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Summer Scholarships
All summer scholarships for 2022-2023 are now closed.
Opportunities for Industry
International Internships and Short Project opportunities
Check out our opportunities for international student internships in Christchurch - 3 or 6 months, post- or undergraduate
Postdoctoral fellows based either in Auckland or Christchurch
(Posted 24 January 2023)
We are currently advertising for a FAN Post-Doctoral Fellow based at the University of Canterbury (Christchurch)
See link above for the full details and position description.
The position is fixed term for 24 months (full-time).
Applicants should have a PhD (NZQA Level 10) in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline.
The closing date for this position is 28 February 2023 (midnight, NZ time). Apply here
(Posted 24 January 2023)
We are currently advertising for a FAN Post-Doctoral Fellow based at the University of Canterbury (Christchurch)
See link above for the full details and position description.
The position is fixed term for 24 months (full-time).
Applicants should have a PhD (NZQA Level 10) in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline.
The closing date for this position is 28 February 2023 (midnight, NZ time). Apply here
PhD or Masters students based either in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington or Christchurch
- Check the available projects below and identify one (or more)
- Check the FAN Postgraduate generic position advert - common for all projects listed below.
- All New Zealand Universities have English requirements for postgraduate studies: please check their website:
- Please fill in this application online form as indicated in the generic advert. Applications by email will not be considered.
WS1 - PHD PROJECT 1 - OPEN
OPTIMUM MATHEMATICAL & COMPUTATION TECHNIQUES TO ENABLE HYBRID NETWORK POWER-FLOW ANALYSIS
OPTIMUM MATHEMATICAL & COMPUTATION TECHNIQUES TO ENABLE HYBRID NETWORK POWER-FLOW ANALYSIS
Published October 2022
This project is focussed on WS1 (Network Architecture), which will assess the impact of high penetration of DC on AC systems. The overall WS1 objective is to develop techniques to create large-scale hybrid AC/DC grid digital model encompassing transmission and distribution systems and enabling operational steady-state, dynamic and transient studies associated with distributed converter interfaced technologies.
This PhD project will build the foundation for hybrid AC/DC network analysis by developing a power-flow analysis tool. This tool will address high penetration of DC and converter interfaced technologies within AC systems. This will involve an approximation of converter and its control to enable large scale hybrid modelling. The approximation will mimic the behaviour of the converter and interaction with the system accurately.
Specific requirement (in addition to the generic qualifications listed in the FAN Postgrad generic positions Advert): A good knowledge on applicable mathematical analysis methods
Based at University of Canterbury (Christchurch)
This project is focussed on WS1 (Network Architecture), which will assess the impact of high penetration of DC on AC systems. The overall WS1 objective is to develop techniques to create large-scale hybrid AC/DC grid digital model encompassing transmission and distribution systems and enabling operational steady-state, dynamic and transient studies associated with distributed converter interfaced technologies.
This PhD project will build the foundation for hybrid AC/DC network analysis by developing a power-flow analysis tool. This tool will address high penetration of DC and converter interfaced technologies within AC systems. This will involve an approximation of converter and its control to enable large scale hybrid modelling. The approximation will mimic the behaviour of the converter and interaction with the system accurately.
Specific requirement (in addition to the generic qualifications listed in the FAN Postgrad generic positions Advert): A good knowledge on applicable mathematical analysis methods
Based at University of Canterbury (Christchurch)
WS1 - PHD PROJECT 3 - OPEN
MATHEMATICAL & COMPUTATION TECHNIQUES TO ENABLE HYBRID NETWORK TRANSIENT AND FAULT ANALYSIS
MATHEMATICAL & COMPUTATION TECHNIQUES TO ENABLE HYBRID NETWORK TRANSIENT AND FAULT ANALYSIS
Published April 2022
This project is focused on Workstream 1 (WS1) - Network Architecture, which will assess the impact of high penetration of DC on AC systems. The overall WS1 objective is to develop techniques to create large-scale hybrid AC/DC grid digital model encompassing transmission and distribution systems and enabling operational steady-state, dynamic and transient studies associated with distributed converter interfaced technologies.
This PhD project will address the challenges associated with modelling hybrid AC/DC networks for the purposes of transient and fault analysis. The research will address the required detail in modelling of the system including converter and controls to mimic the behaviour of the converter and interaction with the system accurately. This will lead to the development of a tool enabling transient and fault analysis of large scale hybrid systems.
Specific requirement (in addition to the generic qualifications listed in the FAN Postgrad generic positions Advert): A good knowledge on applicable mathematical analysis methods
Based at University of Canterbury (Christchurch)
This project is focused on Workstream 1 (WS1) - Network Architecture, which will assess the impact of high penetration of DC on AC systems. The overall WS1 objective is to develop techniques to create large-scale hybrid AC/DC grid digital model encompassing transmission and distribution systems and enabling operational steady-state, dynamic and transient studies associated with distributed converter interfaced technologies.
This PhD project will address the challenges associated with modelling hybrid AC/DC networks for the purposes of transient and fault analysis. The research will address the required detail in modelling of the system including converter and controls to mimic the behaviour of the converter and interaction with the system accurately. This will lead to the development of a tool enabling transient and fault analysis of large scale hybrid systems.
