Missions

The primary objective of this project is to develop a RISCV microcontroller for harsh environments
The position requires solid knowledge of programmable digital circuits, particularly FPGAs, as well as the ability to handle them in an experimental setting. The candidate must be familiar with processor and microcontroller architectures, especially those based on RISC. A thorough understanding of the effects of radiation—both cumulative and single event—is also essential for the successful completion of the tasks. These skills are key to developing reliable and robust solutions. The candidate will need to implement appropriate testing methods for harsh environments. A rigorous and hands-on approach is expected throughout the project.

Activités

Design new modules for the HARV microcontroller (RISC-V based), aimed at improving its performance, communication capabilities, and data storage features. These modules will be developed in VHDL and verified through functional simulations. Fault injection campaigns will be carried out to assess their resilience to soft errors. The candidate will then prototype the designs on FPGA-based platforms, using both Flash- and SRAM-based technologies. Finally, irradiation test campaigns will be conducted in particle accelerators and other specialized facilities. All these steps will contribute to qualifying the microcontroller for operation in harsh environments.

Compétences

The candidate for this position will hold a PhD in Electronics/Microelectronics or similar
English language proficiency is required.

Contexte de travail

The Institute of Electronics and Systems (IES) is a Joint Research Unit between the CNRS and the University of Montpellier (IES, UMR n°5214 CNRS-UM). The unit is divided into ten research teams of varying size covering the thematic axes of photonics and waves, materials, energy, reliability of systems in constrained environments and sensors and instrumentation.

Contraintes et risques

This position is located in a sector falling under the protection of scientific and technical potential (PPST) and therefore requires, in accordance with regulations, that your arrival be authorized by the competent authority of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research ( MESR).