Applications are invited for 12 PhD positions whereof 2 PhD positions at the University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands ('Early Stage Researchers') to be funded by the Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network 'ETOPIA - European Training network Of PhD researchers on Innovative EMI analysis and power Applications' within the Horizon 2020 Program of the European Commission. ETOPIA is a consortium of six universities, supported by 12 industrial entities, in the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, Italy and Romania. Each of the 12 ESRs will be working towards a unique joint PhD degree awarded by all six universities, supported by a carefully chosen supervisory team that maximizes both scientific excellence as well as interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral collaboration. The 12 ETOPIA ESRs will not only receive state-of-the-art science/technology training but will also benefit from a unique soft-skills training program.

Career Stage: ESR

Early Stage Researcher (ESR) are those who are, at the time of recruitment by the host, in the first four years (full-time equivalent) of their research careers. This is measured from the date when they obtained the degree which formally entitles them to embark on a doctorate, either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the research training is provided, irrespective of whether or not a doctorate was envisaged. Persons who performed part-time research, for instance 50%, over a period of for instance 6 years, are eligible, as the criterion is four years full-time equivalent. Please do NOT apply if you are not eligible! Please also do NOT apply if you do not have an electrical engineering background!

Applicants need to fully respect all three eligibility criteria (to demonstrated in the Europass cv):

Early-stage researchers (ESR) are those who are, at the time of recruitment by the host, in the first four years (full-time equivalent) of their research careers. This is measured from the date when they obtained the degree which formally entitles them to embark on a doctorate, either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the research training is provided, irrespective of whether or not a doctorate was envisaged.

Conditions of international mobility of researchers: Researchers are required to undertake trans-national mobility (i.e. move from one country to another) when taking up the appointment. At the time of selection by the host organisation, researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of their host organisation for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment. Short stays, such as holidays, are not taken into account.

English language: Network fellows (ESRs) must demonstrate that their ability to understand and express themselves in both written and spoken English is sufficiently high for them to derive the full benefit from the network training.

All applications proceed via the on-line channels (see www.ETOPIA-itn.org, etopia-vacancies@utwente.nl). Candidates apply electronically for one to maximum three positions and indicate their preference. Candidates provide all requested information including a detailed CV - Europass format obligatory - and motivation letter. During the registration, applicants will need to prove that they are eligible (cf. ESR definition, mobility criteria, and English language proficiency). The ETOPIA Recruitment Committee selects up to 20 candidates for the Recruitment Event which will take place in Amsterdam on 16 and 17 May 2019. The selected candidates provide a sharp-15-minute presentation and are interviewed by the Recruitment Committee. Only in exceptional cases the interview is done via Skype.

ETOPIA project abstract and key project information

Our modern society becomes highly interconnected where power supply is not only providing energy between many distributed sources and loads but are also a main path of interference, especially in large complex systems, platforms and facilities, where interoperability of the electronic systems has to be achieved. There is an urgent need to train new researchers with a closer interaction of electrical power and power electronics with information technology and communications equipment. The ETOPIA consortium of key academic partners, supported by industry, has been brought together not only to train a sufficient number of qualified researchers but also to provide the fundamental research that underpins future technological developments. The detailed coordinated multidisciplinary multinational doctoral training program will provide the trainee researchers with a complete broad experience and at the same time allow them to develop and eventually lead their focused area of research. The program will focus on the development of novel methods to model, simulate, design, evaluate, measure and monitor. ETOPIA will also develop corrective economical measures for a safe, reliable, efficient and greener electrical power distribution system in and between buildings and vehicles. Specific innovations expected to be achieved through ETOPIA are methodologies to optimize the design of complex electrical/ electronic installations with respect to compatibility and efficiency.

Dissemination methods to realize optimal impact will include scientific publications, workshops, training of engineers in industry, and dissemination through newsletters, interviews, social media. 

Intersectoral and multi-disciplinary training

To help the ESRs put what they have learned during their research and S/T training into practice in their future careers, they will also receive soft-skills training to help them communicate effectively at all levels and become sought-after recruits. ETOPIA is closely aligned with the high-priority areas of the EU, addressing many Horizon 2020 thematics. But the most important output of ETOPIA will be 12 well qualified people who have been trained to tackle many of the problems now being faced by European industry. 

