Life-cycle analyst for sustainable electronics

What you will do

Sustainability is one of the key challenges of our society, with critical situations in climate change, resources depletion, and pollution. In the last decades, environmental concerns played no role in the evolution of semiconductor technologies: it was governed by the increase of performance, the reduction of power consumption, continuous area scaling and cost reduction. Nevertheless, the surging demand of chips puts the semiconductor industry’s environmental impact in question. To address this environmental gap, imec has set up a sustainability program with two focal points: The assessment of the environmental footprint of Integrated circuit fabrication, and the development of more sustainable manufacturing solutions.  

We are seeking a highly motivated researcher to augment our LCA capabilities. Using conventional LCA methodologies, you will analyze the upstream and downstream flows of the semiconductor Fab and develop a more complete cradle-to-gate picture of the environmental impact of a packaged Si chip. A central pillar of our sustainability program is an original software for the gate-to-gate Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) of semiconductor manufacturing in a high-volume fab. You will collaborate with the software developer towards a smooth embedment of the imec process model into commercial LCA software. You will assist the integration and process engineers in the collection of quality data from the Fab floor to feed the models. You will also collect data from external industrial and academic sources to benchmark model results. Beyond climate change, you will explore the broader present and future impact of the semiconductor industry by enriching our models with supplementary impact categories. Finally, you will communicate your results to the program industry partners and the broader semiconductor community.  

What we do for you

We offer you the opportunity to join one of the world’s premier research centers in nanotechnology at its headquarters in Leuven, Belgium. With your talent, passion and expertise, you’ll become part of a team that makes the impossible possible. Together, we shape the technology that will determine the society of tomorrow.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and proud of our open, multicultural, and informal working environment with ample possibilities to take initiative and show responsibility. We commit to supporting and guiding you in this process; not only with words but also with tangible actions. Through imec.academy, 'our corporate university', we actively invest in your development to further your technical and personal growth. 

We are aware that your valuable contribution makes imec a top player in its field. Your energy and commitment are therefore appreciated by means of a market appropriate salary with many fringe benefits. 

Who you are

• You are a self-motivated researcher who:
• has a Master or PhD degree in Environmental Science, Engineering or Science.
• has experience with the Life-Cycle Assessment methodology in industrial applications, with a good command of LCA software and databases. First-hand experience with GaBi is a plus.
• can manage vast amounts of information in an organized, precise manner with a keen eye for detail.
• we will appreciate for your knowledge in semiconductor technologies and integrated circuits fabrication processes.
• has excellent communication skills with an excellent command of English given the international character of imec.
• can work according to agreed customer timelines and manage time efficiently.
• shows initiative and autonomy, while being part of a team.