Wide Bandgap Generation Graduate Research Assistant Fellowship
WBGen Fellowship Overview
The Center for Power Electronics Systems (CPES) and the Center for Power and Energy (CPE) at Virginia Tech have implemented a comprehensive Master's and Ph.D. graduate study and research program to address heightened interest in the efficiency and compact nature of Wide Bandgap (WBG) semiconductor technology and the development of next-generation WBG-based power electronics converters and systems. To learn more about this Department of Energy initiative, read the DOE program announcement.
The Wide Bandgap Generation (WBGen) Graduate Research Assistant Fellowship program will provide eligible engineering students with the opportunity to work on collaborative power electronics and power systems research as well as position themselves for post-graduate engineering opportunities in the growing power electronics industry and academia. Specifically, students will advance the electrical engineering field by conducting research on WBG-based power electronics, grid apparatus, and high efficiency electrical systems.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens to apply. Now accepting applications for Fall 2019!
Compensation
- Stipend of up to $35,000 USD.
- Tuition assistance (including fees).
Benefits
- Internship and mentoring program with WBGen partners and Faculty Team (see below).
- Collaboration with CPES and CPE industrial consortia partners, including more than 80 power electronics and power engineering corporations globally and in the U.S..
- Collaboration with the High Density Integration (HDI) and WBG-based High-Power Converter and Systems (WBG-HPC&S) consortia at CPES, the PowerAmerica Institute thrust at CPES, and the CPE Industrial Consortium.
- Participation in leading-edge research program on Silicon-Carbide (SiC) and Gallium-Nitride (GaN) WBG-based power electronics and systems, encompassing: device characterization and modeling, packaging, component and converter level integration, gate-driver, protection and sensing circuitry, power converter design, electromagnetic interference (EMI), system dynamic interactions, and multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO), among other emerging topics.
- Comprehensive set of 17 graduate-level courses on power electronics, systems, and WBG power semiconductor based power conversion.
WBGen Partners
- Department of Energy (DOE) & Department of Defense (DOD) Laboratories: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, National Energy Technology Laboratory, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
- U.S. Industry: ABB, Inc., Dominion Virginia Power, GE Aviation
WBGen Faculty Team
CPES Faculty:
- Dr. Rolando Burgos, Associate Professor, WBGen Principal Investigator
- Dr. Fred Lee, University Distinguished Professor
- Dr. Dushan Boroyevich, American Electric Power Professor
- Dr. Khai Ngo, Professor, CPES faculty
- Dr. Guo-Quan Lu, Professor, CPES faculty
- Dr. Qiang Li, Assistant Professor, CPES faculty
CPE Faculty:
- Dr. Arun Phadke, Research University Distinguished Professor
- Dr. James Thorpe, Hugh P. and Ethel C. Kelly Professor Emeritus
- Dr. Lamine Mili, Professor
- Dr. Jaime de la Ree, Associate Professor
- Dr. Virgilio Centeno, Associate Professor
- Dr. Vasileios Kekatos, Associate Professor
College of Engineering:
- Dr. Catherine Amelink, Director of Graduate Programs and Assessments