PhD in Development of a machine learning-based powertrain digital twin and smart preconditioning for fast-charging applications

Company profile

For almost 50 years, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) has stood for freedom, equality and connectedness. These values are strongly present on our campuses, in our students as well as our staff. At the VUB, you’ll find a diverse collection of personalities: pure innovators, but especially people who are 100% their authentic selves. With about 3,500 employees, we are the largest Flemish-speaking employer in Brussels, an international city with which we are all too happy to be affiliated and around which our four campuses are located.

Our education and research are grounded in the principles of free research with an eye on human progress. We disapprove of every purely authoritative argument and guarantee the free formation of judgement that is necessary for this basic principle to be incorporated in the community.

The VUB is autonomous and managed democratically. As such, we guarantee fundamental freedoms within our university, as well as the right of the university community to be involved in making and checking university policy. The mission of the university includes:

• the development, the transfer and the application of high-standing academic education and scientific research, free from any prejudice;
• community integration of this in a spirit of social compassion;
• critical development of everyone in light of the responsibilities borne in the community.

Job description

The position is in the Faculty of Engineering Sciences of Vrije Universiteit Brussel. The candidate will work in the EPOWERS group of the  MOBI Research Centre (Electromobility Research Centre). Our Mission as EPOWERS Research Group is to offer and deliver cutting-edge research, provide top-notch designs and developments on power electronics, powertrains and smart green energy solutions with intelligent control systems for tomorrow's mobility, transport and smart green grid applications, with our ever-growing team of top-level researchers and experts. Our academic record at world's most renowned academic journals in relevant fields, a good word from our established national and international collaboration network of companies and research institutes, the content of the ever-growing number of projects we are involved with can be reference to our level of expertise. We follow the local and global tendencies on a daily basis, bilaterally interact and collaborate with all sorts of research, technology, business, public and political entities to contribute in shaping tomorrow's transport, mobility and green energy systems. EPOWERS is also part of MOBI Core Lab within Flanders Make - Driving Innovation. 

What do we expect from you?

You will conduct research and works towards a PhD.

• You specialize in the following topic: Development of a machine learning-based powertrain digital twin and smart preconditioning for fast-charging applications;
• Simulation of the map-based and data-driven powertrain electro-thermal model;
• Assessment framework for smart energy management, lifetime estimation model and cost assessment tool;
• Reliability-oriented design optimization of the powertrain components;
• AI-supported smart fast-charging algorithms to process the thermal preconditioning of the battery prior to the event of a fast charge
• You work on projects independently;
• You will present your work at international conferences and publish your work in Q1 or Q2 journals.

Job requirements

You have a master’s degree in Engineering or Industrial Sciences.  You are fluent in written and spoken English.

Our offer

Will you be our new colleague?

Then we offer you a full-time doctoral scholarship, for the duration of 24 months (renewable).

PLEASE NOTE: The effective implementation of the PhD grant is subject to the suspensive condition of enrolling the PhD student as a PhD student at the university.

At the VUB, we guarantee an open, involved and diverse workplace and offer you opportunities to (further) develop your career.

In addition, you enjoy benefits such as:

• Maximum reimbursement for commuting by public transport or a bicycle allowance;
• Free hospitalization insurance;
• The space to shape your job content and to learn continuously via VUB LRN;
• Advantageous sports opportunities;
• Ecocheques;
• Delicious meals in our campus restaurants at an attractive rate;

• An open and family friendly environment with attention to your "work-life balance" and an exceptional leave scheme with 35 leave days (in case of full-time employment).

   

  Additional information

   

Application

Applications can only be made ONLINE before 31/10/2023.

Your application must include the following as a minimum:

• Detailed CV
• Degrees and diplomas
• Motivation statement

For more information on what it’s like to work at the VUB, go to www.vub.ac.be/en/jobs.