PhD students in large electrical machines and grid stability for clean energy transition

Uppsala University, Department of Electrical Engineering

Electrification and digitalisation are among the major areas for the future transition to sustainable societies. The Department of Electrical Engineering conducts successful research and education in these areas - including renewable energy sources, electric vehicles, industrial IoT, 6G communication, and wireless sensor networks, as well as research and education in Life Science, health technology, smart electronic sensors, and medical systems. The Department of Electrical Engineering is an international environment with around 170 employees who contribute to important technological energy and health at the Ångström Laboratory.

We are now looking for PhD students in large electrical machines and grid stability for clean energy transition.

Come and join us!The position is placed at the Division of Electricity, within the Department of Electrical Engineering. Here you will find a welcoming working environment with an active doctoral student network and a variety of experimental projects. The division collaborates with Swedish companies – both public and private – as well as other stakeholders within the various research areas. We look forward to receiving your application. Join us in building the future!

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at Uppsala University.

Projektbeskrivning

Large electrical machines are at the heart of some of the world's most important sources of clean and reliable energy. In hydropower plants, large synchronous generators convert the power from flowing water into electric energy, while in nuclear power plants, turbine generators transform heat from nuclear reactions into large-scale electrical output. These machines, often rated from hundreds to more than a thousand megawatts, represent the pinnacle of electrical engineering, combining exceptional efficiency, reliability, and operational lifetimes measured in decades.

Equally important is the system perspective. A secure and resilient power system requires more than sufficient energy production; it also depends on the availability of stability-supporting capabilities from electrical machines and other power system resources. As power systems evolve, it becomes increasingly important to identify which services and dynamic characteristics are required to maintain secure operation during disturbances, changing operating conditions, and evolving generation mixes. Understanding the system need for inertia, frequency containment, voltage support, fault ride-through capability, oscillation damping, and other system-supporting functions is therefore essential for ensuring future system reliability and enabling the continued transition toward sustainable electricity generation.

The project aims to further strengthen Swedish competence in the design, operation, and grid integration of large synchronous machines that form the backbone of reliable and carbon-free electricity generation. As power systems transition towards higher shares of renewable generation, there is an increasing need for experts who understand how large electrical machines contribute to system stability, flexibility, inertia, voltage regulation, and energy storage. The ability to analyze machine behaviour, solve technical challenges, and develop innovative solutions for future power systems is becoming increasingly valuable.

We offer up to three PhD projects with different research directions. two projects focuses on large electrical machines and electricity generation facilities, while the other focuses on power system dynamics, stability, and future system requirements.

The project is a cooperation between Hydropower industry, Forsmark nuclear power plant, Svenska kraftnät and Uppsala University.

Work duties

• Conduct research within electrical machines, electricity generation facilities, or power system dynamics, depending on the project.
• Develop and apply simulation models for power systems and electricity generation facilities.
• Analyse operational data from power stations and other power system assets.
• Investigate power system dynamics, stability, and future system requirements.
• Evaluate and quantify system-support services such as frequency support, voltage support, oscillation damping, and disturbance resilience.
• Publish research findings in scientific journals and present results at conferences and seminars.
• Collaborate with academic and industrial partners.

Teaching and other departmental duties may be part of the position, to a maximum of 20% of the working hours.

About the employment

Fixed term position 48 months, in accordance with Chapter 5, Section 7 of the Higher Education Ordinance. Full-time. Start date 2027-01-02 or as agreed. Location: Uppsala.

Rules governing doctoral students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance Chapter 5, Sections 1-7 and in Uppsala University's rules and guidelines.

For further information about the position, please contactProfessor Urban Lundin, urban.lundin@angstrom.uu.se.

Application instructions The application should include 1) a cover letter describing yourself, your research interests and why you wish to pursue doctoral studies, 2) your CV, 3) a brief description of your education, 4) a copy of your Master’s degree certificate and course transcripts, as well as a copy of your Master’s thesis, 5) any other documents you wish to refer to, 6) the names and contact details of referees (email address and telephone number), and 7) any publications. The application should be written in English.

You are welcome to submit your application no later than October 30 2026. UFV-PA 2026/2960.

Uppsala University is a broad research university with a strong international position. The ultimate goal is to conduct education and research of the highest quality and relevance to make a difference in society. Our most important asset is all of our 7,500 employees and 53,000 students who, with curiosity and commitment, make Uppsala University one of Sweden’s most exciting workplaces.

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at Uppsala Universityhttps://uu.se/om-uu/jobba-hos-oss/

The position may be subject to security vetting. If security vetting is conducted, the applicant must pass the vetting process to be eligible for employment.

Please do not send offers of recruitment or advertising services.

Submit your application through Uppsala University's recruitment system.

Qualifications required

To meet the entry requirements for doctoral studies, you must

• hold a Master’s (second-cycle) degree in Electrical Engineering, Engineering Physics, Energy Systems, or
• have completed at least 240 credits in higher education with at least 60 credits at Master’s level including an independent project worth at least 15 credits, or
• have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way.
• In addition to the eligibility requirements, applicants must have good programming skills.

We place great importance on being self-motivated, as undertaking a PhD involves being able to focus intensively on a specific task. We value the ability to work well with others, as we also work on joint tasks within focused teams. You should be determined, organised and able to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.

Qualifications desired

• Knowledge of the power system and/or large electrical machines
• Knowledge of large-scale power generation facilities
• Experience of dynamic simulations using, for example, Matlab/Simulink
• Experience of performing measurements on electrical machines
• Knowledge of finite element modelling