EPSRC Doctoral Landscape Award: Embedded power electronics converters design for future electric vehicles

EPSRC Doctoral Landscape Award: Embedded power electronics converters design for future electric vehicles

Applicants are invited for a 4-year EPSRC Doctoral Landscape Award PhD programme, co-sponsored by UK’s leading semiconductor manufacturer Dynex Semiconductor for an exciting research project below:

Vehicle electrification is urgently needed to reduce the CO2 emissions of conventional vehicles based on combustion engines, which plays a crucial role for sustainable development and Net Zero. Power electronics converters is a key enabler for vehicle on-board electrical power conversion. Therefore, their performance such as efficiency, volume and weight directly impact on the electric vehicle’s driving range and cost. Despite the fast development and availability of high-performance components (capacitors, inductors and semiconductors) in recent years, efficiency and power density of modern power electronics converters are still far behind the theoretical values they could achieve. Therefore, an emerging and important research area is to understand on how to design and assemble power electronics converters to make a step change on their performance. In this PhD project, we will investigate an approach to embed these components inside the PCB and connect them internally, which not only saves space, but also easily confines the electromagnetic noise and manages the cooling of the system. Eventually, it will greatly reduce the volume and weight of power electronics converters.

The research will take place at the Power Electronics, Machines and Control (PEMC) Research Institute, University of Nottingham. The successful candidate will also take the placement of at least 3 months in company Dynex Semiconductor over the duration of the studentship. The PEMC Research Institute is internationally renowned and one of the largest on its field. Comprising nearly 30 academic staff, around 70 Research Fellows and other research staff, over 100 PhD Students, 16 Technicians, and 20 Project Management and Administrative Staff; PEMC delivers high-impact teaching, research, and industrial collaborations. The project sponsor Dynex Semiconductor is a leading international high power semiconductor business, and has a manufacturing and R&D centre located in Lincoln.

Excellent candidates will be offered full scholarship (fees and stipend £20,780 per year) to cover the whole duration of the studentship, and an annual research allowance of £3,000. Starting date will be preferably on 1st October 2025. Home students are strongly encouraged to apply.

Please send your CV (including publications if apply) and transcripts to Dr Ke Li (ke.li2@Nottingham.ac.uk) before 8th June 2025.

Closing Date: 08 Jun 2025 Category: Studentships