Scholarship: Fully-funded
Degree: Bachelor, Master, Ph.D
Nationality: International Students
Location: USA
Application deadlines: Fall 2025 or Spring 2026 enrollment
Scholarship Description:
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) Department of Electrical Engineering is offering several fully funded PhD positions in the Power Electronics and Smart Energy Lab for Fall 2025. Admitted candidates will work with Dr. Feng Guo on high-performance power electronics converters based on wide bandgap devices, focusing on electrified transportation, microgrids, energy storage, and renewable energy.
Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s cultural and economic center on the shores of Lake Michigan, UWM is one of the only two comprehensive research universities in the University of Wisconsin system that can confer doctoral degrees. It is the largest university in the Milwaukee metropolitan area and the second largest in the state, with an operating budget of $685 million for 2023-2024. Recognized as an R1 research institution by the Carnegie Classification, UWM plays a key role in driving the state’s economy through innovative research. Milwaukee is home to teams in two major professional sports leagues: the NBA’s Bucks and MLB’s Brewers.
Additionally, Milwaukee hosts several Fortune 500 companies, including WEC Energy Group, Eaton, Rockwell Automation, Harley-Davidson, Komatsu Mining, and Johnson Controls. UWM collaborates closely with local electrical automation companies to address industry needs, providing excellent internship and job opportunities for graduates with a background in power electronics.
Student Development Opportunities
- Engage in cutting-edge research in power electronics for electrified transportation and renewable energy applications in collaboration with top North American universities, national labs, and companies.
- Publish papers in leading IEEE journals and conferences, fostering international academic collaboration.
- Access numerous internship and job opportunities with major electrical firms like Eaton, Rockwell, WEC Energy Group, and Komatsu.
- Opportunities for academic positions or exchange visits at prestigious universities and research institutions in the US and UK.
- Full funding for PhD tuition, competitive living stipends, health insurance, and travel expenses for academic conferences.
About the Advisor
Dr. Feng Guo is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at UWM. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and Automation from China University of Mining and Technology in 2014, a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Northeastern University in 2017, and a PhD in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Nottingham in 2021. He was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Arkansas from 2022 to 2024. His research interests include the design and control of high-efficiency, high-power-density power converters for next-generation electrified transportation (electric planes/electric vehicles), energy storage systems, and renewable energy, as well as optimizing high-frequency magnetic components.
Dr. Guo has published over ten articles in flagship IEEE journals and more than ten papers at top IEEE conferences. He received the Second Prize for Best Journal Paper from the IEEE Industrial Applications Society in 2022. He serves as an associate editor for IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications and IEEE Open Journal of Industry Applications, and is a reviewer for top journals in the IEEE Power Electronics Society (PELS) and Industrial Electronics Society (IES), as well as for Elsevier book proposals in electrical energy.
Available Subjects:
- Electrified transportation, microgrids, energy storage, and renewable energy.
Eligibility criteria:
- A bachelor’s or master’s degree in electrical engineering or a related field. For details, please refer to the college’s admission website: UWM Electrical Engineering PhD Requirements.
- Background in power electronics, power drives, or energy systems.
- Experience with one or more of the following skills: Matlab/Simulink, PLECS, dSPACE, RT-Box, Altium Designer, DSP, or FPGA.
- Experience in the design and testing of wide bandgap power electronic converters.
- Experience in the design and fabrication of high-frequency magnetic components.
- Experience in EMI/EMC modeling and analysis.
Application Procedure:
If you are interested in conducting research with Dr. Guo, please send an email (Subject: Name – Ph.D. Application) to guof@uwm.edu. Include your resume, transcripts, and English proficiency scores. If you have published articles related to relevant projects, please attach those as well.
