Full-time study

4 years

doc. Ing. Petr Drexler, Ph.D.

Chairman :
doc. Ing. Petr Drexler, Ph.D.
Councillor internal :
doc. RNDr. Martin Kovár, Ph.D.
doc. Ing. Jan Mikulka, Ph.D.
prof. Ing. Lubomír Brančík, CSc.
doc. Ing. et Ing. Vilém Neděla, Ph.D., DSc.
doc. RNDr. Dana Hliněná, Ph.D.

The doctoral study program "Theoretical Electrical Engineering" is focused on the preparation of high-qualified scientific and research specialists in various areas of theoretical electrical engineering. Particularly, in the theory and applications of electromagnetism, electrical circuits, electro/magnetic measurement methods and signal processing methods. The preparation is supported by the provision of knowledge in related mathematical disciplines such as stochastic processes and statistical methods of systems investigation, systems analysis using functional equations, design of multi-criteria optimization methods, numerical methods for solution of continuous and discrete dynamical systems and others. The aim of the program is to provide a doctoral education to graduates of Master's degree in all these sub-disciplines, to deepen their theoretical knowledge and to develop practical expert skills and to educate them in the methods of scientific work.

Graduates in doctoral study program "Theoretical Electrical Engineering" are able to solve scientific and complex technical innovation tasks in the field of electrical engineering at the theoretical level, as well as its practical use in research, development and production. To solve technical research and development tasks, they are equipped with a complex knowledge of the theory and application of electromagnetic field, electrical circuits, methods of measuring and signal processing and their physical and mathematical description. They are able to use modern computing, measuring and diagnostic techniques in a creative way.
Thanks to the high-quality theoretical education, practical expert skills and specialization in the chosen field, graduates of doctoral study are sought as specialists and executive staff in general electrical engineering. They will apply as researchers in basic or applied research, as specialists and leaders of teams in development, design and operation in research and development institutions and in electrical and electronic manufacturing companies operating in the field of advanced technologies.

Specialists and executive staff in general electrical engineering, researchers in basic or applied research, specialists and leaders of teams in development, design and operation in research and development institutions and in electrical and electronic manufacturing companies operating in the field of advanced technologies

The doctoral study is conducted according to the individual study plan. The individual study plan is prepared by the supervisor in cooperation with the doctoral student at the beginning of the study. The individual study plan specifies all the duties stipulated in accordance with the Study and Examination Rules at the Brno University of Technology, which the doctoral student must fulfill to successfully finish his studies. These responsibilities are scheduled throughout the whole study period; they are scored and they are evaluated at the end of given periods.
The student enrolls and takes examinations of the compulsory courses Numerical Computations with Partial Differential Equations and English for the state doctoral exam; at least two obligatory elective courses relating to the focus of his dissertation and at least two optional courses (English for Post-graduates; Scientific Citing; Solution of Innovational Tasks; Scientific publishing).
The student may enroll for the state doctoral exam only after taking all the exams prescribed by the individual study plan. Before the state doctoral exam, the student prepares a treatise on dissertation thesis, which describes in detail the goals of the thesis, a thorough evaluation of the state of knowledge in the area of the dissertation solved, or the characterization of the methods intended to apply in the solution.
The defense of treatise on dissertation thesis, which is reviewed, is part of the state doctoral exam. In the next part of the exam the student must demonstrate deep theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of electrical engineering, electromagnetic field, circuit theory, methods of measuring electrical and other physical quantities, processing and analysis of signals and mathematical modeling of technical processes. The state doctoral exam has a form of oral presentation and discussion on the treatise on dissertation thesis. In addition, it also includes a discussion on issues of thematic areas related to obligatory and obligatory elective courses.
The doctoral student can apply for the defense of dissertation thesis after passing the state doctoral exam and after fulfilling conditions for termination of the study, such as participation in teaching; scientific and expert activity (creative activity) and at least a monthly study or work internship at a foreign institution or participation in an international creative project.

The doctoral studies of a student follow the Individual Study Plan (ISP), which is defined by the supervisor and the student at the beginning of the study period. The ISP is obligatory for the student, and specifies all duties being consistent with the Study and Examination Rules of BUT, which the student must successfully fulfill by the end of the study period. The duties are distributed throughout the whole study period, scored by credits/points and checked in defined dates. The current point evaluation of all activities of the student is summarized in the “Total point rating of doctoral student” document and is part of the ISP. At the beginning of the next study year the supervisor highlights eventual changes in ISP. By October, 15 of each study year the student submits the printed and signed ISP to Science Department of the faculty to check and archive.
Within the first four semesters the student passes the exams of compulsory, optional-specialized and/or optional-general courses to fulfill the score limit in Study area, and concurrently the student significantly deals with the study and analysis of the knowledge specific for the field defined by the dissertation thesis theme and also continuously deals with publishing these observations and own results. In the follow-up semesters the student focuses already more to the research and development that is linked to the dissertation thesis topic and to publishing the reached results and compilation of the dissertation thesis.
By the end of the second year of studies the student passes the Doctor State Exam, where the student proves the wide overview and deep knowledge in the field linked to the dissertation thesis topic. The student must apply for this exam by April, 30 in the second year of studies. Before the Doctor State Exam the student must successfully pass the exam from English language course.
In the third and fourth year of studies the student deals with the required research activities, publishes the reached results and compiles the dissertation thesis. As part of the study duties is also completing a study period at an abroad institution or participation on an international research project with results being published or presented in abroad or another form of direct participation of the student on an international cooperation activity, which must be proved by the date of submitting the dissertation thesis.
By the end of the winter term in the fourth year of study students submit the elaborated dissertation thesis to the supervisor, who scores this elaborate. The final dissertation thesis is expected to be submitted by the student by the end of the fourth year of the studies.
In full-time study form, during the study period the student is obliged to pass a pedagogical practice, i.e. participate in the education process. The participation of the student in the pedagogical activities is part of his/her research preparations. By the pedagogical practice the student gains experience in passing the knowledge and improves the presentation skills. The pedagogical practice load (exercises, laboratories, project supervision etc.) of the student is specified by the head of the department based on the agreement with the student’s supervisor. The duty of pedagogical practice does not apply to students-payers and combined study program students. The involvement of the student in the education process within the pedagogical practice is confirmed by the supervisor in the Information System of the university.

1. round (applications submitted from 01.04.2026 to 30.04.2026)

1. Advanced circuit components and circuits for high-efficiency ion sources

   Recently, we can observe a rapid increase in interest in the use of space technologies. New applications utilizing satellites in Earth orbit are being developed. In connection with the problem of space debris from past missions, attention is also turning to the use of very low Earth orbits (VLEO). In these orbits, the problem of debris after the mission ends is naturally solved by the satellite’s spontaneous deorbiting due to its deceleration caused by collisions with particles of residual atmosphere. To maintain a satellite in VLEO, it is therefore necessary to ensure its continuous propulsion during the mission. On the other hand, this residual atmosphere can be used as a medium for the satellite’s ion propulsion, together with electrical energy from the Sun. The ions themselves can be generated by creating plasma using a high-frequency electromagnetic field. This constitutes an electric satellite propulsion system with a virtually inexhaustible supply of propellant and energy. However, given the very low concentration of gas particles and the limited power output from solar panels, it is necessary to carefully analyse the overall energy balance of the satellite’s propulsion system so that its thrust is sufficient to counteract atmospheric drag.

   One of the critical aspects is the design of the power electronics for electromagnetic plasma generation. For this purpose, it is desirable to utilize cutting-edge power semiconductor devices capable of operating at high frequencies and high temperatures, and to integrate them into advanced circuit topologies to enable high efficiency.

   The work will therefore focus on research into the use of modern power electronic components in plasma generation and on exploring ways to achieve optimized topologies of their circuit integration. The research will seek approaches and methods to achieve high overall efficiency in converting electrical energy into ion propulsion thrust.

   Supervisor: Drexler Petr, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

2. Advanced methods for diagnosing safety problems in advanced electrical installations

   Currently, it is possible to expect an increase in the number of dangerous events caused by electrical installation elements due to higher utilization of the energy network. The reason is the expansion of electromobility and the use of local energy sources, which results in a two-way flow of energy and utilization of electrical installations at the limit of capacity even in distribution systems without regular inspection. The aim of the dissertation will be to identify, in cooperation with industrial partners and the Czech Security Corps, typical problems of security violations caused by electrical installation elements and distribution systems inside and outside buildings. Based on real experience, own or optimized current diagnostic methods will be designed for these cases, which will enable new control and maintenance of parameters of existing devices or continuous inspection of the entire installation. The accuracy of diagnostic methods will be verified by comparing the results with measurements on physical models. Based on the verified model, a methodology for applying the design in practice will be developed.

   Supervisor: Kadlec Radim, Ing., Ph.D.

3. Advanced methods of radiofrequency detection of partial discharges

   One of the key problems of high-power high-voltage transformers is the existence of partial discharges PD in their dielectric oil filling. Radiofrequency methods may provide an efficient tool for observing the PD activity. The possibility of PD-radiated UHF electromagnetic (EM) signal detection is crucial for successful methods application. This signal has a relatively low magnitude and its occurrence is accompanied by a strong impulse-like interference from other discharge processes. On the other side, the PD signal dispose with specific time and frequency properties, which can be utilized for its reliable detection and evaluation. The theme of the Ph.D. study is focused on the research of new approach to PD-radiated EM signals detection utilizing signal’s specific time and frequency properties. The goal is to deepen the knowledge in the problematic of reliable detection and identification of PD activity and increasing the reliability of the high-power high-voltage transformers.

