Doctoral student in Industrial Electrical Engineering with focus on charging infrastructure for electric long-haul vehicles - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Subject description

The doctoral student will be employed at the Div. of Industrial Electrical Engineering and Automation (IEA). The research conducted at IEA focuses on electric power systems, electric drives and wastewater systems. All research aims at a sustainable society, in line with EU climate goals and UN Agenda 2030 for sustainable development. In practice, scientific methods for modelling, analysis and control are applied to systems of industrially relevant complexity. These methods are usually validated using laboratory measurements and real-life data.

The research education subject is industrial electrical engineering. The research group Industrial Electrical Engineering focuses on technology and systems for electrical and electromechanical energy conversion, with special focus on the electrification of different types of vehicles. The subject is cross-disciplinary by nature, with a strong connection to electromagnetism, power and signal electronics, material science, electrical machine design, automatic control, as well as real time systems, automation, and electric measurement technology. The subject is also coupled to industrial automation since research questions at a more comprehensive system level are also addressed. The research in industrial electrical engineering is usually inspired by real industrial problems.

Work duties

The selected candidate will mostly work in a large project focusing on the assessment of fast-charging infrastructure for electric long-haul trucks. The project includes both theoretical and numerical studies as well as the implementation and operation of three Mega Charging System (MCS) demonstrators for electric trucks in selected locations in Sweden. The project is funded by the Swedish Innovation Agency Vinnova, and it involves the major commercial vehicle manufacturers in Sweden, a charging infrastructure supplier, two large refuelling station / charging station operators, logistic and transport companies, and the universities of Lund, Uppsala, Linköping, and Chalmers within the Swedish Electromobility Centre.

Our part of the work in this project aims at, with the help of mathematical models, assessing the needs for (fast) charging infrastructure to enable full-electric long-haul goods transport in Sweden. This implies deciding not only how many chargers are needed, but also their geographical distribution and power rating. However, there are many inter-related system parameters affecting these charging infrastructure needs in different degrees, and it is therefore important to understand their influence. Examples of these parameters are the characteristics of the vehicle fleet, e.g. the size of the vehicles or the battery capacity installed on-board; the availability of other energy sources such as overnight charging, hydrogen or alternative non-fossil fuels; the usage patterns and transport assignments, which in turn may be affected by the availability of charging infrastructure in certain regions; the cost implications of the charging time in the logistic processes, and the capacity and status of the power grid, which may impose limitations on the available power or impact the electricity price. Moreover, smart control of the chargers and scheduling of the charging events can significantly influence the cost associated to the power grid. Several of these system aspects are studied in detail by other partners in the project.

The selected candidate will be part of a group of researchers (at present 4 PhD students and 4 seniors) at the Division developing modelling tools to investigate charging infrastructure needs, suitability, utilisation and cost for several different applications. Although the specific focus will be on fast-charging infrastructure for electric trucks, eventual collaboration within these researchers and their corresponding projects is also to be expected.

IEA is looking for a doctoral student with focus on model development and simulation of transport and charging systems according to the project description above. The student is expected to collaborate both with the rest of the project partners outside Lund University, as well as with the other researchers in the Division working on charging systems.

The main duties of doctoral students are to devote themselves to their research studies which includes participating in research projects and third cycle courses. The work duties will also include teaching and other departmental duties (no more than 20%).

Admission requirements

A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if the applicant:

• has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or
• has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

A person meets the specific admission requirements for third cycle studies in industrial electrical engineering if the applicant has:

• at least 30 second-cycle credits of relevance to the field of study

Additional requirements:

• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.

Assessment criteria

Selection for third-cycle studies is based on the student’s potential to profit from such studies. The assessment of potential is made primarily on the basis of academic results from the first and second cycle. Special attention is paid to the following:

1. Knowledge and skills relevant to the thesis project and the subject of study.
2. An assessment of ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems.
3. Written and oral communication skills Other experience relevant to the third-cycle studies, e.g. professional experience.
4. Other assessment criteria:

We are looking for a motivated candidate who is willing to make a difference in the fight against global warming, pushing to accelerate the electrification of the most challenging fraction of road transport: long-haul trucks and buses.

Suitable candidates may possess a Master of Science degree in engineering physics, electrical engineering or mechanical engineering with significant contributions in at least one of the following fields: electric vehicles, power electronics, energy and transport systems.

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant, through his or her experience and skills, is deemed to have the abilities necessary for successfully completing the third cycle programme.

Terms of employment
Only those admitted to third cycle studies may be appointed to a doctoral studentship. Third cycle studies at LTH consist of full-time studies for 4 years. A doctoral studentship is a fixed-term employment of a maximum of 5 years (including 20% departmental duties). Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

Instructions on how to apply

Applications shall be written in English and include a cover letter stating the reasons why you are interested in the position and in what way the research project corresponds to your interests and educational background. The application must also contain a CV, degree certificate or equivalent, and other documents you wish to be considered (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.).