PhD in Measuring the Future of Power Electronics

Original title: 2 PhD positions on Measuring the Future of Power Electronics

• Develop current-sensor concepts targeting a bandwidth above 300 MHz and an insertion inductance below 1 nH.
• Model the electromagnetic behaviour, parasitic effects, transfer characteristics and limitations of candidate sensor architectures.
• Design and fabricate sensor prototypes, including their mechanical integration, shielding, connections and readout interfaces.
• Develop experimental methods to determine amplitude response, phase response, time-domain behaviour, linearity and sensitivity to operating conditions.
• Characterize and calibrate the sensors in collaboration with VSL, the Dutch National Metrology Institute and a Moore4Power partner.
• Demonstrate the sensors in representative SiC and GaN switching circuits and quantify how sensor performance affects switching-loss evaluation.
• Publish the scientific results and translate promising concepts into practical measurement solutions for project partners.
• Characterize wideband voltage and current sensors in both the frequency and time domains, including amplitude, phase, linearity, dynamic behaviour and environmental influences.
• Develop calibration and uncertainty-evaluation methods for using these sensors in electrical power and efficiency measurements.
• Apply the measurement system to investigate switching behaviour, switching losses and overall efficiency of SiC- and GaN-based converters developed at the University of Twente and by Moore4Power industrial partners.
• Design, build and validate a next-generation calorimeter with a novel thermal measurement approach for accurate loss determination.
• Combine and compare electrical and calorimetric results to identify systematic effects, improve confidence in the measurements and establish traceable validation routes.
• Optimize the methods for realistic converter operating conditions and communicate practical guidance to academic and industrial users.
• Publish the scientific results and demonstrate the methods on relevant power-electronic hardware.
• You will form a closely collaborating research team: the sensor concepts from PhD 1 will inform the measurement applications in PhD 2, while the validation needs from PhD 2 will guide sensor requirements and characterization.
• You will work at the interface of measurement science and power electronics, with access to expertise and laboratory facilities at the University of Twente and VSL.
• You will collaborate intensively with academic and industrial partners across Europe, including regular project meetings, technical exchanges and work visits.
• You will have the freedom and responsibility to shape your research direction, develop advanced experimental skills and contribute to solutions with clear scientific and industrial relevance.