PhD Studentship in Fast Zonal Control for Voltage Stability Imperial College London in United Kingdom

[Stipend of approximately £23,805 per year (tax-free) for 3.5 years plus overseas tuition fees.]

Imperial College London is offering a fully funded PhD studentship in Fast Zonal Control for Voltage Stability within the Control and Power Research Group, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

The project is co-supervised by Professor Balarko Chaudhuri and Professor Mark O’Malley. It focuses on developing and validating fast, zonal voltage control strategies for modern power grids with high penetrations of inverter-based resources (IBRs). Research topics include grid segmentation methods, coordinated voltage control across zones, scalable control architectures, dynamic modelling, advanced control design, simulation, and validation on benchmark power systems.

The successful candidate will join a research team of around 12–15 researchers working on the stability and control of power grids with high shares of IBRs. An optional research secondment with GE Vernova may provide additional hands-on experience in a state-of-the-art industrial environment.

This is a funded PhD studentship supported by the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. The funding includes a stipend of approximately £23,805 per year (tax-free) for 3.5 years, plus overseas tuition fees.

Applicants should have a first-class Master’s degree or equivalent experience and a strong background in power system dynamics, power electronics, and control. Experience with power systems dynamic simulation is helpful but not essential. The project is well suited to students interested in power grid stability, inverter-dominated systems, and advanced control methods for energy networks.

To apply, choose the Electrical and Electronic Engineering Research Program and the Control and Power Group on the Imperial application portal, and indicate Professor Balarko Chaudhuri as a potential supervisor. Submit a cover letter and CV, each no more than 2 pages. Early applications are encouraged, and the preferred start date is the beginning of the Spring term (3 January 2027).

The application deadline is 14 August 2026. For project-specific queries, contact [email protected]. For application process questions, contact [email protected].