Thesis (PhD) - Combined Experimental and Digital Twin Approach for Assessing the Degradation of[...]

Subject of the Thesis

The research work is part of the POWERDIAG project, funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR), in collaboration with Alstom and the Politecnico di Torino. The focus is on developing advanced condition and health monitoring functions for power electronics converters used in railway traction, relying on validated lifetime models, robust prediction algorithms, and Digital Twins.

Objectives and Missions

The PhD candidate will diagnose the state of health and prognose the remaining lifetime of SiC Mosfet and Si IGBT components in railway traction converters. Objectives include:

• Identify the specific electrical, thermal, and mechanical stresses experienced by power modules and the degradation mechanisms that can lead to failure.
• Design an appropriate accelerated multi‑stress test plan that considers relevant stress combinations, magnitudes, and statistical variability.
• Choose, measure, and extract the data set from accelerated ageing tests to train the Digital Twin, balancing data volume and precision.
• Optimize the test plan for each technology to minimize number, duration, and cost of tests while maintaining relevance.
• Design, parameterise, and validate a digital twin capable of interpolating and extrapolating test conditions and simulating long‑term degradation for typical railway mission profiles.

Qualifications

• Degree in Electrical Engineering, specialising in Power Electronics. Knowledge of semiconductor physics is appreciated.
• Electrical engineering and power electronics expertise, including signal processing, metrology, sensors and instrumentation, and physics of ageing mechanisms.
• Aptitude for experimental work: operation of test benches and development of measurement methods (digital and analogue electronics).
• Fluency in French and English.
• Knowledge in system modelling, component reliability, and statistical processing of experimental data.

Soft Skills

• Strong analytical and summarising skills.
• Teamwork.
• Autonomy.
• Thoroughness.
• Organisational skills.
• Curiosity and creativity.

PhD Supervisor

Francesco IANNUZZO

Enrollment Institution

Politecnico di Torino

Industrial Supervision

SuperGrid Institute, in collaboration with Alstom

PhD Candidate Location

Mainly at SuperGrid Institute, Villeurbanne (France), with possible mobility to Politecnico di Torino (Italy).

Duration and Start Date

3 years, starting from November 2026.

What We Can Offer You

• An institute working on energy transition in a stimulating field.
• A young and dynamic working environment.
• Mixed, international teams (over 20 nationalities).
• Company restaurant (contribution to meal costs).
• Possibility of teleworking 1 day/week.
• Sports activities within the company (yoga, football, running, etc.).
• Work Council allowances, health insurance, life and disability insurance.
• Sustainable Mobility Bonus.
• Profit Sharing Bonus.
• 12 RTT days per year.

Equal Opportunity Statement

At SuperGrid Institute, we respect and value the diversity of our employees, their backgrounds and experiences, with the aim of providing equal opportunities for all. Diversity is at the heart of our operations and we are committed to banning all discrimination from our human resources management. SuperGrid Institute makes all its positions accessible to people with disabilities and is committed, as part of its action plan for professional equality, to paying particular attention to applications from women in order to achieve a balanced overall distribution of the workforce.