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Electronic and Electrical Engineering: Fully Funded EPSRC iCASE and Siemens PhD Scholarship: Gallium Nitride High Voltage Power Management (RS615)

  • DeadlineDeadline: 27 May 2024
  • WalesWales

Description

Closing date: 27 May 2024

Funding providers: EPSRC iCASE and Siemens

Subject areas: Wide Bandgap Semiconductors, Power Electronics

Project start date: 

  • 1 October 2024 (Enrolment open from mid-September)

Supervisors:

Aligned programme of study: PhD in Electronic and Electrical Engineering

Mode of study: Full-time 

Project description: 

The project will work alongside a leading industrial partner (Siemens), which brings together a number of world leaders in power electronics and energy conversion to develop solutions for Industrial motor drives as a primary application as well renewable energy as a secondary application. The purpose is to improve the UKs energy infrastructure in applications such as manufacturing, warehousing, utilities supply, food & beverage processing and many others as we move into a low carbon economy. A paradigm shift in technology will be required in order to cope effectively with an ever-increasing amount of renewable energy being brought online. It is envisaged that other forms of renewable energy, e.g. tidal, solar could also play a role alongside traditional coal fired power stations and nuclear energy generation. Revolutionary changes to power conversion is indispensable if these carbon emissions targets are to be met. The objective is to enable a step change in power density, energy efficiency, sustainability in transmission and distribution through novel power electronics solutions and products based on new materials. At the heart of such systems are power semiconductor devices. 

The advantages of wide bandgap materials such as silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) for power electronic applications are well documented. High voltage GaN is an emerging semiconductor technology that has recently been identified as a promising candidate for power electronics with the potential to have an impact in the medium voltage range (650V – 3.3kV). There are very few reports on this exciting new technology. This project is aimed at understanding the fundamental performance limit of vertical GaN power devices through advanced modelling (electrical and thermal), device fabrication and testing, including a reliability analysis. A self-motivated individual who will be based between the Siemens facility (Siemens Power Electronics Innovation hub) in Newport and the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) will conduct research into the latest GaN power electronic devices. The research work will be undertaken in a state of the art, brand new Centre of Integrative Semiconductor Materials (CISM) cleanroom. For more details regarding this world-class facility see here: the new Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials (CISM) – Swansea University’s flagship new £55M facility for advanced semiconductor research and development. 

Application areas: Renewable Energy (wind, photovoltaic, tidal, etc.), Industrial motor drives, Automotive. 

For more details please see here: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/scholarships/research/electronic-electrical-engineering-epsrc-siemens-phd-gallium-2024-rs615.php

Entry Requirements

Candidates must hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) in Engineering or similar relevant science disciplineIf you are eligible to apply for the scholarship but do not hold a UK degree, you can check our comparison entry requirements (see country specific qualifications). Please note that you may need to provide evidence of your English Language proficiency. 

English Language: IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 5.5) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here. 

This scholarship is open to candidates of any nationality.

UKRI iCASE studentships are available to home and international students. Up to 30% of our cohort can comprise international students, once the limit has been reached, we are unable to make offers to international students. We are still accepting applications from international applicants. International students will not be charged the fee difference between the UK and international rate. Applicants should satisfy the UKRI eligibility requirements. 

ATAS

Please note that the programme requires some applicants to hold ATAS clearance, further details on ATAS scheme eligibility are available on the UK Government website. 

ATAS clearance IS NOT required to be held as part of the scholarship application process, successful award winners (as appropriate) are provided with details as to how to apply for ATAS clearance in tandem with scholarship course offer. 

If you have any questions regarding your academic or fee eligibility based on the above, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk with the web-link to the scholarship(s) you are interested in. 

Funding

This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend at £19,237 and an annual £2,500 top-up.

Additional research expenses will also be available.

How To Apply

To apply, please complete your application online with the following information:

  1. Course choice – please select Electronic and Electrical Engineering / PhD / Full-time / 3 Year / October 

    In the event you have already applied for the above programme previously, the application system may issue a warning notice and prevent application, in this event, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk where staff will be happy to assist you in submitting your application.

  2. Start year – please select 2024
  3. Funding (page 8) –
  • ‘Are you funding your studies yourself?’ – please select No
  • ‘Name of Individual or organisation providing funds for study’ – please enter ‘RS615 - Power Management’

*It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying, please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award.

One application is required per individual Swansea University led research scholarship award; applications cannot be considered listing multiple Swansea University led research scholarship awards.

We encourage you to complete the following to support our commitment to providing an environment free of discrimination and celebrating diversity at Swansea University: 

As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via e-mail). We strongly advise you to provide the listed supporting documents by the advertised application closing date. Please note that your application may not be considered without the documents listed:

  • CV
  • Degree certificates and transcripts (if you are currently studying for a degree, screenshots of your grades to date are sufficient)
  • A cover letter including a ‘Supplementary Personal Statement’ to explain why the position particularly matches your skills and experience and how you choose to develop the project.
  • Two references (academic or previous employer) on headed paper or using the Swansea University reference form. Please note that we are not able to accept references received citing private email accounts, e.g. Hotmail. Referees should cite their employment email address for verification of reference.
  • Evidence of meeting English Language requirement (if applicable).
  • Copy of UK resident visa (if applicable)
  • Confirmation of EDI form submission (optional) 

Informal enquiries are welcome, please contact Professor Mike Jennings (M.R.Jennings@swansea.ac.uk).

*External Partner Application Data Sharing – Please note that as part of the scholarship application selection process, application data sharing may occur with external partners outside of the University, when joint/co- funding of a scholarship project is applicable.

Who is eligible to apply?

This scholarship is open to candidates of any nationality.

Find out more and apply

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