PhD Candidate in Single-Stage Power Supply Unit for next generation AI Datacenters
NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
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Job summary
NTNU in Trondheim invites applications for a full-time PhD Candidate position focused on a single-stage power supply unit for next-generation AI datacenters. The role is an IPN collaboration with ELTEK Norway AS, combining cutting-edge academic research with industrial product development.
The PhD involves bridging fundamental research and industrial deployment, publishing results, and collaborating with international partners.
Qualifications
- Master's degree in power electronics; five-year Norwegian program with 120 credits at master level; degree must be obtained before start
- English language skills at CEFR B2 level or higher (written and spoken)
- Admission to the NTNU Doctoral Programme in Electric Power Engineering within three months
- Good academic record and potential for PhD education with publications if grades are weaker
Responsibilities
- Carry out industrial and academic research within the project framework
- Publish research results and disseminate to scientific and industrial partners
- Participate in project meetings, workshops, and collaborative sessions with ELTEK Norway AS
- Engage in international conferences and research stays
- Complete coursework equivalent to a minimum of 30 ECTS
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Job description
NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Stillingstittel 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.
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.
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.
- 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.
- 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
- You must meet the requirements for admission to the Faculty's Doctoral Programme.
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.
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.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KHQjc4ndas&t=41s
The Department of Electric Energy (IEL) at NTNU is seeking a highly motivated candidate for a full-time (100%) PhD position for 3 years. You will join the research group Power Electronics and Electrical Machines (PEM) at IEL and work directly within an Innovation Project for the Industrial Sector (IPN) funded by the Research Council of Norway (RCN).
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.
- 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 .
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.
- 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
- Career guidance and follow-up during the PhD period
- Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues
- Social activities organized by PhD Students
- Weekly social gathering on Fridays (Friday coffee)
- Working capital that can be used to implement the project
- Mentor programme as a new employee at NTNU
- Favorable terms as a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK)
- Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A2)
As a PhD Candidate at NTNU, you will have access to employee benefits .
Diversity is a strength, and at NTNU we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity in society and that makes use of the potential of the population's collective skills. Our vision is Knowledge for a better world and our values are creative, critical, constructive and respectful . We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse and gender-balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals.
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.
If you think this position is relevant and interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, functional ability and cultural background, or whether you have been out of work for a period of time.
At NTNU we want to increase the proportion of women in scientific positions. We have a number of measures to promote equality.
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 appointment is carried out in accordance with the principles of the State Employees Act .
A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you wish to be exempt from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation . You will be notified if the exemption is not granted.
If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Head of OfficeBodil Wold by email at bodil.wold@ntnu.no .
Application deadline: 02.11.2025
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For practical information about working at NTNU, please visit this webpage.
The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the tech capital of Norway with a population of 200,000.The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.
NTNU - knowledge for a better world
The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.
Department of Electric Energy
The Department of Electric Energyis one of the seven departments at the Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering. Our department is Norway’s leading in the field, and our vision is to be at the centre of the digital, green shift. We have excellent collaboration with business and industry as well as other universities and research organizations internationally. This gives us outstanding opportunities for interdisciplinary research with high relevance for the society, addressing industrial needs and global challenges.
NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
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