Specific requirement (in addition to the generic qualifications listed in the FAN Postgrad generic positions Advert): A good knowledge on applicable mathematical analysis methods
Based at University of Canterbury (Christchurch)
WS1 - PHD PROJECT 4 - OPEN
MATHEMATICAL & COMPUTATION TECHNIQUES TO ENABLE HYBRID NETWORK DYNAMIC ANALYSIS
MATHEMATICAL & COMPUTATION TECHNIQUES TO ENABLE HYBRID NETWORK DYNAMIC ANALYSIS
Published April 2022
This project is focused on Workstream 1 (WS1) - Network Architecture, which will assess the impact of high penetration of DC on AC systems. The overall WS1 objective is to develop techniques to create large-scale hybrid AC/DC grid digital model encompassing transmission and distribution systems and enabling operational steady-state, dynamic and transient studies associated with distributed converter interfaced technologies.
This PhD project will address the challenges associated with modelling hybrid AC/DC networks for the purposes of dynamic analysis. The research will address the required detail in modelling of the system including converter and controls to mimic the behaviour of the converter and interaction with the system accurately. This will lead to the development of a tool enabling dynamic analysis of large scale hybrid systems.
Specific requirement (in addition to the generic qualifications listed in the FAN Postgrad generic positions Advert): A good knowledge on applicable mathematical analysis methods
Based at University of Canterbury (Christchurch)
This project is focused on Workstream 1 (WS1) - Network Architecture, which will assess the impact of high penetration of DC on AC systems. The overall WS1 objective is to develop techniques to create large-scale hybrid AC/DC grid digital model encompassing transmission and distribution systems and enabling operational steady-state, dynamic and transient studies associated with distributed converter interfaced technologies.
This PhD project will address the challenges associated with modelling hybrid AC/DC networks for the purposes of dynamic analysis. The research will address the required detail in modelling of the system including converter and controls to mimic the behaviour of the converter and interaction with the system accurately. This will lead to the development of a tool enabling dynamic analysis of large scale hybrid systems.
Specific requirement (in addition to the generic qualifications listed in the FAN Postgrad generic positions Advert): A good knowledge on applicable mathematical analysis methods
Based at University of Canterbury (Christchurch)
WS2 - PHD PROJECT 1 - Open
DESIGN OPTIONS FOR FUTURE HYBRID LOW VOLTAGE AC-DC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
DESIGN OPTIONS FOR FUTURE HYBRID LOW VOLTAGE AC-DC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
Published May 2021
This project is focussed around WS 2-Topology, where AC topologies means the way things are connected to form a functional circuit, presently used worldwide have been developed and refined over many years. The overall WS2 objective is to explore realistic new DC and AC/DC circuit topologies for future power system networks.
As the number of DC loads, e.g. datacentres, smart phones, laptops, LED lights etc., are growing in our daily uses, the low voltage DC (LVDC) distribution system is becoming important. Power supplied through the low voltage AC (LVAC) distribution system needs both the AC/DC rectifier and the DC/DC converter to supply the DC loads. In comparison, LVDC system would only need the DC/DC converter to supply the DC loads. Integration of renewable energy sources at LV level, like rooftop photovoltaic (PV), fuel cells, etc. would be relatively easier with the LVDC system than the LVAC. So, the LVDC can be the viable solution to reduce multiple conversion losses in the system.
This project will investigate comparison between the existing LVAC architecture with the prospective LVDC distribution system in terms of converter conversion efficiency. Simulation will be performed for combined AC and DC loads, towards a hybrid AC-DC distribution system, with potential dedicated DC bus. The associated challenges, architecture design, implementation issues and design guidelines would be analytically investigated, along with experimental validation.
Specific requirement (in addition to the generic qualifications listed in the FAN Postgrad generic positions Advert):
Based at University of Auckland
This project is focussed around WS 2-Topology, where AC topologies means the way things are connected to form a functional circuit, presently used worldwide have been developed and refined over many years. The overall WS2 objective is to explore realistic new DC and AC/DC circuit topologies for future power system networks.
As the number of DC loads, e.g. datacentres, smart phones, laptops, LED lights etc., are growing in our daily uses, the low voltage DC (LVDC) distribution system is becoming important. Power supplied through the low voltage AC (LVAC) distribution system needs both the AC/DC rectifier and the DC/DC converter to supply the DC loads. In comparison, LVDC system would only need the DC/DC converter to supply the DC loads. Integration of renewable energy sources at LV level, like rooftop photovoltaic (PV), fuel cells, etc. would be relatively easier with the LVDC system than the LVAC. So, the LVDC can be the viable solution to reduce multiple conversion losses in the system.
This project will investigate comparison between the existing LVAC architecture with the prospective LVDC distribution system in terms of converter conversion efficiency. Simulation will be performed for combined AC and DC loads, towards a hybrid AC-DC distribution system, with potential dedicated DC bus. The associated challenges, architecture design, implementation issues and design guidelines would be analytically investigated, along with experimental validation.
Specific requirement (in addition to the generic qualifications listed in the FAN Postgrad generic positions Advert):
- Qualifications and experience required a four year honours degree (if from New Zealand) or Master’s degree (if international) - with first class or an upper-second) in electrical engineering with a minimum GPA of 6.0
- A track record or deep interest in building and assessing high current, DC-DC and AC-DC converters will be preferable.
Based at University of Auckland
