Image Source: Official Twitter Account for Embassy of Denmark in USA Image Source: https://www.duh.de/ & https://www.mining.com/

The Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE) in the United States National Science Foundation 

(U.S. NSF) has funded the NSF U.S.-Denmark Program for advanced reliability analysis of ac/dc converters with INNOVAtive conTrols in glObe-spanning supergRid (INNOVATOR)—NSF-IRES-INNOVATOR Program.

 Last but not least, the support from the Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Power (see the extra AAU link) and the Center of Reliable Power Electronics (CORPE), directed by Professor Frede Blaabjerg in the AAU Energy Department

at Aalborg University (AAU) in Aalborg, Denmark, is acknowledged and greatly appreciated.

At the end of each May, the U.S. student participants (undergraduate or graduate level) will be technically and culturally prepared for two (2) weeks at the leading site in the U.S.—i.e., the Laboratory for Advanced Power and Energy Systems (LAPES) directed by Principal Investigator Dr. Masoud Davari in the newly established Engineering and Research Building at Georgia Southern University. Afterward, they will conduct cohort-based research projects at the international site in Aalborg, Denmark, for eight (8) weeks from June to July. The international site is the AI-Power (extra AAU link) Center of Reliable Power Electronics (CORPE), directed by Professor Frede Blaabjerg in the AAU Energy Department at Aalborg University (AAU) in Aalborg, Denmark. AAU’s power engineering program is one of the largest and youngest in Europe—consistently ranked among the best across the continent and Best Global Universities. Post-trip follow-ups will be done in LAPES at Georgia Southern University in the two (2) weeks from late July to early August.

Their projects in AI-Power/CORPE at AAU will be linked to two-level voltage-source converters (2L-VSCs) in a possible globe-spanning supergrid (GS2G)—an essential component of the energy sector to integrate renewables to respond to urgent environmental concerns caused by global warming at an alarming rate and international agreements. Under the umbrella of smart grids, they assess and improve the reliability of 2L-VSCs with innovative controls in GS2G. The proposed research will advance fundamental knowledge related to

• 1) enhancing the performance of 2L-VSCs in GS2G,

• 2) integrating renewables into power and energy systems via GS2G’s ac/dc grids,

• 3) achieving more reliable energy exchange and secure power transfer through 2L-VSCs, and

• 4) employing state-of-the-art technologies to test 2L-VSC’s performance and analyze and improve 2L-VSC’s reliability, including approaches based on machine learning techniques.

For the professional development of the U.S. student participants supported by this U.S.-NSF-OISE funding, they will form partnerships with AI-Power’s/CORPE’s international industrial partners—e.g., ABB, Schneider Electric, Mitsubishi Electric, Fairchild Semiconductor, Danfoss, Vestas, and more—as well as AI-Power’s/CORPE’s internationally renowned academic networks. This research project will provide U.S. students with interdisciplinary, multi-cultural, cutting-edge research experiences to prepare the U.S. next-generation workforce in the power and energy industry and international cultural experiences. For example, they will feel and understand the following.

• “Amerikanske studerende føler virkelig, at AAU er et af de bedste miljøer for din unikke, internationale kohorte-erfaring og forskning relateret til dette tværfaglige projekt.”

• U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents—a must as per the U.S. NSF solicitation (Program Solicitation 20-598).

• Freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate (master’s degree or PhD program) student standing.

• Enrolled full-time in an accredited American institution/university.

• Minimum GPA of 2.7 (for undergraduate students) or 3.4 (for graduate students in master’s degree or PhD program).

  • IMPORTANT NOTES to Be Considered Regarding the Criteria Above:

    1. The above list SOLELY elaborates on the eligibility to apply to the NSF U.S.-Denmark Program—NSF-IRES-INNOVATOR Program. However, the U.S. student participants selected have more solid credentials.

    2. There are different selection rounds—so the applicant may pass one stage but not the upcoming ones. If the applicant is selected for the next stage, s/he will be contacted via email.

Stipend—According to the U.S. NSF solicitation (Program Solicitation 20-598), U.S. student participants will receive a $570.00 stipend weekly—$4,560.00 for this eight-week program in Denmark.

Travel Costs—We will cover all U.S. student participants’ travel and housing expenses while being at the U.S. site (LAPES at Georgia Southern University) and the international site (CORPE at AAU)—including airfare, transportation costs, international travel insurance premiums, lodging fees, and Danish language software.

Please contact Principal Investigators Dr. Masoud Davari at mdavari@georgiasouthern.edu or Dr. Masoud Karimi at karimi@ece.msstate.edu.