Research opportunities
Two Ph.D. positions · Fall 2027
MinniPEL is recruiting Ph.D. students in two areas:
Power electronics: DC–DC and AC–DC converter topologies, magnetics, and experimental hardware.
Power management integrated circuits (PMICs): circuit design and implementation for integrated power conversion.
Background and preparation
Applicants should have a strong background in circuits or microelectronics and prior hands-on experience with power converters or integrated circuits. Hardware experience is required. Experience with microcontrollers, printed circuit board (PCB) design, or IC design tools is valuable.
Our research involves circuit analysis, modeling, hardware development, and laboratory verification. Students should be interested in sustained experimental work, including debugging and evaluating designs through both successful and unsuccessful experiments.
How to apply
Apply through the University of Minnesota ECE Ph.D. program. You may identify Professor Ratul Das and MinniPEL in your statement of purpose. Applications are reviewed competitively through the university’s admissions process.
To introduce yourself, email ratuldas@umn.edu with your CV, a brief description of your research interests, and examples of your hardware or circuit-design experience. Include the research area and intended starting term in your message.
Undergraduate and master’s research
We require undergraduate students to have completed at least one hands-on hardware project before becoming involved in MinniPEL. This requirement applies to all undergraduate participation in the group, including informal involvement. Undergraduate students without prior hardware project experience are not eligible to join the group. We also welcome inquiries from master’s students with a background in circuits and microelectronics. Email Professor Das with your degree level, availability, interests, and a brief description of your relevant hardware project experience.
Applications include computing and data-center power delivery, motor drives, renewable energy, transportation, robotics, wireless power, biomedical systems, and space electronics. Explore our research.