PhD Studentship in Fast Zonal Control for Voltage Stability

Position Summary:

Applications are invited for a PhD studentship, to be undertaken at Imperial College London (Control and Power Research Group, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering) under the co-supervision of Professors Balarko Chaudhuri and Mark O’Malley.

Summary of Project:

This PhD project will develop and validate fast, zonal voltage control strategies for power grids with high penetrations of inverter-based resources (IBRs). The research will focus on grid segmentation methods, coordinated voltage control across zones and scalable architectures that enhance voltage stability. The work involves dynamic modelling, advanced control design, simulation, and validation on benchmark power systems. An optional research secondment with GE Vernova will provide opportunities to gain hands-on experience with state-of-the-art.

The successful applicant will work in the Control and Power Group at Imperial College London. They will join a team of around 12-15 researchers working in the area of stability and control of power grids with high shares IBRs.

Funding:

The PhD studentship is funded by the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) and includes a stipend of approximately £23,805 per year (tax-free) for 3.5 years and overseas tuition fees.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The responsibilities include defining, with support from the supervisor, the research questions, creating and managing a plan for the PhD, reviewing the relevant literature, conducting independent research, reporting progress, disseminating results in high-impact refereed journals and conferences. The successful candidate will be based at Imperial, but they might have to do a research secondment at GE Vernova.

Essential Requirements:

Applicants should have a first-class Master’s degree (or other equivalent experience). The successful candidate will have an excellent understanding in power system dynamics, power electronics and control. Experience in working with power systems dynamic simulation will be helpful, but not necessary to apply for the position.

How to apply:

Please choose Electrical and Electronic Engineering Research Program and Control and Power Group, then indicate Professor Balarko Chaudhuri as a potential supervisor when making the application. The application should include a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) and your CV (maximum 2 pages). Please make sure that your cover letter and CV provide adequate information on your academic ability, research potential, communication and engagement skills and your interest in the research topic.

Full guidance on the application process is available here.

Early applications are encouraged.

The post is preferred for candidates who can start at the beginning of Spring term (3rd January 2027).

For further details of the post, please contact Professor Balarko Chaudhuri (b.chaudhuri@imperial.ac.uk).

For queries regarding the application process, please contact eee.pgadmissions@imperial.ac.uk

Closing Date: 14 August 2026