THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER
PARTICULARS OF APPOINTMENT
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES
SCHOOL OF ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING
POWER CONVERSION GROUP
Lecturer in Power Electronic Systems / Power Electronics
Vacancy ref: EPS-06943
Starting salary:
Probation:
Based at:
Responsible to:
£38,511 to £47,328 per annum
4 years
The University of Manchester
Professor Andrew Forsyth
Professor of Power Electronics
BACKGROUND
The University of Manchester is the largest single-site university in the UK with almost 40,000
students and an annual turnover of over £800m. It has more than twenty academic schools and
hundreds of specialist research groups undertaking pioneering multi-disciplinary teaching and
research of world-wide significance. Formed in 2004 by the merger of the Victoria University of
Manchester and UMIST, the University has an ambitious plan to become one of the world’s top
institutions, a plan that is underpinned by a £650m programme of capital investment. The School
of Electrical and Electronic Engineering is one of the largest of its type in the country, having over
70 academic staff, around 600 undergraduates, 220 taught postgraduates, and 180 research
students. The Power Conversion Group is one of six research groups in the School.
The Power Conversion Group comprises eight academic staff, including three professors, and a
team of over 50 research staff and students. The Group’s research activities range from power
electronic circuits, superconducting devices, and electrical machines to the analysis and control
of complete motor drive and energy conversion systems. The Group’s research is practically
orientated and is often undertaken in collaboration with industry. Applications of particular interest
include electric vehicles, more-electric aircraft and ships, the active management of power utility
networks, including future transmission and distribution systems, and renewable power
generation, especially wind. The Group has strong links with the Electrical Energy and Power
Systems research group, also based in the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and
together the two groups offer one of the strongest environments within any UK university for
undertaking electrical power research.
The Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre (UTC) in Electrical Systems is based within the
Power Conversion Group and forms a central part of our research portfolio, which also includes a
range of EPSRC, EU and Innovate UK grants. The Intelligent Electrical Power Networks
Evaluation Facility (IEPNEF) is a key part of the UTC and provides a dedicated laboratory for
examining the operation and performance of power electronics-enabled DC power systems,
principally for future aircraft. The network is rated at 100 kW and research in the facility includes:
•
•
•
•
•
Engine-embedded power generation.
Fault-tolerant power conversion.
Intelligent and autonomous control techniques.
Load emulation, network stability and power quality.
Protection, power management and energy storage.
In addition, the Group’s current research projects include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
HVDC power transmission networks and converter systems.
Battery / super-capacitor energy storage systems.
Condition monitoring of wind generator systems.
Electrical system architectures for aircraft, including power quality and stability management.
GaN and SiC power device applications.
Power-dense DC-DC converters for vehicle and aircraft applications.
Superconducting fault current limiters.
Torque-dense electrical machines, high temperature machines, and superconducting
machines.
The Group’s research laboratories, which include the IEPNEF facility, have recently undergone
complete refurbishment, and provide a modern, well equipped working environment. The facilities
include:
• A range of fully instrumented dynamometer test rigs rated up to 100 kW for research on
electric vehicle power trains, multi-phase drives and DFIG wind power generators.
• Two cryogenic systems for research on superconducting power applications and low
temperature power electronics.
• A high power battery test facility and a 250 kW, grid-linked, battery-based energy storage
system.
• A calorimeter for high precision loss measurements in machines and drives.
• A wide range of measurement instruments.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The technologies and issues surrounding the provision and utilisation of energy are crucially
important for a sustainable future, therefore, ‘energy systems’ has been adopted as a key
research theme within the University and we are committed to developing and maintaining worldleading research groups in the area. Electrical power engineering is one of the enabling
technologies for sustainable energy and is a particular strength in the Electrical and Electronic
Engineering School.
The purpose of this appointment is to reinforce the academic team in the Power Conversion
Group, enabling the Group to strengthen further its research activities, international profile and
industrial reach. The group particularly wishes to strengthen its research activities in power
electronic systems / power electronics, including electric transport, intelligent energy use, and
renewable energy.
You will be based within the Power Conversion Group and will contribute to the on-going
research activities in the Group and / or develop an independent complementary research area.
In addition you will contribute to the delivery and administration of the School’s undergraduate
Programmes including our MScs. You will report to the Head of School, through the head of the
Power Conversion Group, Professor Andrew Forsyth.
Main responsibilities
• Developing and undertaking research activities including:
o Strategic planning of research programmes and objectives.
o Identifying research partners (academic and industrial, national and international)
and developing and maintaining research links.
o Identifying funding opportunities (government and industrial, including international
sources). Developing research proposals, including collaborative proposals, and
applying for research funding.
o Management of research projects and research staff.
o Recruiting and supervising research students.
o Publishing in leading journals and conferences.
• Teaching and assessment of undergraduate and postgraduate students including:
o Planning, design, development, reviewing and updating of courses including the
Schools MScs.
o Delivering lectures, tutorial and laboratory classes.
o Setting and marking of student examinations and assignments.
o Personal tutoring and project supervision including project assessment.
o The use of virtual learning environments such as Blackboard.
o Student recruitment.
o Administration.
• Contributing to the administration of the School and its programmes.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Expertise in power electronics and/or power electronics systems including current
research issues.
Detailed knowledge of specialist research area(s) within emerging energy systems, such
as more-electric transport, renewable generation or future energy networks.
A clear research vision and an ability to articulate that vision convincingly, and the drive to
create an independent research activity.
Proficiency in the practical techniques and theoretical methods appropriate to the
candidate’s research specialism.
Excellent oral/ written presentation and communication skills.
PhD or equivalent research experience in power electronic systems, power electronics or
drives.
Evidence of a track record (appropriate to the individual’s background) of presentation
and publication of research results at conferences and in leading journals.
Experience in teaching, laboratory demonstrating and tutoring.
Desirable
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Understanding of sources of research funding and application methods.
A strong experimental background.
Record of attracting research funding and/or managing research projects.
Excellent administrative skills.
Experience with project planning and management.
Collaborative / team working with colleagues and / or external organisations.
Ability to explain research work to a non-specialist audience.