineers and aim to develop the next generation of future leaders of the innovation system.
The successful candidate will develop an FPGA prototype of a groundbreaking all-sky radio camera for large aperture arrays that will occupy the landscape of modern radio astronomy. This innovative radio camera prototype will generate high-speed (over 1000 FPS) real-time images while consuming less than 5% of the energy of current methods. It addresses computational and bandwidth challenges, making it energy-efficient and cost-effective for discovering explosive and transient astrophysical phenomena. This high-speed, all-sky radio camera will be the first of its kind, revolutionizing our understanding of the fundamental nature of matter and high-energy phenomena in the universe.
This project will directly support several aperture array initiatives at our Space & Astronomy research department, including all-sky transient monitors, future lunar radio arrays, and a Low-frequency Australian Megametre Baseline Demonstrator Array (LAMBDA) concept that aims to extend Square Kilometre Array (SKA-low) by constructing SKA-low-like stations at company sites like Parkes and Narrabri. The prototype --designed for dense, large-N arrays-- will enhance their capabilities and amplify the impact potential of large upcoming arrays like SKA-low. Compared to existing alternatives, the FPGA technology will be leveraged to achieve a larger processing and memory bandwidth when working with large aperture arrays. The project will be a pathfinder for fast, all-sky imaging with future mid-frequency aperture arrays consisting of thousands to tens of thousands of antennas being conceived by our Space & Astronomy research department and several international groups for monitoring the sky for transient phenomena at radio wavelengths.
Your duties will include:
- Developing the FPGA-based all-sky, high frame rate radio camera prototype for large aperture arrays, with initial focus on existing or imminent arrays like SKA-low precursors and LAMBDA.
- Benchmarking and optimising the performance of the prototype for real deployment.
- Commissioning the deployment and analysing initial science data.
- Extending the prototype development to future large arrays for monitoring transient phenomena.
- Exploring applications on other aperture array systems outside astronomy that require ultrafast, wide field-of-view imaging such as space situational awareness, multi-satellite communication, etc.
Location: Sydney, NSW (Perth, WA considered)Salary: AU$99,990 - AU$109,527 plus 15.4% superannuationTenure: Specified term of 2 yearsReference: 99215To be considered you will need:
- A doctorate (or will shortly satisfy the requirements of a PhD) OR hold an engineering degree plus a Master of Science (MSc) or Master of Engineering (MEng) qualifications (or will shortly satisfy the requirements of a masters) plus equivalent levels of original and significant contributions to research and development to that expected of someone of a new PhD graduate. The doctorate or masters must be in a relevant discipline area, such as Electrical engineering, Computer Science/engineering, Astrophysics/Physics, Mathematics, Software Engineering, or similar. Please note: To be eligible for this role you must have at least one and no more than four years (full-time equivalent) of relevant research experience at the time of commencement.
- Demonstrated expertise in implementation of real-time Signal Processing algorithms.
- Demonstrated expertise in high-level programming language(s) such as Python or similar.
- High level written and oral communication skills with the ability to represent the research team effectively internally and externally, including the presentation of research outcomes at national and international conferences.
Eligibility
Applications for this position are open to Australian/New Zealand Citizens, Australian Permanent Residents or international candidates (both offshore and onshore) who either hold, or will be able to obtain, a valid working visa for the duration of the specified term (visa sponsorship and relocation assistance may be provided to the successful candidate if required).
