PhD student in interoperability in power-electronics dominated power grids

Project description

Third-cycle subject: Electrical Engineering

You will be part of the power electronics research group within the school of electrical engineering and computer science at KTH. The group does research in several fields, notably high-power electronics for power grids, and wide-bandgap power semiconductors.

The traditional electric power grid is dominated by passive components such as synchronous generators, circuit breakers, and transformers. This worked well with traditional primary energy sources like coal, gas, and nuclear power, which connect to the grid through these large synchronous generators and can be located close to population centers. The future electric power grid will be power-electronics dominated. This is needed to massively connect renewable energy sources (wind and solar power e.g.) as well as energy storage and transmission assets such as high-voltage direct current (HVDC). Grid-connected converters take over the role of the traditional grid control components such as synchronous generators.

A vital question is then how to achieve interoperability between converters at all levels, both distribution and transmission. The interplay between technology, standardization, grid codes, verification methods, and openness will be investigated in the project. In particular, the collaborative workflows to be used by the different stakeholders (equipment vendors, TSOs, DSOs, producers) for adapting and integrating new assets in a grid should be proposed and researched. Future flexibility with regards to evolving technological solutions should be sought.

You will be part of a European doctoral network also involving several other leading universities and industrial partners. The doctoral training you will receive will be much enhanced by combining our capabilities, compared to a regular doctoral project. It will also give you excellent possibilities to build a collegial network for your future career in academia or industry.

Supervision: Associate Professor Staffan Norrga.

What we offer

• The possibility to study in a dynamic and international research environment in collaboration with industries and prominent universities from all over the world.
• A workplace with many employee benefits and monthly salary according to KTH’s Doctoral student salary agreement.
• A postgraduate education at an institution that is active and supportive in matters pertaining to working conditions, gender equality and diversity as well as study environment.
• Help to relocate and be settled in Sweden and at KTH.
•  Participation in a very inclusive and multidisciplinary group carrying out world-class research in power electronics. 

Admission requirements

To be admitted to postgraduate education (Chapter 7, 39 § Swedish Higher Education Ordinance), the applicant must have basic eligibility in accordance with either of the following:

• passed a second cycle degree (for example a master's degree), or
• completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 second-cycle higher education credits, or
• acquired, in some other way within or outside the country, substantially equivalent knowledge

In addition to the above, there is also a mandatory requirement for English equivalent to English B/6.

Selection

In order to succeed as a doctoral student at KTH you need to be goal oriented and persevering in your work. Candidates will be assessed upon their ability to:

• independently pursue his or her work
• collaborate with others,
• have a professional approach, 
• analyse and work with complex issues and
•  knowledge of control and protection methods for grid-connected power electronic converters.

After the qualification requirements, great emphasis will be placed on personal skills. 

Target degree: Doctoral degree

Information regarding admission and employment

Only those admitted to postgraduate education may be employed as a doctoral student. The total length of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education in four years ' time. An employed doctoral student can, to a limited extent (maximum 20%), perform certain tasks within their role, e.g. training and administration. A new position as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, and then the employment may be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time. In the case of studies that are to be completed with a licentiate degree, the total period of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education for two years.

Union representatives

Contact information for union representatives.

Doctoral section (Students’ union on KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

Contact information for doctoral section.

To apply for the position

Apply for the position and admission through KTH's recruitment system. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the advertisement.

Applications must be received at the last closing date at midnight, CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

Applications must include:

• CV including your relevant professional experience and knowledge.
• Copies of diplomas and grades from previous university studies and certificates of fulfilled language requirements (see above). Translations into English or Swedish if the original document is not issued in one of these languages. Copies of originals must be certified.
• Representative publications or technical reports. For longer documents, please provide a summary (abstract) and a web link to the full text.

Other information

Striving towards gender equality, diversity and equal conditions is both a question of quality for KTH and a given part of our values.

For information about processing of personal data in the recruitment process.

It may be the case that a position at KTH is classified as a security-sensitive role in accordance with the Protective Security Act (2018:585). If this applies to the specific position, a security clearance will be conducted for the applicant in accordance with the same law with the applicant's consent. In such cases, a prerequisite for employment is that the applicant is approved following the security clearance.

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Disclaimer: In case of discrepancy between the Swedish original and the English translation of the job announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.