Full-time study

4 years

prof. RNDr. Vladimír Aubrecht, CSc.

Chairman :
prof. RNDr. Vladimír Aubrecht, CSc.
Councillor internal :
doc. Ing. Petr Mastný, Ph.D.
prof. Ing. Jiří Drápela, Ph.D.
doc. Ing. Pavel Vorel, Ph.D.
doc. Ing. Ondřej Vítek, Ph.D.
prof. Ing. Petr Toman, Ph.D.
Councillor external :
prof. Ing. Radomír Goňo, Ph.D.
Ing. Petr Modlitba, CSc.
prof. Ing. Aleš Richter, CSc.
Ing. Zdeněk Wolf

The doctor study programme is devoted to the preparation of the high quality scientific and research specialists in various branches of power electronics, control technology, design of electrical machines, electric power generation and distribution, and electric power utilization.
The aim is to provide the doctor education in all these particular branches to students educated in university magister study, to make deeper their theoretical knowledge, to give them also requisite special knowledge and practical skills and to teach them methods of scientific work.

The goal of the postgradual doctoral (PhD) study of the program "Power Systems and Power Electronics" is the education for scientific work in the area of power electrical engineering and power systems. Graduates of PhD find occupation either as scientific or research workers including industrial development, either as university teachers and in higher manager functions as well.

The graduate of the doctor study program "Power Systems and Power Electronics" obtains broad knowledge of subject of high power engineering. The knowledge is built mainly on theoretical background of the subject. Moreover, the graduate will obtain deep special knowledge aimed in direction of his/her thesis. The graduate will be able to perform scientific and/or applied research based on up to date theoretical knowledge. The graduate will be able to organize and lead a team of researchers in the studied subject.

Doctoral studies are carried out according to the individual study plan, which is prepared by the supervisor in the beginning of the study in cooperation with the doctoral student. The individual curriculum specifies all the duties determined in accordance with the BUT Study and Examination Rules, which the doctoral student must fulfill to successfully finish his studies. These responsibilities are time-bound throughout the study period, they are scored and fixed at fixed deadlines.
Students will write and pass tests of obligatory subject Exam in English before the state doctoral examination, compulsory elective courses in view of the focus of his dissertation, whereas at least two are selected from: Mathematical Modelling of Electrical Power Systems, New Trends and Technologies in Power System Generation, Selected problems from power electronics and electrical drives, Topical Issues of Electrical Machines and Apparatus), and at least two optional subjects (English for PhD students; Quoting in Scientific Practice; Resolving Innovation Assignments; Scientific Publishing from A to Z).
The student may enroll for the state doctoral exam only after all the tests prescribed by his / her individual study plan have been completed. Before the state doctoral exam, the student draws up a dissertation thesis describing in detail the aims of the thesis, a thorough evaluation of the state of knowledge in the area of the dissertation solved, or the characteristics of the methods it intends to apply in the solution.
The defense of the controversy that is opposed 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, electronics, electrical machines, and electrical apparatus. The state doctoral examination is in oral form and, in addition to the discussion on the dissertation thesis, it also consists of thematic areas related to compulsory and compulsory elective subjects.
To defend the dissertation, the student reports after the state doctoral examination and after fulfilling conditions for termination, such as participation in teaching, scientific and professional activity (creative activity) and at least a monthly study or work placement 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 the 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 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 Methods for the Design and Analysis of Compact Electrical Motors

   The topic focuses on advanced methods for the design, modeling, and analysis of highly integrated compact electric motors, with the aim of achieving high efficiency, high torque and power density, while meeting requirements for low weight, small dimensions, and operational reliability. The research will cover various topologies of compact electrical machines (e.g., radial and axial configurations), including variants with integrated structural drive components, with an emphasis on suitability for applications with limited installation space.

   A key challenge is the design of the electromagnetic circuit and the machine’s active parts so that the required torque characteristics are ensured across the entire operating range while minimizing volume and losses. The work will focus on optimizing the geometry and material composition of the magnetic circuit, winding design, and the selection of permanent magnets with respect to demagnetization, efficiency, and manufacturability. It will also address thermal design aspects (loss dissipation, temperature distribution, thermal stability of magnets and insulation), mechanical integrity (strength, rotor dynamics, vibration, noise), and the appropriate integration of the motor into the final mechatronic system.

