Publisher
source

The University of British Columbia

Top university

Funded PhD in CFD of Thermal Behavior of Power Transformers University of British Columbia in Canada

Degree Level

PhD

Field of study

Computer Science

Funding

MITACS-funded PhD research project running from September 2026 to August 2030. The post is described as a funded PhD studentship; no stipend amount is stated.

Deadline

Oct 14, 2026

Country flag

Country

Canada

University

The University of British Columbia

Social connections

How do I apply for this?

Sign in for free to reveal details, requirements, and source links.

Apply for this position

Keywords

Computer Science
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Heat Transfer
Fluid Mechanics
High Performance Computing
Physics

Suggested positions

About this position

Funded PhD opportunity in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) at the University of British Columbia (Okanagan), working on the thermal behavior of electrical transformers. The project is titled Overloading thermal management and seasonal heat recovery of transformers toward efficient power substations and is carried out in collaboration with BC Hydro.

The research focuses on OpenFOAM-based modeling of transformer thermal loading under realistic utility-scale conditions, including conjugate heat transfer, active and passive thermal management, hotspot prediction, waste heat recovery, and transformer aging/lifetime assessment. The student will validate models against field data from operational transformers and contribute to open-source datasets and monitoring tools.

Supervision is by Dr. Joshua Brinkerhoff and Dr. Sunny Li. The project is strongly aligned with fluid mechanics, heat transfer, numerical simulation, mathematical modeling, and high-performance computing.

Applicants should have strong fundamentals in mathematical modeling, numerical simulation, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer. Experience with OpenFOAM or other CFD tools is an asset. International applications are welcome. English proficiency requirements are listed for applicants whose prior degrees were not taught in English: TOEFL 580 PBT / 92 IBT or IELTS 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0.

Deadline: 2026-10-14. Apply by completing the online survey and uploading a cover letter and CV. Contact Dr. Brinkerhoff for enquiries.

Funding details

MITACS-funded PhD research project running from September 2026 to August 2030. The post is described as a funded PhD studentship; no stipend amount is stated.

What's required

Applicants should have strong fundamental skills in mathematical modeling, numerical simulation, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer. Background in OpenFOAM or other CFD tools and experience in high-performance computing are assets. Applicants with degrees in a language other than English must provide English test scores: minimum TOEFL 580 PBT or 92 IBT, or IELTS overall 6.5 with no individual band below 6.0.

How to apply

Express interest via the online survey link. Upload a cover letter describing your research interests, experience, and motivations for graduate study, plus a detailed CV. Include English test scores if required.

More information can be found here

Ask ApplyKite AI

Start chatting
Can you summarize this position?
What qualifications are required for this position?
How should I prepare my application?