PhD Position 2014 (IETR, Rennes, France) HUMAN BODY INTERACTIONS FOR EMERGING WIRELESS APPLICATIONS

CHARACTERIZATION OF THE ANTENNA / HUMAN BODY INTERACTIONS FOR EMERGING WIRELESS APPLICATIONS

Context

Exponential grouth of new wireless usages and services involves multiple interactions between communicating objects (tablets, smartphones, communicating clothing, etc.) and the human body, in particular in the near-field region (e.g. smartphone close the ear, tablet placed on the knees, antennas and sensors integrated into smart clothing). In this context, two technologies are particularly promising:

• Wireless communications and data transfer at ultra-high data rates in the 57-66 GHz and 71-76 / 81-86 GHz bands (personal and local area networks [WPAN and WLAN], body area networks [BAN], heterogeneous networks with pico-cells and backhaul links exceeding 10Gbit/s, etc.).
• Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) systems, for instance for mobile electronics. These systems are considered as a last missing element for the ubiquitous mobility. Institute of Electronics and Telecommunications of Rennes (IETR, www.ietr.fr) is involved in two forefront projects related to these two emerging technologies: on one hand through the European project FP7/MiWaveS ("Beyond 2020 heterogeneous wireless network with millimeter wave small cell access and backhauling"), and on the other hand through the cooperation with the University of Michigan. In all cases, taking into account the concerns of the general public related to the potential health impacts, it is important to quantify and accurately control the exposure levels, as well as potential effects on the humans.

Objectives

The purpose of this PhD project is to study numerically and experimentally several exposure scenarios corresponding to near-future usages with the twofold aim:

1) To optimize the performances of radiating structures in realistic environments in presence of a human body.

2) To quantify and minimize the exposure of users.

Work description

The PhD student will be hosted at the IETR within the Complex Radiating Structures Team of the Antennas and Microwave Devices Department. Collaboration is planned with the Institute for Research on Environmental and Occupational Health (IRSET) located on the same campus.

The work will be mainly focused on the following points:

• Numerical modeling of antennas in their environment in presence of a human body under several representative realistic scenarios.
• Experimental validation of the numerical results: design and optimization of ad-hoc radiating structures, electromagnetic measurements (VNA and spectrum analyzer, measurements in anechoic environment, etc.).
• Analysis of the near-field electromagnetic and thermal interactions. Possible ways of reducing the user's exposure and improving performances of the radiating structures will be explored.

Candidate

• Required education level: MS or equivalent.
• Required background: electromagnetics, numerical modeling, antenna design, microwave measurements.
• Basic knowledges in biology / biophysics are welcome but not mandatory.

Funding

PhD scolarship from the French Defense Agency - DGA (European citizenship is required).

Contacts

To apply please provide your CV, motivation letter, MS transcripts and reference letters (optional) to:

• Dr. Maxim ZHADOBOV, CNRS Researcher (maxim.zhadobov@univ-rennes1.fr)
• Prof. Ronan SAULEAU, University of Rennes 1 (ronan.sauleau@univ-rennes1.fr)
• Dr. Mauro ETTORRE, CNRS Researcher (mauro.ettorre@univ-rennes1.fr)