PhD position in Mapping the Modern Electromagnetic Environment: Identifying Stray Currents in Complex, Interaction-Driven Systems

University of Twente; Enschede; Hybrid; EUR 36,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

CAO-NU salary alignment

Holiday allowance 8%

End-of-year bonus 8.3%

Solid pension scheme

232 leave hours for full-time

Free sports facilities on campus

Parental leave

Twente Graduate School training

Job summary

University of Twente invites applications for a PhD project in EMC measurement and signal processing. You will design a synchronised multi-node sensing system to capture voltages, currents, electric and magnetic fields with DSP support.

You will correlate time-, frequency-, space-, and impedance-domain data to locate interference sources and pathways. The role focuses on practical measurement design, field work on farms, and close collaboration with the Radio Systems group in a vibrant,

Qualifications

• MSc in Electrical Engineering or closely related field.
• Strong interest in EMC, measurement systems, signal processing, power electronics, or related areas.
• Experience in experimental research, designing and validating measurement setups.
• Experience with digital signal processing and time-domain data analysis.
• Programming skills in Python, MATLAB, C/C++, or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Develop a synchronised multi-node sensing system for time-domain measurements.
• Design and validate measurement setups and conduct experiments on farms when needed.
• Analyze measurements to correlate information across time, frequency, space and impedance.
• Identify interference sources and propagation paths; investigate mitigation strategies.

Skills

EMC knowledge

Measurement systems

Signal processing

Power electronics

Python

MATLAB

C/C++

Team collaboration

English proficiency

Dutch advantage

Education

MSc in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Python

MATLAB

C/C++

Job description

Job Description

The rapid electrification and digitalisation of society are creating increasingly complex electromagnetic environments. Fast-switching power electronics in vehicles, buildings, hospitals and farms can generate electromagnetic interference (EMI) that propagates through unexpected conducted and radiated paths. Conventional EMC measurements, typically performed at a single location and moment, provide only limited insight into how such interference behaves at system level.

The rapid electrification and digitalisation of society are creating increasingly complex electromagnetic environments. Fast-switching power electronics in vehicles, buildings, hospitals and farms can generate electromagnetic interference (EMI) that propagates through unexpected conducted and radiated paths. Conventional EMC measurements, typically performed at a single location and moment, provide only limited insight into how such interference behaves at system level. In this PhD project, you will develop the measurement and analysis methods needed to make these environments observable. You will design and validate a cost-effective, synchronised multi-node sensing system for simultaneous time-domain measurements of voltages, currents, electric fields and magnetic fields, supported by digital signal processing. Using these synchronised measurements, you will develop methods to correlate information across time, frequency, space and impedance. The aim is to identify interference sources and propagation paths and understand how disturbances spread through complex electrical systems. This work will provide an important foundation for future cognitive EMC systems that can ultimately adapt mitigation measures to changing conditions. A key application will be dairy farms, where increasing electrification and automation can give rise to stray currents and voltages that are difficult to locate and may affect cow welfare and behaviour. You will perform measurements on farms to determine where these disturbances originate and how they propagate, and use this understanding to investigate practical mitigation, including targeted filtering solutions. In this way, your research can contribute directly to solving a real problem experienced by farmers while advancing the state of the art in EMC.

Your profile

• You have, or will shortly acquire, an MSc degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related field.
• You have a strong interest in electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), measurement systems, signal processing, power electronics, or a combination of these fields.
• You enjoy experimental research and are comfortable designing, building, programming, and validating measurement setups.
• You have experience with, or are motivated to learn, digital signal processing and analysis of time-domain measurement data.
• You have programming skills in a scientific or engineering environment, for example Python, MATLAB, C/C++, or comparable tools.
• You are an enthusiastic, independent and highly motivated researcher who also enjoys working in a collaborative team.
• You have strong analytical and communication skills and are proficient in written and spoken English.
• You are willing to perform field measurements and interact with external stakeholders; Dutch proficiency is an advantage for interaction with Dutch farmers.

Our offer

• A full-time position for four years, with a qualifier in the first year, and the flexibility to work (partially) from home.
• Your salary and associated conditions are in accordance with the collective labour agreement for Dutch universities (CAO-NU).
• You will receive a gross monthly salary ranging from €3.204,- (first year) to €4.051,- (fourth year).
• There are excellent benefits including a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary, an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%, and a solid pension scheme.
• A minimum of 232 leave hours in case of full‑time employment based on a formal workweek of 38 hours. A full-time employment in practice means 40 hours a week, therefore resulting in 96 extra leave hours on an annual basis.
• Free access to sports facilities on campus.
• A family-friendly institution that offers parental leave (both paid and unpaid).
• You will have a training programme as part of the Twente Graduate School where you and your supervisors will determine a plan for a suitable education and supervision.

For more information regarding this position, you are welcome to contact Dr. Tom Hartman at [e-mail].

The interviews will take place around 4-6 November, please take this into account.

About The Department

The Radio Systems group at the University of Twente conducts research on radio‑frequency systems and electromagnetic compatibility, with strong experimental expertise in conducted and radiated EMI measurements, time‑domain measurement techniques, power‑electronic interference and EMC mitigation. You will work in an international and collaborative environment with researchers working across EMC, radio systems and related disciplines. The project offers access to extensive measurement and laboratory facilities, while also providing opportunities for in‑situ measurements and collaboration with external partners.

About The Organisation

The faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) uses mathematics, electronics and computer technology to contribute to the development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). With ICT present in almost every device and product we use nowadays, we embrace our role as contributors to a broad range of societal activities and as pioneers of tomorrow's digital society. As part of a tech university that aims to shape society, individuals and connections, our faculty works together intensively with industrial partners and researchers in the Netherlands and abroad, and conducts extensive research for external commissioning parties and funders. Our research has a high profile both in the Netherlands and internationally. It has been accommodated in three multidisciplinary UT research institutes: Mesa+ Institute, TechMed Centre and Digital Society Institute.