Two PhD Stipends in AI:HARDWARE Lab for Secure Embedded AI and Next-Generation Secure-by-Design Power Electronics

About the project

AI:X is an ambitious initiative at Aalborg University that aims to advance AI research and create real-world impact through interdisciplinary collaboration, and nine labs will be initiated in 2026 with a total of 18 PhD stipends.

The AI:HARDWARE Lab is part of the AI:X initiative with two PhD stipends and is a collaboration between the Department of Electronic Systems, the Technical Faculty of IT & Design and the Department of Energy, the Faculty of Engineering and Science.

One PhD position will be hosted in the Cybersecurity Research Group at the Department of Electronic Systems in Copenhagen, while the other will be hosted in the Sustainable Power Electronics and Electrification Research Group at the Department of Energy in Aalborg.

About the positions

The lab is looking for candidates for the following two stipends:

Stipend 1: Secure Embedded AI for Cyber-Physical Energy Systems (Copenhagen)

The PhD position focuses on the development of secure and trustworthy AI for resource-constrained embedded systems used in power electronics and energy infrastructure. The research will investigate how machine learning models can be designed and deployed efficiently on constrained hardware platforms while supporting the reliability and security requirements of cyber-physical energy systems.

Tasks

• Analyzing how disturbances or cyberattacks, such as sensor manipulation, electromagnetic interference, or injected faults, can affect the behaviour of power electronic systems.
• Developing data-driven models that capture how disturbances propagate through the system and may lead to abnormal operating conditions. These models will be used to detect unsafe behaviour and improve the resilience of power control systems.
• Designing lightweight AI models suitable for real-time execution on constrained platforms using techniques such as model compression, quantization, and hardware-aware neural network design.
• Investigating mechanisms that protect the integrity and reliability of deployed AI models, including hardware-supported protection mechanisms and secure execution techniques, to ensure that AI-based monitoring or control functions remain trustworthy even in the presence of disturbances or malicious inputs.
• Implementing and evaluating the developed methods on embedded computing platforms and hardware prototypes in collaboration with the PhD student working on the power electronics aspects of the project.
• Disseminating research results in peer-reviewed journals and conferences.

Position-specific competencies

We are looking for a motivated and curious candidate with a background in computer engineering, embedded systems, or a closely related field. The ideal candidate has an interest in the intersection of artificial intelligence, embedded computing, and cybersecurity, and is motivated to work on challenges related to the reliability and security of AI-enabled power electronic systems operating on resource-constrained environments.

Stipend 2: Data-driven modeling and optimization for efficient and secure-by-design Power Electronics (Aalborg)

The PhD position focuses on next-generation power electronic technologies, combining high-fidelity multiphysics modelling with modern data-driven design methodologies. The successful candidate will help drive advances in:

• Broadband electromagnetic and multi-physics modelling of power electronic systems and components, with special focus of magnetic components,
• Incorporating physics-driven machine learning approaches in power electronics design,
• Incorporating system-level factors (e.g. cybersecurity, sustainability) in a quantifiable way into AI-assisted design frameworks.

Tasks

The successful candidate will engage in independent research and contribute to development of new methodologies within the field. Potential activities include:

• Developing machine learning methods to support preconditioning and accelerating simulations, one-shot design and inverse design in power electronics systems and components,
• Multi-physics modeling using open-source simulation environments (e.g. FastFieldSolvers, Elmer, PyPEEC, MEEP),
• Circuit simulation using open-source tools (NGSpice, Xyce),
• Interfacing simulators and orchestrating optimization runs with open-source Python libraries (e.g. PyMOO, SMT, Scipy),
• Disseminating research results through publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at international conferences.

Position-specific competencies

We are looking for a candidate with a background in power electronics, electrical engineering, electronics or similar. The ideal candidate should have experience or interest in the following areas:

• Electromagnetic and multi-physics modelling,
• Handling complex electromagnetic problems,
• Modeling of power electronic systems and component, particularly magnetic components,
• Optimization and surrogate-modeling in Python,
• Integration of machine learning and numerical methods.

How to apply

Your application must include the following:

• Application, stating reasons for applying and qualifications in relation to the position
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Diplomas (bachelor's and master's degree diploma, including grades)
• Project description (4-5 pages), that describes the applicant’s initial thoughts and ideas related to the specific project applied for. This includes a brief state-of-the-art (including short list of references), a time schedule and how the applicant intends to shed light on the project objectives.
• Other relevant documents

The application must be submitted via Aalborg University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aalborg University's website.