Research Scientist Intern, Ultrasonic Sensing (PhD)

Meta Reality Labs brings together a world-class team of researchers, developers, and engineers to create the future of virtual and augmented reality, which together will become as universal and essential as smartphones and personal computers are today. And just as personal computers have done over the past 45 years, AR and VR will ultimately change everything about how we work, play, and connect. We are developing all the technologies needed to enable breakthrough AR glasses and VR headsets, including optics and displays, computer vision, audio, graphics, brain-computer interface, haptic interaction, eye/hand/face/body tracking, perception science, and true telepresence. Some of those will advance much faster than others, but they all need to happen to enable AR and VR that are so compelling that they become an integral part of our lives.Understanding how ultrasonic waves propagate through the human body has many important applications for AR/VR. However, this problem is still largely unexplored and extremely complex to model. Meta is leading a cutting-edge investigation in this space, relying on world-class experts. The successful candidate will join Meta's ultrasonic sensing team to investigate the propagation of ultrasonic waves in complex media using both experiments and simulations, explore different ultrasound carrier frequencies, modulation waveforms, launch configurations, transducers and body coupling, and estimate fundamental wave propagation parameters, such as dispersion, attenuation, and group velocity.Our internships are twelve (12) to twenty-four (24) weeks long and we have various start dates throughout the year.

Research Scientist Intern, Ultrasonic Sensing (PhD) Responsibilities:

• Design and perform experiments to study wave propagation through complex media.
• Conduct experiments using ultrasonic transducers, laser vibrometers and/or mechanical testing techniques.
• Collect and analyze data from experiments using MATLAB, Python, or other software tools.
• Collaborate with researchers to develop computational models of wave propagation through complex media.
• Participate in team meetings and contribute to the development of research ideas and plans.
• Prepare reports and presentations on the results of experiments and modeling efforts.
• Assist with the maintenance and upkeep of laboratory equipment and facilities.
• Attend relevant seminars, workshops, and conferences to expand knowledge and skills.

• Currently has or is in the process of obtaining a PhD degree program in a relevant field such as physics, engineering, or mechanics
• Experience with experimental techniques to study wave propagation through human tissue including, but not limited to, ultrasound imaging, ultrasound Doppler, quantitative ultrasound, acoustic exposimetry, or laser Doppler vibrometry
• Experience with acoustic signal processing including, but not limited to, 2D Fourier transform, Radon transform, Ricker wavelet decomposition, dispersion relation estimation, time reversal, beam forming, or surface-wave inversion methods
• Experience with characterizing and modeling viscoelastic or hyperelastic materials, using for example, rheometers, DMAs, Prony-series or other viscoelasticity models, Yeoh or other hyperelasticity models
• Experience with programming languages such as MATLAB, Python, or C++
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work independently
• Must obtain work authorization in the country of employment at the time of hire and maintain ongoing work authorization during employment

• Experience with ultrasound guided waves
• Experience with ultrasound non-destructive evaluation
• Experience with finite-element acoustics modeling in Ansys, Comsol, or other similar tools
• Experience with ultrasound transducers including, but not limited to, coupling methods to soft tissue, loading effects, matching networks, or driving-signal generation
• Experience with CAD programs such as SolidWorks or AutoCAD
• Intent to return to degree-program after the completion of the internship/co-op
• Proven track record of achieving significant results as demonstrated by grants, fellowships, patents, as well as first-authored publications at leading workshops or conferences
• Experience working and communicating cross functionally in a team environment