   The research will employ modern computational and simulation tools for numerical modeling of electromagnetic, thermal, and mechanical phenomena, including multiphysics analyses and optimization procedures. Special emphasis will be placed on the development of design methodologies for rapid topology comparison, sensitivity analysis, and robust optimization with respect to manufacturing tolerances and variability in material parameters. The work will include prototyping of selected solutions and experimental verification of the achieved performance (torque characteristics, efficiency, temperature rise, acoustic behavior), including the design and implementation of suitable measurement methods.

   The research outcomes may find application across a range of industrial areas requiring compact and efficient drives, for example in automation, mobile robotics, conveyor technology, or specialized equipment with demands for low noise and a high degree of integration.

   A research stay of the PhD student at a foreign university focused on advanced electrical machine development is expected—LUT University (Finland), which is part of the EULiST alliance, appears to be a suitable partner. Continuous publication of research results at international conferences and in Q1 and Q2 scientific journals is anticipated.

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

2. Mathematical model of contact material erosion in power switching devices

   A set of measurements with various contact pairs will be carried out in order to obtain necessary input data for creation of appropriate mathematical model of contact erosion. Dependence of contact erosion rate on parameters of switching circuit (current, voltage, power factor) for various operational states (rated operational power, overload, short circuits) will be acquired. Within the frame of Ph.D. theses, methodology of contact erosion assessment will be proposed. In the end, the mathematical model will be verified with real behavior of device contact systems. The results of research will be continuously presented in relevant scientific conferences (e.g. Symposium on Physics of Switching Arc, etc.) and in the form of articles in pertinent journals indexed in Scopus or Web of Science. As a part of the study, internship in the selected foreign institute will be undertaken.

   Supervisor: Aubrecht Vladimír, prof. RNDr., CSc.

3. Optimization of plasma radiation transfer calculations

   Calculation of optimal band distribution for mean absorption coefficients. Evaluation of the electric arc configuration and plasma composition on frequency band boundaries. Comparison of different numerical optimization algorithms and their application to the problem of radiative heat transfer in plasma. An international internship is mandatory during the doctoral study. Expected place of internship is LAPLACE laboratory of the University of Toulouse. The PhD student is expected to be involved in the GAČR project "Thermal Plasma Properties of Alternative Insulating Gases in Switching Arcs", whose proposal was submitted in March 2026.

   Supervisor: Aubrecht Vladimír, prof. RNDr., CSc.

4. Predictive Design and Analysis of Electromechanical Devices Using Statistics and Machine Learning

   The topic centers on research into the predictive design and analysis of electromechanical devices utilizing advanced statistical modeling and machine learning techniques. The objective is to optimize the design process for devices that necessitate computationally intensive, high-dimensional simulations of electromagnetic, thermal, and mechanical phenomena—such as electric machines with specialized topologies, compact transformers, or devices featuring integrated magnetic gearing.

   The primary challenge is to develop surrogate models that facilitate the prediction of output parameters, such as efficiency, losses, short-circuit forces, and temperature profiles, based on a limited dataset from simulations or experiments. This research will concentrate on the creation, training, and validation of predictive models utilizing various techniques, including regression algorithms, neural networks, Kriging, and radial basis function (RBF) models. Emphasis will be placed on the accuracy, interpretability, and robustness of these models in real-world applications.

   The research will involve the development of workflows for multi-objective optimization and parametric studies of electromechanical systems. This includes designing adaptive strategies for selecting training data and controlling model accuracy. The proposed approach will be experimentally validated through real-world development tasks in collaboration with industrial and research partners internationally.

   The research findings will be applied to electrical machines with significant innovation potential, such as smart grid transformers and electric machines with an outer rotating rotor. The results will not only expedite the design process but also provide a deeper understanding of how individual design parameters affect the overall performance of these devices.

   The doctoral student is expected to complete a research sty at a foreign university, concentrating on the development of advanced electrical machines. Currently, suitable partners include JKU Linz in Austria and LUT University in Finland, both of which are members of the EULiST alliance. The student is expected to consistently publish research findings at international conferences and in Q1 and Q2 peer-reviewed journals.

   Funding is anticipated through participation in research projects related to the dissertation topic.

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