Senior Research Associate in Power Semiconductor Devices

The role

Applications are invited for the role of Postdoctoral Researcher at the UKRI Innovation and Knowledge Centre (IKC) Transforming Net Zero with Ultrawide Bandgap Semiconductor Device Technology (REWIRE) to provide leading contributions to electrical characterization of wide and ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor materials and devices, including SiC, GaN, Gallium Oxide, and diamond, as key enabling materials for power and RF electronics.

At REWIRE, our aim is to accelerate the UK’s ambition for net zero by transforming the next generation of high voltage electronic devices using wide/ultra-wide bandgap compound semiconductors. Led by Bristol (Academic Director: Professor Kuball) with partners Cambridge and Warwick Universities, REWIRE will develop high-voltage power semiconductor devices, essential building blocks for ultra-high voltage (UHV) net-zero enabling all-electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, renewable energy and their High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) grid connections.

We are seeking a motivated interdisciplinary researcher to join the Electrical Energy Management Research Group, University of Bristol, to develop high-performance power electronics for wide- and ultrawide- bandgap devices, and electrothermal analysis and characterisation of power devices the associated high-speed sensing and gate driving chips. You will become part of interactive team of PhDs and Post-doctorate researchers in the power electronics group.

What will you be doing?

You will conduct research in the electrical characterization and testing of wide and ultra-wide bandgap materials and devices and develop device TCAD models for device design and to complement experiments.

The successful candidate will work in renowned research team who carry out experimental research across high performance power conversion in electric vehicles and wind turbines, wide-bandgap power semiconductor devices, reliability analysis of semiconductor devices, ultra-fast switching with GaN and SiC, active EMI mitigation, record-breaking high-resolution active gate driving and sensing.

You will work with external stakeholders, in particular industry, as well as academic partners within REWIRE and will engage with senior management of REWIRE, to seek further industrial project opportunities.

You should apply if

Applicants should have postgraduate experience in physics, materials science or engineering, with a good publication record.

The position requires extensive expertise in advanced electrical characterization of wide and ultrawide bandgap materials and/or devices, building of electrical experimentation and TCAD. A willingness to apply your knowledge to multi-disciplinary engineering problems that help us reach Carbon Net Zero will be necessary.

Part-time appointments and flexible working arrangements can be considered. 

Additional information

For informal queries please contact: Dr. Saeed Jahdi (saeed.Jahdi@bristol.ac.uk)

To find out more about what it's like to work in the Faculty of Engineering, and how the Faculty supports people to achieve their potential, please see our staff blog:

https://engineeringincludesme.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/

Contract type: Open ended with fixed funding until 31/12/2027

This advert will close at 23:59 UK time on 2nd March 2025.

Interviews are expected to take place on 10th March 2025.

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The University of Bristol aims to be a place where everyone feels able to be themselves and do their best in an inclusive working environment where all colleagues can thrive and reach their full potential. We want to attract, develop, and retain individuals with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives – particularly people of colour, LGBT+ and disabled people - because diversity of people and ideas remains integral to our excellence as a global civic institution.

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