An opportunity is available for a PhD student to contribute to ongoing work concerning the development of simulation software for Virtual Prototyping of power electronic systems. The ultimate aim of this work is to develop software that will allow power electronic system designers to fully optimise the design of a system using an iterative, simulation based design process. This requires efficient modelling and simulation techniques that can rapidly predict the effect of a system’s design on its electrical, electromagnetic, thermal and reliability performance.

Potential topics that could be addressed as part of the PhD include:

• Identifying and developing Model Order Reduction techniques to allow accelerated electrical, electromagnetic, thermal and lifetime modelling of power electronic systems.
• Developing efficient semiconductor models that are able to predict how system design influences the behaviour of new high-speed, wide bandgap (SiC/GaN) power devices.
• Developing techniques to allow automatic design optimisation based on the results of accelerated electrical/electromagnetic/thermal/semiconductor simulations.
• Implementing the models and techniques developed in software.
• Validating the software developed through construction of prototypes and experimental testing.

Students must hold, or be near completion of a first or upper-second class degree in Engineering, Physics or Mathematics. An understanding of basic numerical techniques used to solve partial and ordinary differential equations in engineering applications is required. The work will involve contributing to existing software under development and therefore a good working knowledge of the C or C++ programming languages will be needed. Some experience using common simulation tools is desirable (for example MATLAB/Simulink, SPICE, Saber, Ansys), as is practical experience building or testing power electronic circuits.

The studentship will cover PhD tuition fees and a tax free stipend for three years (£13,863 for the 2014-15 academic year). Due to funding restrictions this studentship is only available to UK/EU students.

For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Paul Evans (paul.evans<στο>nottingham.ac.uk).

To make an application, please send a covering letter stating clearly how you fulfil the requirements of the studentship, your research interests and include a CV, academic transcripts and the names and addresses of two academic referees, to Dr Paul Evans (paul.evans<στο>nottingham.ac.uk).

Please quote ref: ENG832   Closing date: 14 April 2015