Postdoctoral Researcher

About the Role

The Postdoctoral Researcher will conduct research and development in advanced power electronics and energy conversion systems, with an emphasis on high-power back-to-back converters and solid state transformer technologies. This role involves working under the supervision of Dr. Liwei Zhou at Rochester Institute of Technology. The research program focuses on developing and integrating back-to-back power converter technology and advancing an integrated Solid-State Transformer architecture. The project will involve close collaboration with graduate students, industry partners, and external engineering/manufacturing collaborators. The appointment is full-time, with a flexible duration of 12-18 months.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop models, control algorithms, and experimental platforms for high-power back-to-back power converters.
• Support integration of back-to-back converter and DAB stages toward a Solid-State Transformer system.
• Design, implement, and test power converter control algorithms, including active front-end and rectifier control.
• Integrate power electronic hardware, sensors, filters, control interfaces, and protection systems.
• Perform experimental characterization, data analysis, troubleshooting, and performance evaluation of converter prototypes.
• Independently conduct research, including constructing hypotheses, designing and planning research studies, data management, model development, conducting experiments or assessments, and analysis and interpretation of results.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with institutional, sponsor, and regulatory requirements.
• Disseminate and publish research results in peer-reviewed journals, reports, meetings, workshops, and conferences.
• Assist in the writing of grant proposals.
• May assist in teaching classes.
• May mentor and assist undergraduate and/or graduate students.
• May assist in managing research laboratories.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Power Electronics, Power Engineering, or a closely related field, completed by the appointment start date.
• Strong background in power electronics and power converter systems.
• Experience with modeling, simulation, control, and experimental validation of power electronic converters.
• Experience with MATLAB/Simulink or comparable modeling and control-development tools.
• Experience with laboratory testing of power electronic hardware.
• Strong technical communication and documentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and execute research.
• Knowledge of applicable research methods and analytical procedures.
• Knowledge of research compliance and ethics.
• Knowledge of publishing/reporting requirements.
• Excellent teamwork and communication skills.
• Demonstrated potential for original or collaborative scholarship.
• Scientific writing skills demonstrated through peer-reviewed publications.
• Ability to acquire accurate, reproducible data.
• Critical eye towards consistency, reproducibility, and the scientific method.
• Excellent project and time management skills.
• Strong interpersonal and mentoring skills.
• Advocate for safety and ethics in the workplace.
• Ability to communicate findings and effectively work with sponsors and stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Research experience with one or more of the following: DC/AC inverters, Dual Active Bridge converters, Solid-State Transformers, grid-connected power converters, or high-power DC/DC converters.
• Experience with real-time control platforms, rapid-control-prototyping systems, DSPs, FPGAs, or similar embedded-control hardware.
• Experience with high-voltage/high-power laboratory testing, sensing, protection, and hardware integration.
• Demonstrated research productivity through peer-reviewed publications, patents, or significant prototype development.