PhD Scholarship Modular and Multifunction Power Electronics (PE) interfaces and control systems for Electric Vehicle drivetrains

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.

Subject Area

Modular and Multifunction Power Electronics (PE) interfaces and control systems for Electric Vehicle drivetrains

Main Tasks

• Development and implementation of power electronics converters with topology selection and advanced control techniques;
• Development of modular subsystem models and efficient model interfaces to be integrated in the drivetrain (DT) simulation platform;
• Thermal modelling of power electronics converters with realtime capability
• Digital twins of power electronics interfaces for both epowertrains and stationary applications.
• Writing research reports and scientific articles;
• Presenting research at (international) seminars and conferences;
• Coach master thesis students.

Requirements

The candidate must have a Master degree or equivalent from an academic institution in Electrical Engineering.

The candidate should have VERY strong theoretical knowledge and interest in both experimental and modeling in the field of power electronics, Real-time workshop (RTW) implementation, their control systems and optimization.

The candidate should also have good communication skills in English (speaking and writing), demonstrate initiative and be proactive in the project.

The applicant should have ability to work independently, to carry out complicated tasks, and be a part of a large team with highly communication skills. 

Preferred skill requirements include knowledge of power electronics (i.e. DC/DC converters, charging systems (on-board and off- chargers with V2G capability, DC/AC inverters, etc.), electric vehicles, control systems and Matlab/Simulink.

The candidate is expected to endorse the educational vision of the university (full text available on the university website).

Offer

As an employee of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel your days will be spent in a dynamic, diverse and multilingual environment.  Both our campuses are set within green oases on the outskirts of the centre of the capital of Flanders, Belgium and Europe. This center, with all its opportunities, is within your reach by public transport in under half an hour.

Depending on your experience and academic merits you will receive a salary on one of the pay scales laid down by the government. Hospitalization cover and free use of public transport for travel to and from work are standard conditions of employment. If you would rather cycle to work, compensation is also available for that. Both campuses have extensive sporting facilities, which are at your disposal, and a nursery is within walking distance.

More information is available at www.vub.ac.be under the heading ‘future employees’.

How to apply

Applications should be submitted by email to omar.hegazy@vub.be.

All applications must at least include the following PDF attachments:

• A brief CV (EU format);
• Comprehensive details of academic portfolio;
• Diplomas;
• Transcripts and scores;
• At least two recommendation letters should be provided;
• Cover and motivation letters.