PhD Studentship: Electric Technologies for Net Zero Aviation

View All Vacancies
Engineering
Location:  UK Other
Closing Date:  Tuesday 16 January 2024
Reference:  ENG1706

Applications are invited for the above multiple research studentships to join the Power Electronics, Machines and Drives Research Group at the University of Nottingham.  The PEMC group has undergone a significant period of growth and now has over 150 members, with 18 academics (including 7 full professors) and approximately 120 PhD students and post-doctoral research fellows.  The group has excellent facilities for experimental work including approximately 2500m2 of research space and a construction and testing capability up to 5MW.

The successful candidate will conduct research within a team focusing on innovative electric propulsion systems for future de-carbonised, green aircraft and will support delivery of one of our new flagship EU-funded €40M NEWBORN – “NExt generation high poWer fuel cells for airBORNe applications” project (https://newborn-project.eu/ ).

We are inviting talented students to join the team to address some of the key challenges achieving electric aircraft propulsion including 

• High power density electrical machines: Pushing the technology limit to develop an MW-level propulsion electric machines with the consideration of manufacturing capabilities. This PhD studentship requested will be aligned to this area and explore the recently advanced hairpin-windings electric machines and recently emerged artificial intelligent method for detailed machine design. The newly established hairpin machine prototype manufacturing facilities within the Power Electronics and Machine Centre will be available and used to support this PhD.
• High power DC/DC power converters and its advanced control. The DC/DC converter will be interfacing a high voltage DC bus and energy storage elements. This studentship will be focusing on advanced control of DC/DC converters for MW-level applications.
• High-efficiency MW-level power electric drives for aircraft electric propulsion. This studentship requested will be understand the physics of power electronic modules and using 3D printed technology to unlock the potentiality of fast design and manufacturing of power electronic modules. Some potential collaboration with Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult and Cardiff University is also foreseen for this student project.

These posts are open to both UK and non-UK students. Applicants should have first-class degree in electrical engineering or related topics.

Please contact Dr Tao Yang (IET Fellow and Industrial Fellow of Royal Academic of Engineering) at [email protected] for more information including funding opportunities.