Doctoral student in integrated power converters and electric machines

The LUT School of Energy Systems is offering a fully funded doctoral student (junior researcher) position.

LUT laboratory of Electric Drives Technology has electrical machine and drive testing facilities for high-speed motors up to 2 MW. The instrumentation of the experimental faculties is at the state-of-the-art level.  

Position

The position is connected to a doctoral network called Integrated HIgh-speed POwer systems for industry and mobile applications(HIPO ), which is a Doctoral Network in MSCA program running from 2022 to 2026 in Europe with 6 academic institutions: LUT, KIT, CHALMERS, DTU, Aalborg and UNIPI. This doctoral network will educate and train 10 highly skilled doctoral candidates (DCs) and with them create methodology for optimum drive designs in transportation applications. This position is one of the 10 doctoral student positions in the MSCA HIPO doctoral network. The candidate will get strong guidance from two high-quality supervisors from universities and one guiding expert from electrical industry, Danfoss Editron, to get the best understanding on latest industrial aspects. Short working periods are expected to CHALMERS Sweden and DTU Denmark (all expenses are covered).

Job description

To develop an optimal design to integrate power electronics directly to the coils of an electric machine (EM) to maximize the specific power of the system. The different EM geometries are studied and the most suitable design for the power electronics is searched where the cooling is effective. Sustainability and long lifetime are in the focus.  

The space and time harmonics interaction with PWM modulation will be researched using the finite element method. The optimal system loss distribution will be studied with advanced circuit simulations. The researcher can utilise validated test and modelling tools for integrated machine design. The investigations will apply high operating frequencies in high pole-pair number high-speed machines.

Research area:  Integrated power converter and electric machine with segregated coils for high power systems to develop an optimal design to integrate power electronics directly to the coils of an electric machine (EM) to maximize the specific power of the system. The different EM geometries are studied and the most suitable design for the power electronics is searched where the cooling is effective. Sustainability and long lifetime are in the focus.  

The space and time harmonics interaction with PWM modulation can be researched using FEM. The optimal system loss distribution is studied with advanced circuit simulations. Researcher can utilise validated test and modelling tools for integrated machine design. Investigations are driven on appling high operating frequencies with high pole-pair number high-speed machines. 

Eligibility

Applicants should be highly motivated with a background in designing and developing power electronics. A mechanical/electrical background in the manufacturing and design of electrical machines and power electronics an advantage. A high oral and written proficiency in English is required (preferably proven with a certificate or during an interview). 

To be eligible simultaneously fulfil the following criteria at the time of recruitment:

• Mobility: candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Finland for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to recruitment.
• Qualification: candidates must hold a degree that formally entitles them to embark on a doctorate, either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the research training is provided (typically a master’s degree – MSc).

The candidate should not have already existing doctoral degree. 

Employment contract

In Finland, doctoral studies take four years. To cover the whole 48 months of studies, we are offering a 12+36-month full-time employment contract, starting by the end of this year. The employment contract can be concluded only if the candidate obtains the right to pursue postgraduate studies at LUT University.  

The work will start with a six-month trial period. The recruited person will be a full staff member in the Electric Drives Technology laboratory at LUT University, Lappeenranta, Finland. 

Salary

The monthly gross salary is approx. 3 700.00 euros per month (and for a person with family, an additional family allowance of 660 euros according to MSCA policies). The taxes and net salary in 2023 depend on the applicant’s income before moving to Finland. This doctoral student position is free of tuition fees.

Please read more about LUT University: https://www.lut.fi/en/about-us/come-work-us/lut-employer

Applications

The deadline for applications is 30 October 2022 at midnight, Finnish local time (UTC +2 h).

To apply for this position, please fill out the online application form (link below). The application for enrolment must include the following: 

• Motivation letter
• Curriculum vitae (including personal particulars).
• Diplomas confirming academic degrees (Bachelor and Master Degrees), and the academic transcripts (in English). If the original documents are not in English, Finnish, or Swedish, each document must be accompanied by an official certified translation into English or Finnish.
• Publications (if applicable)

Further information

You may obtain further information from Associate Professor, Pia Lindh, phone: +358 400 152 420, email: [email protected] , concerning the scientific aspects of the position. 

Evaluation committee

• Professor Juha Pyrhönen, Professor Lassi Aarniovuori, Associate Professor Pia Lindh (LUT)
• Professor Yujing Liu (Chalmers)
• Associate Professor (KIT, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology).

LUT Doctoral school: https://www.lut.fi/web/en/admissions/apply-to-lut/doctoral-studies

Clean energy, water and air are life-giving resources for which we at LUT University seek new solutions with our expertise in technology, business and social sciences. We help society and businesses in their sustainable renewal. Our international community consists of 7 500 members. Our campuses are in Lappeenranta and Lahti, Finland. We are the world’s ninth best university for climate action

Technical support for using the recruitment system: [email protected]