PhD Candidate in Single-Stage Power Supply Unit for next generation AI Datacenters

Ntnu; Trondheim; Hybrid; NOK 522,000 - 638,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Friday coffee sessions

Norwegian language training (A2)

Social activities organized by PhD S­s

Open and inclusive working environment

Job summary

NTNU's Department of Electric Energy invites applications for a PhD Candidate position in single-stage PSU technology for next-generation AI datacenters. You will collaborate with ELTEK Norway AS and Delta Electronics, bridging academic research with industry.

The role emphasizes hands-on development, strict admission to NTNU's PhD programme, and completing 30 ECTS coursework while contributing to high-density, high-efficiency power electronics research.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in power electronics must be documented before starting.
• English skills at CEFR B2 or higher must be documented.
• Admission to the NTNU PhD programme within three months of start.

Responsibilities

• Carry out high-quality industrial and academic research.
• Publish papers and disseminate results to partners.
• Participate in workshops and collaborations with ELTEK Norway AS.
• Engage in international conferences or research stays.
• Complete 30 ECTS of coursework

Skills

Power electronics knowledge

English proficiency (CEFR B2)

Independent work ability

Education

Master's degree in power electronics

Five-year Norwegian course (120 credits)

Tools

Python

Matlab

Simulink

PLECS

C/C++

Job description

The Department of Electric Energy has a vacancy for a

PhD Candidate in Single-Stage Power Supply Unit for next generation AI Datacenters

NTNU is a broad-based university with atechnical-scientific profile and a focusin professional education. The university is located in three cities with headquarters in Trondheim.

At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 43,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.

You will find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here.

...

About the position

Are you motivated to take a step towards a doctorate and open up exciting career opportunities? Do you have a background in electrical power engineering, and are you interested in high-density power electronics and industrial research? As a PhD candidate with us, you will work to achieve your doctorate while collaborating closely with industry leaders, gaining valuable experience that qualifies you for a career in both academia and the high-tech industry.

A core feature of this position is close, hands-on collaboration with ELTEK Norway AS, integrating cutting-edge academic research with industrial product development and commercial deployment for hyper-scale AI data centers.

Our working environment is characterized by a friendly, supportive atmosphere, with regular gatherings such as professional meetings within the research group, shared lunches, and Friday coffee sessions to wrap up the week. These formal and informal occasions provide opportunities to exchange ideas, celebrate milestones, and strengthen connections. PhD candidates also arrange social activities, open to everyone who wishes to join, creating a welcoming and inclusive community.

Your immediate Line Manager will be the Head of Department.

About the project

The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure and hyper-scale data centers has created unprecedented demands for electrical power conversion efficiency, power density, and dynamic response. Traditional two-stage power delivery architectures face limitations in maximizing efficiency and footprint. Next-generation AI data centers require innovative single-stage power supply units (PSUs) capable of stepping down grid voltages directly to isolated DC outputs with ultra-high efficiency and high power density.

As part of this IPN project, the candidate will bridge fundamental research and industrial application in close cooperation with engineering teams at ELTEK Norway AS. The project focuses on developing advanced single-stage conversion topologies utilizing wide-bandgap (WBG) semiconductors, high-frequency magnetics, and robust control strategies to achieve superior efficiency, high power density, and verified reliability.

The PhD candidate will investigate one or more of the following key areas:

• High-density single-stage converter architectures and advanced modulation techniques for AI datacenter power delivery
• Wide-bandgap (WBG) semiconductor device integration (SiC/GaN), switching behavior, and gate-drive optimization
• High-frequency magnetic component design, electro-thermal modeling, and reliability-oriented design and testing methodologies

The research will be supervised by Associate Professor Subhadra Tiwari at the Department of Electric Energy, NTNU, in close co-supervision with power electronics experts from ELTEK Norway AS and Delta Electronics (Switzerland) AG.

Duties of the position

• Carry out high-quality industrial and academic research within the framework described above.
• Academic publications and technical dissemination to both scientific and industrial partners.
• Regular project alignment meetings, workshops, and collaborative work sessions with ELTEK Norway AS in Drammen/Trondheim.
• Participate in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign educational institutions.
• Complete academic training consisting of coursework corresponding to a minimum of 30 ECTS.

Career-enhancing work, which is in addition to the research project and doctoral education, may be offered to a candidate who demonstrates clear motivation and ability for such work, and if the Department determines there is a need. Examples of career-enhancing work include, but are not limited to, contributing to teaching, laboratory and exercise teaching, supervision, and examination work within the employee's areas of competence.

Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment.

Required selection criteria

• You must have a Master's degree in power electronics.
• Your course of study must correspond to a five-year Norwegian course, where 120 credits have been obtained at master's level. Master's students can apply, but the master's degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position, and no later than autumn 2026.
• You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and have an average grade from your Master's degree studies, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared to NTNU's grading scale . If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic foundation. If you have a weaker grade background, you may be considered if you can document that you are particularly suitable for a PhD education, i.e., by having relevant work experience and/or published scientific papers.
• You must have English language skills, both written and spoken, corresponding to the scale B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Applicants who are not native English speakers are encouraged to document their English language proficiency. This can be done through an approved English language test. One of the following test scores could be documented for this purpose:
  • TOEFL internet-based test (iBT) - Score equivalent to the B2 level: 79 – 101
  • IELTS - Score equivalent to the B2 level: 5.5 - 6.0
  • Cambridge English - Score equivalent to the B2 level: 160 – 179

Further assessment of both written and oral English language skills and the ability to communicate fluently will be conducted in the continued selection process and during any interviews for all applicants.

PLEASE NOTE: For detailed information about what the application must contain, see paragraph “About the application”.

• Experience with laboratory development in power electronics would be desired.
• Scientific publications will be merited.
• Experience with programming tools (e.g., Python, Matlab, Simulink, PLECS, C/C++) will be merited.
• English language skills, both written and spoken, corresponding to the scale C1 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). See which scores are equivalent to the C1 level here .

Personal characteristics

To complete a doctoral degree (PhD), it is important that you are able to:

• demonstrate strong motivation, curiosity, and a learning-oriented mindset
• work independently, take initiative, and maintain good structure and discipline in their work
• communicate effectively and collaborate well with supervisors and peers
• show resilience and work constructively when facing challenges or setbacks
• demonstrate integrity and a strong sense of responsibility in their research conduct

Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.

We offer

• A unique joint academic-industrial PhD experience embedded in an RCN IPN framework alongside ELTEK Norway AS.
• An exciting job with an important mission in society
• Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment
• Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues
• Social activities organized by PhD Students
• Weekly social gathering on Fridays (Friday coffee)
• Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A2)

We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education.

At NTNU we want to increase the proportion of women in scientific positions. We have a number of measures to promote equality.

Salary and conditions

In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK 580 000,-per annum depending on qualifications and seniority. A 2% statutory contribution to the State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary.

The employment period is 3 years, with the possibility of an additional 3 to 12 months of employment related to career-enhancing activities.

The option for career-enhancing work may be offered to a candidate who has clear motivation and ability for such work, and if the Department deems it necessary. This will be clarified with the candidate during and after any interview.

For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme in Electric Power Engineering within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral programme throughout the period of employment.

The position is conditional on external funding.

As an employee at NTNU, it is important that you keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and adapt to them.

For the necessary professional and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis.

The attachments (including a description of your scientific work) must accompany the application as these documents form the basis of the application assessment. The documents must be in Norwegian/a Scandinavian language or English.

Please note: the application will only be assessed on the basis of the information we have received by the application deadline. Therefore, make sure that your application clearly shows how your skills and experience meet the criteria described above. The application and all attachments must be sent electronically via Jobbnorge.no. If you are invited to an interview, you must bring certified copies of certificates and diplomas upon request.

The application must include:

• A cover letterwhere the applicant describes personal motivation, summarizing scientific work, and how the applicant sees her/his background as suitable (400 words/1 page).
• Project outline containing proposals for an overall description of research questions, theoretical perspectives, methodological design for the project, and progress plan (maximum 1500 words/4 pages, including references). This proposal will be neither final nor binding for the project.
• CV.
• If you have testimonials of work experience, submit them.
• Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's and Master's degrees. If you have not yet completed your Master's thesis, you must provide confirmation on your estimated date for the submission of the Master's thesis, or confirmation that your Master's thesis has been submitted.
  • Applicants from universities outside Norway are requested to send a diploma supplement or a similar document , which describes in detail the study programme and grading system.
• A copy of the Master's thesis. If you recently submitted your Master's thesis, you are encouraged to attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed Master's degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• If you have publications or other relevant research work, submit them.
• You are encouraged to include documentation of English language proficiency if you are not a native speaker of English.
• Name and contact information of three referees.

If you completed all or part of your education abroad, please attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education, including your Bachelor's and Master's degrees, as well as any other higher education. If your institution uses a “diploma supplement” (normal for most European institutions), you must attach this. A description of the documentation required can also be found here . If you already have a statement from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (