PhD Studentship in Strategic Power System Planning Imperial College London in United Kingdom

[Stipend of £22,780 per year (tax-free) for three and a half years, home-level tuition fees, and support for research expenses and travel. Opportunities to enhance stipend through tutoring and course delivery. Overseas applicants must cover fee difference.]

Imperial College London invites applications for a fully funded PhD studentship in Strategic Power System Planning, hosted by the Control and Power Research Group within the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Supervised by Dr Elina Spyrou, this position offers the opportunity to contribute to the transformation of power systems as the world moves towards net-zero energy. The project focuses on developing innovative planning models for power systems, explicitly addressing supply chain constraints and stakeholder preferences to enable realistic and proactive infrastructure development.

The research is highly relevant to the ongoing shift in energy generation, with increasing integration of variable renewable sources and nuclear power, alongside rising electricity demand driven by data centers, electric vehicles, and electric heating technologies. The successful candidate will join a dynamic research group, currently comprising three PhD students and a postdoctoral researcher, and will participate in collaborative activities with the Electric Power Innovation for a Carbon-free Society Center (EPICS-UK) and partners in the UK, USA, and Australia.

Funding for this studentship includes a tax-free stipend of £22,780 per year for three and a half years, coverage of home-level tuition fees, and support for research expenses and travel to collaborators and conferences. Additional opportunities exist to supplement the stipend through tutoring and course delivery. Irish nationals living in Ireland or the UK qualify for home fees; overseas applicants are welcome but must indicate in their personal statement how they will cover the difference in tuition fees.

Applicants should hold a first-class Master's degree (or equivalent) in engineering, physics, mathematics, computer science, or economics. The selection process will consider academic excellence, research capability, communication skills, motivation for the research topic, and future career plans. The successful candidate will be expected to define research questions, manage their PhD plan, conduct independent research, review relevant literature, and disseminate results in high-impact journals and conferences. Participation in EPICS Global Centre activities is also expected.

To apply, select the Electrical and Electronic Engineering Research Program and the Control and Power Group, and indicate Dr Elina Spyrou as your potential supervisor. Submit a personal statement (max 2 pages) and CV (max 2 pages); a research statement is not required at this stage. Early applications are encouraged, and the preferred start date is in 2026. For further details, contact Dr Elina Spyrou at [email protected]. For application process queries, contact [email protected]. Full guidance is available on the program website.