   Supervisor: Drexler Petr, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

4. Agile UAV Flight in Confined Spaces Using Machine Learning

   Agile manoeuvring of drones near obstacles – flying through windows, navigating narrow corridors, avoiding dynamic obstacles – presents a fundamental challenge for classical planning algorithms. Methods based on reinforcement learning (RL) and imitation learning enable a drone to learn aggressive manoeuvres directly from data, without requiring a precise dynamics model. 

   Supervisor: Marcoň Petr, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

5. Autonomous Navigation in Degraded Conditions

   Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are finding increasingly broad applications in the exploration of spaces where human presence is dangerous or impossible – caves, tunnels, mine shafts, and damaged buildings. In these environments, GNSS signals are unavailable, lighting is limited, and the geometry is complex. The aim of this work is to design and experimentally validate a system for autonomous UAV navigation and mapping in underground and confined spaces without reliance on global navigation. 

   Supervisor: Marcoň Petr, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

6. Cooperative and Swarm Systems

   A heterogeneous swarm of UAVs and UGVs requires efficient task allocation among platforms with different capabilities. Centralised control is vulnerable to communication link failures and does not represent a scalable solution for larger swarms. The aim is to design decentralised decision-making mechanisms that allow the swarm to operate even with partial loss of communication. 

   Supervisor: Marcoň Petr, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

7. Detection and Tracking of Flying Objects

   This thesis focuses on the development of optimization and detection algorithms for tracking flying objects using artificial intelligence algorithms in real-time. The goal is to create advanced algorithms and their implementation in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

   Supervisor: Marcoň Petr, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

8. Electrical Impedance Tomography

   The aim of the dissertation is to increase scientific knowledge in the field of non-destructive analysis of the internal structure of materials by electrical impedance tomography. The expected direction of the dissertation work is the optimization of methods of reconstruction of electrical impedance distribution, the use of multispectral noise and impulse analysis, application and optimization of artificial intelligence and machine learning elements, acceleration of calculations using parallelization of calculations. The design of the methods will be carried out with respect to selected applications, e.g. soil investigation, condition of building structures, etc. in cooperation with specific institutions. Research activities will include modelling of the environment and the measurement system with equivalent circuits, simulation, emulation, measurements on the real environment including evaluation of the influence of the excitation signal frequency on the quality of reconstruction of the electrical properties of the analyzed environment.

   Supervisor: Mikulka Jan, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

9. Generation and study of complex laboratory atmospheric plasma

   The aim of the dissertation is to generate complex atmospheric plasma using various sources and study the operating modes of such plasma, including a high-speed camera. Plasma will be generated on commercial devices in cooperation with industrial partners and a custom-designed plasma source will be designed, too. Complex plasma will be studied from the perspective of particle formation and consequences for industrial applications.

   Outline:

   1) Survey of commercial atmospheric plasma sources and consultation with industrial partners.
   2) Design of new atmospheric plasma source.
   3) Study of atmospheric plasma operating modes using various plasma sources.
   4) Study of particle formation in plasma.

   Supervisor: Šperka Jiří, Mgr., Ph.D.

10. Implementation of new reconstruction methods for fat fraction quantification in CSE-MRI.

    The aim of this study topic is to master selected advanced reconstruction algorithms to address an advanced signal model and their application in the reconstruction of fat fraction from CSE-MRI (chemical shift encoded – MRI) data. The research will focus on existing advanced algorithms for fat fraction reconstruction and the implementation of new methods or combinations with existing approaches to improve the accuracy and speed of reconstruction. All measurements will be conducted on a preclinical 9.4T MRI animal device at UPT, AV ČR in Brno.

    Supervisor: Kořínek Radim, Ing., Ph.D.

11. Low-level measurement of electrical quantities for experimental and research applications

    The topic focuses on the design, implementation, and experimental verification of systems for the precise measurement of very low values of electrical voltage, current, and electrical potential (in the order of µV–nV, pA–fA) in demanding research conditions. Emphasis will be placed on minimizing noise, suppressing parasitic effects (thermal EMN, leakage currents, electromagnetic interference), and optimizing the input circuits of the measuring electronics.

    The research will include the design of low-noise amplifiers, transimpedance and differential input structures, suitable shielding and grounding concepts, including noise model analysis and system stability. The work will also include the design of calibration methods and long-term measurement stability, and possibly the implementation of digital signal processing to increase resolution and accuracy.

    The practical output will be a functional laboratory measurement platform designed for research applications (e.g., materials research, bioelectrical measurements, impedance spectroscopy), supplemented by a methodology for the design of low-level measurement systems with an emphasis on reproducibility.

