Are you inspired by challenging control problems in the context of high-power applications? Are you eager to apply advanced, computationally intensive control techniques in real-life industrial problems? Are you ready to break the time-scale barriers and perform machine learning and dynamic optimization in the microseconds? If yes, then look no further - this position will challenge you in every aspect.

In the Power Electronics Lab (PEL/e) of the Electromechanics and Power Electronics (EPE) Group, we are looking for an outstanding PhD candidate to work on the application of computational intelligence techniques to enhance the versatility and reliability of Medium Voltage (MV) industrial motor drives. 

The research work contributes to the Real-time Data Driven Reliability research line of our team which aims at using data and computation to enhance the reliability of power electronics systems and thus contribute to a more efficient use of electric energy. The research will be carried out in close collaboration with the R&D team of ABB Motion, System Drives Division.

Specifically, and in the context of the previously established work of applying Model Predictive Control (MPC) for induction motor drives, you will be looking into methods and tools for the online adaptation of MPC-based algorithms to counteract persistent disturbances and modelling uncertainties. The line of investigation will include pattern recognition and machine learning techniques, as well as non-linear optimization problems. This interdisciplinary area of research promises a broad spectrum of challenges, and requires a strong mathematical background, coupled with a solid knowledge of power electronics and motor drives.  

Besides research you will also contribute to education within the department. Apart from supervising BSc and MSc students in their research projects, other assistance in education, e.g. in bachelor courses, is also expected. The overall load usually amounts to around 20% of your contract time.

• A master's degree (or an equivalent university degree) in Electrical Engineering, with a strong mathematical background.
• A research oriented attitude, with a passion for application-driven scientific problems and impactful solutions.
• Ability to work in a team and interested in collaborating with the industrial partners.
• Fluent in spoken and written English.

• A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university with the possibility to present your work at international conferences.
• A full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation (go/no-go) after nine months.
• To develop your teaching skills, you will spend 10% of your employment on teaching tasks.
• To support you during your PhD and to prepare you for the rest of your career, you will make a Training and Supervision plan and you will have free access to a personal development program for PhD students (PROOF program).
• A gross monthly salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities.
• Additionally, an annual holiday allowance of 8% of the yearly salary, plus a year-end allowance of 8.3% of the annual salary.
• Should you come from abroad and comply with certain conditions, you can make use of the so-called '30% facility', which permits you not to pay tax on 30% of your salary.
• A broad package of fringe benefits, including an excellent technical infrastructure, moving expenses, and savings schemes.
• Family-friendly initiatives are in place, such as an international spouse program, and excellent on-campus children day care and sports facilities.