This opportunity will start on 1 October 2026.

This studentship will focus on a fresh look at control techniques for power converters that will deliver significant amounts of energy within a fraction of a second for next-generation pulsed power applications. Modern techniques that enable multi-objective specification and adaptive behaviour offer the potential to deliver systems optimisations that adjust to emerging phenomena, require fewer capacitors, and minimise space and cost requirements while exploiting increased thermal capability with new device packaging. Given that converter dominated power systems are so highly dynamic, the design and validation of optimal controls requires effective and multiple goal setting and high fidelity modelling that necessitate new techniques. Only with the achievement of more ambitious control goals might the associated benefits of wide bandgap devices (SiC and GaN), increased switching frequencies, and accelerated control laws and enhanced certification promised by FPGA-based and SoC-based controllers be fully realised. 

Objectives

• investigation of power systems of power electronics supplying pulsed power loads
• research power converter modelling with various fidelity levels
• characterise power system dynamics, and design modern controllers utilizing high bandwidth capability 
• conduct real time simulation and control hardware in the loop (CHIL) evaluations of complex behaviours
• disseminate results and shape new pathways for advanced control and integrative architectures

The Hub

The Doctoral Hub specialises in developing research and training the next generation of leaders in energy transfer technologies for defence and related sectors. You will be based at the University of Strathclyde, and throughout your PhD will benefit from the support and expertise of our diverse academic community, a community of students working towards similar goals, as well as our specialist industrial network. Please check the Energy Transfer Skills training hub website for further details.

Why Join Us?

• industrial collaboration: each PhD student within the Hub is partnered with an industry collaborator, providing placement opportunities to work and train alongside industry experts
• comprehensive training: the Hub offers a blend of academic and industrial training, preparing you for diverse career pathways in research or industry
• cohort experience: build your research network through inclusion in a vibrant cohort of PhD students that conduct research with academic leaders across leading UK institutions. Engage in online and face-to-face activities, including cohort-building events and collaborative learning exercises
  funding: a generous fully funded studentship (no fees and a monthly personal payment) with additional support for conferences, travel, training, consumables and extended placement with industry collaborators

Further information

The industrial partner, ESCO Maritime Solutions Ltd, is a major international company with capability in delivering mission critical systems in defence, security and control environments. Their technologies can be found on many of the world’s long-term military programmes. Globally, ESCO Technologies group employs around 3,300 people, primarily in the USA and UK. ESCO Maritime Solutions will support PhD supervision, provide a placement within the ‘Signature Management and Power’ sector and be part of the larger Hub community benefiting in the diverse academic and industrial network offered by the Hub.

You will join the large team of specialist researchers at the University of Strathclyde’s Technology & Innovation Centre, gaining access to state-of-the-art toolsets and world-class experimental infrastructure that support award-winning power engineering and energy systems research activities.