Profile
Mousumi Roy
Curriculum Vitae
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Work History:
Software Developer at Cognizant Technology Solutions, Intelligent Transport Systems Engineer in Atkins, PhD reserach for the mega radio-astronomy project Square Kilometer Array, Post-doctorate for Rolls-Royce
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Current Job:
Develop hardware for 3G and advanced 4G capable radio modules for mobile phones and tablets
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Employer:
Nvidia Development UK
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My Work
I am an RF (radio frequency) and microwave engineer, and presently develop the hardware for 3G and 4G mobile phones and tablets
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Read more
As an RF Development Engineer, I work as part of a team to do system design and development of radio module hardware for multi-mode 2G, 3G, 4G and advanced 4G cellular terminals to be used in mobiles, tablets and mobile gaming consoles. The latest Nvidia Shield device uses a radio module that we have developed here. I also use a 4G phone that I have worked on myself, which also means that I am always either congratulating or criticizing our work! It is actually quite surprising how complex a mobile phone hardware actually is, and how new techniques are always being implemented. If only an average user knew how much effort goes into making that download speed only slightly higher!
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My Typical Day: I work in a team to improve how our RF platform performs so the mobiles and tablets they go in are upto the standard
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Read more
On a typical day, I would be characterising a radio component to observe/predict it’s interaction in the system and if it meets the requirements, ‘match’ the transmit or receive path for a particular band (a band determines the frequency at which a mobile phone transmits and receives at a given time) so we efficiently transfer power between radio components. Otherwise, I would be testing a complete hardware module (the kind you will find when you open a mobile phone or tablet) and analysing the results to see if there is a problem, and troubleshoot accordingly. A lot of the work involves active collaboration with the software team as well. Recently, I have been working on testing the functionalities of the RFIC (Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit) which is designed in the US, and that involves a lot of software work as well as a good understanding of the hardware, so it has been fun.
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My Interview
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What's the best thing you've done in your career?
I designed antennas for Rolls-Royce for a project during my PhD. These antennas were for very harsh environmental conditions; the design was extremely challenging and I started from scratch, designed and delivered the complete product. It was tested and worked in the actual engine environment. It felt great to know that antennas designed by me would actually be used by Rolls to improve their connectivity. Taking an idea from concept to an actual working product is always fun.
What or who inspired you to follow your career?
My physics teacher at higher secondary school (electronics was part of the physics curriculum) and working on small engineering projects for the science exhibition in school.
What did you want to be after you left school?
An engineer!!
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
An astronaut, something I still wonder about
What's your favourite food?
Home cooked hot and spicy mutton curry with parathas
What is the most fun thing you've done?
Rafting in a river in the Himalayas; workwise it has to be doing measurements on a Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine for an earlier research project
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