Electric propulsion systems for electric aircraft

The Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the University of Bath is inviting applications for the following fully-funded PhD project, ideally starting in January 2025.

This advert may close early if a suitable candidate is identified. Early application is therefore encouraged.

Project Background

The aviation industry faces ambitious targets to reduce environmental emissions and noise, aiming to mitigate the impact of air travel on the environment. Electrification of aviation will play a key role in delivering these targets. High power density and high efficiency electric propulsion systems is key technology to enable electrised aircraft.

This PhD project aims to explore and design electric propulsion systems for electric aircraft, with a strong emphasis on electromagnetic and thermal design. The project will investigate the network architecture, control, and protection of these propulsion systems, incorporating elements of thermal and mechanical design. Experimental verification will be conducted at Bath’s Applied Superconductivity and Cryogenic Propulsion Laboratory.

Key Areas of Research but not limited to:

• High power density electric motor and drive design
• On-board distribution network control and protection
• Electromagnetic and thermal design of propulsion systems
• System control and protection

What We Offer:

• Access to state-of-the-art facilities at Bath’s Applied Superconductivity and Cryogenic Propulsion Laboratory
• An opportunity to work on cutting-edge research in the electrification of aviation
• Collaboration with leading experts in the field

We invite highly motivated and talented individuals with a background in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field to apply for this exciting PhD opportunity.

Candidate Requirements

Applicants should hold, or expect to receive, a First Class or high Upper Second Class Honours degree (or the equivalent) in Electrical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering. A master’s level qualification would also be advantageous.

Non-UK applicants must meet our English language entry requirement.

Enquiries and Applications

Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to Prof Pei – [email protected]

Formal applications should be made via the University of Bath’s online application form for a PhD in Electronic and Electrical Engineering.

You must select ‘University of Bath LURS’ from the dropdown menu in the ‘Funding your studies’ section of the application form and provide the supervisor’s name and project title in the ‘Your PhD project’ section. Failure to complete these steps will result in a delay to the processing of your application and may cause you to miss the deadline.

More information about applying for a PhD at Bath may be found on our website.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We value a diverse research environment and aim to be an inclusive university, where difference is celebrated and respected. We welcome and encourage applications from under-represented groups.

If you have circumstances that you feel we should be aware of that have affected your educational attainment, then please feel free to tell us about it in your application form. The best way to do this is a short paragraph at the end of your personal statement.

Keywords

Electric aircraft, Electric propulsion, Superconducting, Cryogenics, Thermodynamics, Hydrogen