Student (m/f/d): Energy‑Efficient Chip Design: Module Detection for Dynamic Power Management

During your studies, you can contribute to our ongoing research projects. Join us in pushing the limits of what is technically feasible and be part of breaking new ground together. We offer a variety of challenging and practice-oriented topics for mandatory internships, Bachelor’s or Master’s theses or for student research assistants. You will analyse important scientific preliminary questions and support the project teams with development activities.

Place of work: Erfurt

Team: Microelectronics

Career level:Mandatory Internship or Student Research Assistant

Research field: Integrated sensor systems

Time scope: By agreement

Start: As soon as possible

Application deadline: 2026-03-31

Reference number: IMMS_STUD_ME_0326

In complex integrated circuits, multiple clock domains are common. The intricate logic blocks on the clock path, such as clock multiplexers that switch between Domains, are problematic. These blocks must be identified and treated separately during a clock‑path analysis. Until now, this has been handled by simply skipping such modules, which is not optimal from an energy‑efficiency standpoint. Manually modifying each of these modules by the user does not scale with larger designs.
At IMMS, a plugin was developed for the Netlist Carpentry Tool that automatically implements clock gates. Clock‑gating turns off the clock to inactive flip‑flops, thereby saving power. To achieve optimal energy savings, the tool traces back to the clock source at the block level.
The resulting task is to develop a concept for automatically detecting such complex blocks on the clock path and performing intra‑module clock‑path tracing using the Netlist Carpentry Tool. Additionally, a concept for automatic clock‑gating of these blocks should yield further energy savings.

WHAT TO DO:

Concept for automatic module detection & modification
Development of a Python package (Netlist Carpentry plugin)
Documentation

WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU:

Advanced Python skills
Basic knowledge of digital circuits
Basic Git proficiency

AND THIS IS US:

We strengthen enterprises with application-oriented research and development in microelectronics, systems engineering and mechatronics and transfer the results of basic research into applications and products. We support companies in launching internationally successful innovations for health, the environment and industry and provide solutions from the feasibility study to series production.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING YOU!

We thank you for your interest in working with us.

Please only apply once – for your favourite topic or for the one that comes closest to your interests. This is the quickest way for us to process your application and get back to you. If you are interested in more than one topic, please include this in your cover letter. In case our current suggestions are not suitable, please send us your with a topic you would like to work on.

WHAT CAN WE OFFER YOU:

An attractive workplace in a modern, very well-equipped and industry-oriented research institute
Work directly at the interface between university and industry
Work in a flexible and creative team and on innovative and challenging topics

For the tasks described in the job offer and with the existing working conditions, an application is possible irrespective of gender and/or any physical disabilities. We foster professional equality of women and men. We invite women in particular to apply. As women are underrepresented at IMMS, they will be given priority in the case of equal suitability, ability and professional performance.

Address:

IMMS Institut für Mikroelektronik- und Mechatronik-Systeme gemeinnützige GmbH (IMMS GmbH)
Ehrenbergstraße 27
98693 Ilmenau
Germany

Contact: Eric Schäfer

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