PhD Scholarship: Silicon Carbide Power Electronic Devices: Fabrication, Optimisation, and Reliability

Funding for: UK Students

Funding amount: Refer to advert

Closes: 31st March 2025

Discipline: Engineering & Technology 

Electrical and Electronic Engineering 

Qualification: Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering (PhD)

Deadline for applications: 31st March 2025

Start date: 6th October 2025

Funding for: 3.5 years

Supervisor: Professor Peter Gammon

Project Description:

A quiet revolution is underway in power conversion, where transistors made from wide bandgap semiconductors (materials such as SiC and GaN) are replacing those made from silicon. These highly efficient electrical MOSFET switches are making power conversion stages more efficient, reducing the cost of electric vehicles, as well as a host of electrification applications: solar power conversion, grid, and trains.

Warwick, Cambridge, and Bristol Universities are the UK's foremost research centres for researching, developing, and utilising SiC, GaN, and GaO power devices. Together, the three Universities won £12m of funding from UK research councils EPSRC and Innovate UK to create the REWIRE "Innovation and Knowledge Centre (IKC)" (https://rewire-ikc.org/ https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/eng/news/?newsItem=8a17841b8dac7732018dac7cc1e7004a).

Co-funded for 5 years (from Apr 2024) with support from over 25 industrial partners, the REWIRE IKC is intended to unite the capabilities and resources of the three Universities to help commercialise UK-based WBG devices. Across the centre, projects will develop demonstrators, run new fabrication processes and gather data with and for our industrial partners. This Warwick-based PhD studentship is available to work on SiC-related projects within REWIRE, beginning April 2025, October 2025 or January 2026. The PhD topics could include any aspect of SiC power device fabrication, TCAD simulation, or device reliability for power devices rated from 1200-15000 V. Depending on the applicant and the topic is undertaken, efforts will be made to obtain a co-sponsor from the cohort of REWIRE industrial partners

Scholarship:

The award will cover the tuition fees at the UK rate £4,786, plus a tax-free stipend of £19,237 per annum for 3.5 years of full-time study. Non-UK students can apply but must personally fund the difference between the UK (Home) and overseas rates.

Eligibility:

The candidate should have a good 2.1 Bachelor's or master's degree in Electrical or Electronic Engineering or a related topic that contains solid-state physics or semiconductor modules, such as Materials Science or Physics. This project will suit those with a keen interest in semiconductors and electronics who are looking for a career in one of the most sought-after, lucrative, and high-tech corners of semiconductor development today. A willingness to be hands-on and an ability to problem-solve are as important as your academic achievements.

How to apply:

Candidates should submit a formal application, details of how to do so can be found via the above ‘Apply’ button.

Application form 'Course search':

Department: School of Engineering

Academic Year: 2024/25

Type of Course: Postgraduate Research

• Engineering (MPhil/PhD) (P-H1Q2)

In the application form funding section, enter: Source: SiC Power

The University of Warwick provides an inclusive working and learning environment, recognising and respecting every individual’s differences. We welcome applications from individuals who identify with any of the protected characteristics defined by the Equality Act 2010.

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