PhD scholarship in Corrosion Mechanisms of Power Semiconductor Device and Components - DTU Construct

Jobbeskrivelse

If you are looking for an exciting opportunity for PhD, we at Materials and Surface Engineering section, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, is seeking candidate for one PhD position to work on corrosion focused mechanistic investigation of IGBT and SiC Power MOSFETs related components and layouts under varied humidity, temperature, gases and applied potential conditions.

The project will also include the development of advanced simulation models to characterize and predict moisture transport through gel substrate and interfacial layers within the semiconductor packages. This PhD project is part of Center for Climate Robust Electronic Design project funded by Poul Due Jensens Foundation, Denmark. The PhD position also provides an opportunity to work in collaboration with major industries involved in electric vehicles/renewable energy systems.

Responsibilities and qualifications

Environmental stressors such as humidity, temperature, and reactive gases significantly affect the long-term reliability of power semiconductor devices by inducing corrosion and electrochemical degradation. In high-voltage and high-power applications, such as automotive and industrial systems, devices like Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBTs) and Silicon Carbide (SiC) Power MOSFETs are particularly susceptible to environmental influences that alter their electrical and thermal performance. When combined with operational stresses such as elevated voltages, switching cycles, and temperature gradients, environmental conditions such as humidity and corrosive gases (e.g., H₂S) can accelerate failure mechanisms such as electrochemical migration and anodic migration, which remains insufficiently understood.

This PhD project aims to systematically investigate failure mechanisms in IGBT and SiC Power MOSFET devices by using test structures that mimic actual components as well as actual components under varied humidity, temperature, gaseous, and electrical potential conditions. The research will involve experimental testing and detailed characterization of corrosion effects, with a focus on understanding electrochemical interactions, gel substrate degradation, and interfacial transport phenomena. Specific attention will be given to modeling moisture and gas permeation through gel substrate and interfaces using Multiphysics simulation tools such as ANSYS or COMSOL.

The study will quantify the impact of corrosion and moisture ingress on key device parameters, including switching losses, efficiency, gate stress, and thermal performance. Insights from both experimental and simulation results will be used to propose material and design guidelines for improved environmental robustness, such as optimized Cu pad and gel substrate compositions for IGBTs, and enhanced design configurations for SiC-based devices.

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree. Specialization should be in Materials Science and engineering or related subjects such as corrosion science and engineering. Masters in electronics/electrical engineering with prior experience on humidity/corrosion reliability of electronics is also suitable. For all qualifications, prior experience of corrosion of electronics or similar topics is an advantage. A combination of knowledge in electronics, materials, corrosion, and reliability is preferred.

Approval and Enrolment

The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education.

We offer

DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms

The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is 3 years. Starting date is expected to be 1 February 2026, or according to mutual agreement.

Further information

Further information may be obtained from Professor Rajan Ambat, e-mail: raam@dtu.dk and Dr. Kapil Kumar Gupta, e-mail: kkgup@dtu.dk. You can read more about Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at www.construct.dtu.dk.

Application procedure

Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 26 November 2025 (23:59 Danish time). Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include: A letter motivating the application (cover letter), Curriculum vitae, Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale. If relevant, you may add additional documents to the list above. You may apply prior to obtaining your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.