Workpackages

ETOPIA is organized also along three research lines which are organised in work packages (WP):

WP5  Non-conventional modelling and measurements,

WP6  Multi-domain optimization, and

WP7  EM-Coexistence.

(WP1-4 are for management, training, dissemination and outreach)

Each Early Stage Researcher (ESR) will be scientifically trained through doing research on his/her well-defined individual project within a certain WP, continuously interacting with the other ESRs within and between the WPs to broaden outlook and realize the inter/multi-disciplinary aspects of the doctoral program. Together with his/her supervisor each ESR will draw up a detailed work plan for their individual sub-project. An important aspect is the secondment to the other universities as this is also required by the universities for the Joint doctorate. But also secondments to industry, as the ESRs will be exposed to different environment, and will be requested to collaborate with researchers and engineers in industry. Also validation of the modelling and simulation methodology will be done in very close collaboration with industry.

We are seeking highly motivated persons with an excellent background and a MSc. degree in electrical engineering.

You enjoy communicating your work verbally and in writing. You enjoy working as part of a team, and yet are capable of working independently. You are curiosity-driven, but you are committed to deliver by hard deadlines too. Your involvement in the team inspires progress and you have clear scientific communication skills. We prefer applicants with strong English language proficiency.

We want you to play a key role in an ambitious project in an inspiring international consortium of six universities, supported by 12 industrial entities, in the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, Italy and Romania.

• We offer you a full time four-year position. 
• We provide excellent mentorship and a stimulating research environment to accelerate your further professional and personal growth.
• As part of your research project, you will collaborate with high tech companies where you will spend up to 1 year of your doctoral studies.
• The University of Twente is situated on a green and lively campus with lots of facilities for sports and other extracurricular activities.
• A high-quality training program is part of the offered position. The research has to lead to published scientific work and project deliverables that shall result in a joint PhD thesis at the end of the employment period.
  
  Benefits and salary

The successful candidates will receive an attractive salary in accordance with the MSCA regulations for Early Stage Researchers. The exact (net) salary will be confirmed upon appointment and is dependent on local tax regulations and on the country correction factor (to allow for the difference in cost of living in different EU Member States). The salary includes a living allowance, a mobility allowance and a family allowance (if married). The guaranteed PhD funding is for 36 months (i.e. EC funding, additional funding is possible, depending on the local Supervisor, and in accordance with the regular PhD time in the country of origin). In addition to their individual scientific projects, all fellows will benefit from further continuing education, which includes internships and secondments, a variety of training modules as well as transferable skills courses and active participation in workshops and conferences.

INFORMATION AND APPLICATION

Potential applicants are encouraged to discuss the project with Prof. dr. Frank Leferink
(etopia-vacancies@utwente.nl). Applications should include the following documents:

• A one-page letter motivating a) why you want to do a Ph.D.; b) why are you applying for this specific position; c) why do you consider yourself a suitable candidate for this position;
• A list of three achievements in your life that you are proud of;
• A detailed CV listing education, work experience, publications, relevant other activities and coordinates of up to three referees;
• An academic transcript of B.Sc. and M.Sc. education;
• A copy of up to five academic works such as papers or M.Sc. thesis;
• A high TOEFL (> 90 or 100) or IELTS (> 6.5 or 7) score certificate.
  

  Please combine the attachments as there are only 3 attachments to upload.

The University of Twente. We stand for life sciences and technology. High tech and human touch. Education and research that matter. New technology which leads change, innovation and progress in society. The University of Twente is the only campus university of the Netherlands; divided over five faculties we provide more than fifty educational programmes. We have a strong focus on personal development and talented researchers are given scope for carrying out groundbreaking research.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status. Because of our diversity values we do particularly support women to apply.

The faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) comprises three disciplines that shape Information and Communication Technology. ICT is more than communication. In almost every product we use mathematics, electronics and computer technology and ICT now contributes to all of societies' activities. The faculty works together intensively with industrial partners and researchers in the Netherlands and abroad and conducts extensive research for external commissioning parties and funders. The research which enjoys a high profile both at home and internationally, has been accommodated in the multidisciplinary research institutes: Mesa+ Institute, TechMed Centra and Digital Society Institute.