IMPORTANT: Strong knowledge in Electromagnetism and Lab Experience is STRICTLY needed. For this particular project within the Magnify project, it is not possible to hire candidates with residence in Belgium.
We are looking for a highly motivated, enthusiastic, and communicative researcher with a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a related field. The ideal candidate should demonstrate:
·A strong academic record;
·Solid background in power electronics and magnetic component design;
·Experience with modelling and simulation tools (such as MATLAB/Simulink, FEM software like COMSOL or ANSYS Maxwell);
·Familiarity with WBG semiconductors is an asset;
·An eagerness to work in a collaborative, international environment.
Applicants must have excellent English communication skills. Knowledge of Dutch is not required but encouraged.
Note: If the selected candidate holds a Master’s degree from a non-EU institution, an English proficiency certificate, a legalised English translation, and an apostille of the diploma and transcripts will be required.
This PhD is part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network “MAGNIFY” and aims to tackle the growing challenge of designing high-performance magnetic components for resonant power converters, especially under the influence of fast-switching wide-bandgap (WBG) semiconductors such as GaN and SiC.
The core objective is to develop advanced 3-D modelling and optimisation methodologies for magnetic components that enable accurate leakage inductance prediction and improved overall performance. Traditional 1-D and 2-D modelling approaches fail to capture the complex three-dimensional effects critical to high-frequency, high-efficiency operation in modern converters.
The PhD candidate will:
1.Experimentally characterize leakage inductance and power losses in conventional magnetics using various core materials.
2.Investigate the impact of harmonic content introduced by WBG devices on magnetic component behaviour.
3.Extend and apply existing core loss models to novel materials, leveraging insights from the MAGNIFY network.
4.Conduct a stochastic study on how strand positioning within windings affects inductance variability.
5.Perform multi-objective optimisation (geometry, shape, size) to minimize leakage inductance and maximize efficiency.
6.Validate developed models and optimized designs in actual resonant power converters using WBG semiconductors.
The expected outcomes include a robust 3-D modelling framework, novel low-leakage magnetic layouts, and an advanced design workflow that can be adopted by both academia and industry.
International collaboration is central to this project. The candidate will undertake secondments to:
·Tampere University: MATLAB/Simulink implementation (Month 22–24),
·Hitachi Energy: Benchmarking of magnetic components (Month 30–32),
·Danfoss: Experimental model verification (Month 34–35).
KU Leuven, located in Belgium, is among the top European universities, ranked as the top university in the Reuters ranking of Europe’s most innovative universities. KU Leuven is a research-intensive, international university that performs both basic and applied research. It is a highly interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary institution focused and committed to international excellence. KU Leuven actively works on this together with its research partners at home and abroad. The university offers an academic education that is based on scientific research of high quality.At the Power Electronics Group of the Department of Electrical Engineering ESAT / ELECTA, several PhD students and post-docs are working on modelling and on applications of power electronics. We currently have a PhD position available in EnergyVille, located in Genk.
This PhD will be carried out within the EnergyVille framework, a collaboration between KU Leuven, VITO, imec, and UHasselt, focused on sustainable energy systems.
The successful candidate will receive a full-time Marie Skłodowska-Curie PhD fellowship for 36 months, which can extend to 48 months. This includes a competitive salary, mobility allowance, and access to international training and networking opportunities through the MAGNIFY Doctoral Network.
The goal is to obtain a PhD degree from KU Leuven after successful completion of the program.