PhD in High Power Density Permanent Magnet Motor Design

We are inviting an application for a fully-funded PhD position at the School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications, UNSW Sydney, as part of the ARC Discovery Project: Lightweight, Low Rare-earth, Permanent Magnet Motors for Electrified Future.

This project aims to push the power-to-weight ratio of electric motors beyond 5 kW/kg by leveraging buried Halbach magnet arrays with low rare-earth content and integrated direct cooling. The breakthrough in high-specific-power motor design will pave the way for next-generation electric vehicles (EVs), electric aircraft, and drones, creating lighter and more efficient electrified transport solutions.

The project is led by Professor Rukmi Dutta and a team of world-class researchers at UNSW Sydney, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), and North Carolina State University (NCSU), with access to state-of-the-art experimental facilities.

This PhD project focuses on the design and optimization of a novel low rare-earth, high-specific-power permanent magnet motor using a Halbach magnet array and advanced direct cooling enabled by additive manufacturing.

Key Research Areas:

• Halbach magnet arrays and their theoretical foundations.
• High-power-density electric motor design and optimization.
• Advanced cooling techniques for thermal management.
• Additive manufacturing for next-generation motor structures.
• Finite element analysis (FEA) and multiphysics modelling.

Requirements:

Essential:

• A Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field (Honours or equivalent with GPA >80%).
• A Master's by research (completed or in the final year) is highly desirable.
• Strong background in electric machine design, electromagnetic analysis, and thermal management.
• Familiarity with finite element modelling (e.g., ANSYS, COMSOL, JMAG, or Altair Flux).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Desirable:

• Experience with additive manufacturing and direct cooling technologies.
• Knowledge of high-speed electric machines and rare-earth-free motor technologies.
• Experience with experimental validation and prototyping.

Scholarship

$38,438 per annum (2025 rate) for 3.5 years

Eligibility

Domestic and International PhD applicants

Why Apply?

• Work on a cutting-edge ARC Discovery Project with a leading research team.
• Collaborate with top-tier institutions: UNSW Sydney, UTS, and NCSU.
• Access world-class laboratory and computational resources.
• Develop expertise in next-generation high-performance electric machines and drive systems.
• Be part of a research project with direct industrial relevance in EVs, electric aviation, etc.

How to Apply:

To apply, please send the following documents to Professor Rukmi Dutta at rukmi.dutta@unsw.edu.au with the subject "PhD Application – [Position Name]" by the deadline 1 April 2025.

• CV: A comprehensive academic CV that includes details of your educational background, research experience, publications, awards, and relevant work experience.
• Relevant Publications: Copies of peer-reviewed publications relevant to the topic. This may include journal articles, conference papers, or other scholarly outputs demonstrating your research expertise.
• UG and PG Degrees and Transcripts: Official transcripts of your undergraduate and postgraduate coursework, including detailed grades and confirmation of degree completions.
• Cover Letter: A one-page cover letter outlining your experience relevant to the project topic, particularly any experimental work, electric drive expertise, and prior research contributions.

Application Deadline:

1 April 2025