    Supervisor: Mikulka Jan, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

12. Low-level measurements in the study of fluid behaviour

    The aim of the dissertation will be to investigate the current and propose new or optimization of current methods for low-level measurements of electrical quantities to describe the behavior of fluids primarily during changes in their state of matter (freezing), or to determine the presence and characterization of parameters of precursor nanofilm of water and other compounds. The dissertation will be carried out in collaboration with the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University. It will build on the existing results of measurements of the electric potential of freezing liquids, while deepening the understanding of the behaviour of liquids at very low temperatures. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

    Supervisor: Szabó Zoltán, Ing., Ph.D.

13. Mapping the Earth's Magnetic Field Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

    The aim of this dissertation is to systematically explore and analyze current methods for mapping the Earth's magnetic field using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The work will focus on new methods and approaches for mapping the Earth's magnetic field or materials and on the analysis of magnetic interferences caused by UAVs. The practical part of the dissertation will involve the design and implementation of experiments with UAVs equipped with magnetometers, aimed at verifying the accuracy and reliability of the measured data and proposing recommendations for optimizing measurement procedures. The results of this work will contribute to a better understanding and more efficient use of UAVs in the field of Earth's magnetic field mapping.

    Supervisor: Marcoň Petr, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

14. Methodology for measuring air ions and electric charge

    The aim of the dissertation will be an interdisciplinary comparison of air ions with other related variables and their effects on the human body. In the field of atmospheric electricity, correlations with earthquakes and research into phenomena occurring during thunderstorms can be explored. Furthermore, the research will also focus on enclosed spaces where it is necessary to achieve maximum sensitivity at minimum air flow rates. In particular, this will apply to speleotherapeutic caves, where appropriate methodologies for measuring air ions and their mobility will be developed. Current atmospheric pollution will be correlated with the concentration of light air ions, which can serve as a potential indicator of chemical pollution. The effects of cigarette smoke and plants on air ions will be investigated. Similarly, research will also be conducted in an experimental forest.

    Supervisor: Roubal Zdeněk, Ing., Ph.D.

15. Modern image analysis methods for medical applications

    The aim of the dissertation is to increase scientific knowledge in the field of modern methods of image analysis. The PhD student will work closely with St. Anne's University Hospital (Neurosurgery Clinic). Taking into account the specific characteristics of MRI images and other imaging modalities, methods of image preprocessing, segmentation and classification will be developed. The use of artificial intelligence and machine learning methods for tissue differentiation, standardization of diagnostics, etc. is assumed.

    Supervisor: Mikulka Jan, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

16. Nuclear quadrupole resonance techniques for material detection

    The thesis is focused on the development of techniques for detection of various materials (especially N and Cl based) using nuclear quadrupole resonance. Currently, this method seems to be very promising for the detection and classification of explosives, medicament and drugs. Problems of excitation of cores and subsequent scanning of resonating signal with the possibility of tuning is a relatively complex task both in terms of signal path requirements and in terms of excitation circuit design. Due to the low level of the resonating signal and the short relaxation, it is necessary to solve a number of technical problems. The issue is largely interdisciplinary.

    Supervisor: Steinbauer Miloslav, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

17. Numerical modeling of multiphysical systems and creation of digital twins using FEM and neural networks

    The topic focuses on numerical modeling of strongly coupled multiphysics problems (e.g., electrothermal, electromechanical) using the COMSOL Multiphysics platform and their connection to machine learning methods.

    The goal is to develop a methodology combining classical finite element methods (FEM) with neural networks (e.g., surrogate models or Physics-Informed Neural Networks) to accelerate calculations, parametric optimization, and inverse problem solving. The work will include the design and implementation of a digital twin of a selected technical system, enabling rapid prediction, parameter identification, and, if necessary, adaptive model updating based on experimental data.

    The result will be a general methodological framework for the effective integration of numerical simulations and artificial intelligence for use in research and industrial practice.

    Supervisor: Mikulka Jan, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

18. Research of properties and applications of noise electromagnetic fields

    Measuring and diagnostic methods based on the interaction of radiated electromagnetic (EM) field with test objects are currently mature and widely used technology. However, the vast majority of systems based on such approach use the concept of generating and evaluating EM fields with certain defined or swept frequency. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the possibility of electromagnetic coupling of the measured object and the measuring device in the near field, which can detriorate the measurement. Conversely, if broadband stochastic signals (noise signals) were used for diagnostics, these problematic coupling could be suppressed. The topic of the study is focused on the research of the use of the concept of diagnostic of materials and electromagnetic structures by the noise field, especially in radiofrequency and microwave domain, its development and experimental verification.

    Supervisor: Drexler Petr, doc. Ing., Ph.D.