As the demand for mixed-mode/RF integrated circuits increases, the design of analog circuits in CMOS technology becomes more critical. Many authors have noted the long simulation times and the vast resources devoted to the analog circuit spice simulation particularly in mixed-mode/RF integrated circuits. The process frequently involves onerous iterations were sub-circuits have to be re-centered every time a figure-of-merit or a spec or a critical parameter is updated. The problem is aggravated when the circuit is a proven concept to be ported to a new technology or when contextual process-development and circuit-design co-optimization is imposed in a limited time frame, a case frequently leading to design frustration and "deadline dictated" sub-optimal compromises.

In this framework automatic analog circuit synthesis has been the subject of active research as a mechanism to increase designers' productivity. One central idea in this area is to apply optimization techniques to solve the circuit sizing problem while minimizing a cost function (power, area, etc.) under a set of specification constraints.

The Post-Doc will support the device modeling part of a research project investigating new methodologies for system and circuit optimization with the aim of achieving a better integration between the knowledge of the detailed characteristics of a specific technology, the circuit-design methodology and the system architecture. The practical goal is to leverage the existing multi-disciplinary know-how for benchmarking of system and technologies to advance the analysis past the usual power-performance-area PPA approaches that are commonly deployed in such cases.

In more detail, the Post-Doc will develop "pre"-spice models for actives and passives which will constitute the basic bricks for the optimization methodology developed in the overall project. Active device modeling will have a starting point in the works based on the analytical expression of invariants such has the inversion coefficient or the gm/Id sizing method.

If you are interested, please send your curriculum vitae and a motivation letter to luca.lucci@cea.fr