PhD scholarship in Advanced Bidirectional dc Converters with Artificial Intelligence Techniques

The Electronics group at DTU Electrical Engineering seeks a qualified candidate for a 3-year PhD position in the area of power electronics.

We are responsible for power electronics research including advanced high efficiency dc-dc and dc-ac converters for renewable energy and storage applications. The goal of this PhD project is to research 1-10kW highly efficient and smarter dc transformers with the predictive and adaptive capability by employing artificial intelligence techniques in hybrid ac/dc micro-grid.

The successful PhD candidate will carry out one-year research stay at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. 

Responsibilities and tasks 

Efficient and effective energy systems integration with renewable and clean energies has been very critical for the future fossil-free society. DC transformer becomes more and more popular in hybrid AC/DC micro-grid. Dual active bridge (DAB) converters and series resonant converters (SRCs) are the natural candidates for the DC transformer. Based on the accurate loss and thermal models of emerging wide bandgap semiconductors as well as passive components, machine-learning algorithms for efficiency maximization will be established and verified. Then, the study of automatic design and optimization for given specifications will be accomplished, which can significantly speed up power converter design.

The project will include applying artificial intelligence (AI), hybrid electromagnetic analysis, multi-physics simulation and multi-objective optimization to dc transformers, and building & testing of prototype circuits. Moreover, the PhD candidate will stay one year at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, and carry out collaborated research between DTU and NTU in the field of power electronics.

Any candidate who:

• is familiar with renewable energy systems
• is familiar with artificial intelligence techniques
• has good grasps of analysis and synthesis of soft-switched dc-dc converters
• has experience in multi-physics simulation
• has experience of using wide bandgap devices, SiC and GaN
• has experience with digital control
• has good experience in using PCB layout software
• has good experience in making laboratory prototypes, debugging and testing power electronic circuits
• is able to use communication skill in English at a good level

 

will be considered as a candidate with favorable background. A candidate with high self-motivation and enthusiasm, and who is able to work well in a team environment will be preferred.

Qualifications 

Candidates should hold a MSc in engineering or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to the MSc in engineering.

Approval and Enrolment

The PhD scholarship is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general PhD programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see the DTU PhD Guide.  

Assessment

The assessment of the applicants will be made by Associate Professor Zhe Zhang and Professor Michael A. E. Andersen.

We offer 

DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms

The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is 3 years.

The workplace is DTU Lyngby Campus in our modern and newly renovated premises with state-of-the-art electronics research laboratories and student facilities.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.    

Further information 

Further information may be obtained from Associate Professor Zhe Zhang, tel.: +45 4525 3486 or email: zz@elektro.dtu.dk.  

You can read more about DTU Elektro on www.elektro.dtu.dk and the Electronics group at www.ele.elektro.dtu.dk.     

Candidates may apply prior to ob­tai­ning their MSc but cannot begin before having received it.

All qualified candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

The Department of Electrical Engineering is the central department within electrical and biomedical engineering. It is our goal to ensure research and engineering training at the highest international level. The department is organized into 8 groups each covering important areas of electrical and biomedical engineering. Including PhD students we have more than 270 staff members. You can read more about us on www.elektro.dtu.dk.   

DTU is a technical university providing internationally leading research, education, innovation and scientific advice. Our staff of 6,000 advance science and technology to create innovative solutions that meet the demands of society, and our 11,200 students are being educated to address the technological challenges of the future. DTU is an independent academic university collaborating globally with business, industry, government and public agencies.