Vacant job

Electrification and digitalization are among the largest areas for transition towards sustainable societies in the future. The Department of Electrical Engineering conducts successful research and education in these areas – including renewable energy sources and electric vehicles, industrial IoT, 6G communication and wireless sensor networks, as well as research and education within life science, health technology, smart electronic sensors and medical systems. The Department of Electrical Engineering is an international environment with approximately 170 employees who contribute to important technical energy and health solutions at the Ångström Laboratory.

Join us!

The position will be located at the Division of Technology for Integrated Smart Systems, within the Department of Electrical Engineering. Here you will find a pleasant work environment with an active doctoral student network and a range of experimental projects. The division collaborates with Swedish companies – both public and private – and stakeholders within the various research areas. We look forward to your application. Come and build the future with us!

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at Uppsala University.

Project Description

Power transformers are the backbone of modern power grids, and their reliability is crucial for a stable energy supply. A key component in the insulation system is transformer oil. A high oil flow is desired between the windings to improve cooling performance, but at the same time, the speed must be limited to avoid failures caused by flow electrification, which means the accumulation of static charge due to the oil flow. There are simple models that describe the phenomenon, but the underlying physics is largely still unknown. Since direct measurements inside a functioning transformer are impossible, there is an urgent need for new laboratory methods and a modern theoretical framework to understand how charge is generated, transported, and released in these systems.

This doctoral project offers the opportunity to work at the interface between fluid mechanics, electrochemistry, and soft matter physics, addressing a problem that contains both deep scientific challenges and significant industrial relevance. Classical models such as the Helmholtz–Smoluchowski equation do not work for transformer oils due to their extremely high resistivity, the significant surface conductivity of cellulose, possible electroviscous effects, and the oil's penetration into the porous solid material. These factors create a rich and unexplored physical landscape where new insights await discovery.

The goal of the project is to develop a predictive model for flow electrification, supported by precise laboratory experiments. You will design experimental setups, measure streaming currents under controlled conditions, and build theoretical tools that capture the complex electrohydrodynamics at the oil-cellulosa interface. The result will be a framework with a small number of governing parameters that can be used to assess and reduce electrification risks in real transformers.

The project, funded by Hitachi Energy AB, will be carried out in close collaboration with the industry partner and their research organization. Access to state-of-the-art facilities and expertise is ensured, although special rules may apply regarding publication and intellectual property rights (IP).

We offer a varied and exciting job that is shaped by the doctoral student and the research group together. The doctoral student will be supervised by at least two supervisors. The Department of Electrical Engineering also offers salary supplements for employment as a doctoral student at the department.

Responsibilities

Doctoral studies require independent research work within a chosen subject, with support from supervisors and collaboration with other researchers.

The research tasks include:

• Developing a specialized experimental setup to measure streaming currents in transformer oils under well-controlled laminar flow conditions.
• Quantifying streaming currents generated by different transformer oils as they flow through cellulose channels, enabling systematic comparisons between materials and operating parameters.
• Building advanced theoretical models that describe the electrohydrodynamics at the oil-cellulosa interface, capturing charge generation, transport, and double-layer behavior.
• Contributing to teaching and the department's activities, up to a maximum of 20% of the total working time, as part of the graduate education.

Training in relevant techniques is provided within the framework of the doctoral education.

Read the full advertisement here: https://uu.varbi.com/what:job/jobID:941934/ (https://uu.varbi.com/what:job/jobID:941934/)

Apply by July 1, 2026. Ref: UFV-PA 2026/1886.

Uppsala University is a broad research university with a strong international standing. The ultimate goal is to conduct education and research of the highest quality and relevance to make a difference in society. Our most important asset is all 7,500 employees and 53,000 students who, with curiosity and engagement, make Uppsala University one of the most exciting workplaces in the country.

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at Uppsala University: https://uu.se/om-uu/jobba-hos-oss/ (https://uu.se/om-uu/jobba-hos-oss/)

The employment may be subject to a security clearance. In the case of a security clearance, a prerequisite for employment is that the applicant is approved.

We decline offers of recruitment and advertising assistance.

Applications are received in Uppsala University's recruitment system.

Union Representatives: Saco-S - [email protected], Seko - [email protected], ST (OFR/S) - [email protected]