PhD position: AI for Monitoring and Prognostics of Power Electronics Converters

Background

Power electronics converters (PECs) are systems that process electric power in various applications, including renewable energy generation and power grid interconnections, high-tech systems, electric vehicles, industrial automation and more. As they play mission-critical roles for the systems in which they are embedded, it is crucial to consider and carefully examine PECs reliability during their design phase as well as during their operation - a necessity that is nowadays well understood in both the academic and industrial communities. However, PEC reliability remains a significant challenge scientifically and technologically, as PECs feature complex multi-physical interdependencies, demanding operation profiles, and an operating principle that exerts extreme electrical, thermal and mechanical stresses upon their components. The ever-increasing availability of relevant operational data, and the advent of modern AI techniques provide us with a variety of opportunities to tackle PEC reliability questions in a more comprehensive way.

The Resilient Power project is part of the Eindhoven Artificial Intelligence Systems Institute (EAISI) funded multidisciplinary research Program, where Electrical Engineering and Industrial Engineering researchers join forces to develop novel AI methods for resilient electric power conversion. Within this project, the Power Electronics lab at the Eindhoven University of Technology is looking for one talented PhD-candidate on AI for monitoring and prognostics for reliability of power electronics converters. Within a multi-disciplinary supervising team, you will explore advanced approaches combining power electronics knowledge, reliability engineering, and physics-informed machine learning for fault diagnosis and remaining useful life prediction of a power converter. Naturally, data acquisition and experimental verification of your ideas in a laboratory setup will be a key component of the work, as is presenting your findings and ideas to the scientific community.

We are looking for a talented and enthusiastic colleague with an MSc degree in electrical engineering, with a strong affinity with and knowledge of power electronics,  and the knowledge of artificial intelligence and reliability engineering is an asset. The candidate should have:

• Enthusiasm and motivation to work on highly challenging research topics, and the talent to contribute to the progress of science and technology.
• Experience with experimental work in electrical engineering, preferably power electronics.
• Knowledge and experiences with AI is a plus.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to independently organize his/her own work, to solve problems, to achieve the desired goals and to cooperate with others.
• Project management skills are a plus.
• Ability to participate in the teaching process in BSc and MSc programs (both taught in English) and to supervise BSc and MSc internships and graduation projects.
• Good scientific writing and documentation skills.
• Strong command of the English language, knowledge of Dutch language is a plus.

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation (go/no-go) after nine months. You will spend 10% of your employment on teaching tasks.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. €2,872 max. €3,670).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates.