Electronic and Electrical Engineering : Fully Funded Swansea University PhD Scholarship: Gate-oxide Reliability of Wide Bandgap Power MOSFETs: Offline Prediction of Lifetime (RS649)

Fully Funded Swansea University PhD Scholarship: Gate-oxide Reliability of Wide Bandgap Power MOSFETs: Offline Prediction of Lifetime and Online Monitoring of Degradation

Funding provider(s): 50% Match Funded Faculty of Science and Engineering Studentship, with 50% Match funded contribution from Swansea University  

Subject area(s): Electronic and Electrical Engineering 

Project start date(s): 1 October 2024 or 1 January 2025

Supervisors: Dr Mohammad Monfared, Professor Mike Jennings 

Aligned programme of study: PhD in Electronic and Electrical Engineering 

Mode of study: Full-time 

Project description: 

The wide bandgap (WBG) power MOSFET is more prone to early failure than its Si counterparts despite its recent success. One of the most significant contributing factors to the overall reliability of these devices is degradation or even complete failure of the gate oxide. Specifically, gate threshold voltages shift from their original value with prolonged application, mainly due to gate oxide thickness reduction and high electric fields. 

Reliability refers to a product's performance remaining within specifications for a specific period of time. According to the semiconductor industry, after 10 years of operation under nominal conditions, at most 100 devices per million can fail from oxide breakdown. 

The goal of this project is to:

a) study and examine the failure mechanisms of WBG (particularly gallium nitride) devices

b) compare different methodologies for predicting or modelling the gate-oxide reliability of WBG power MOSFETs and identify the gap for both offline reliability and lifetime estimation, and possible online condition monitoring from transistor signals

c) design, simulate and practically implement the required circuit configuration and the final multi-channel test rig for concurrent reliability testing and examining the failure mechanisms,

d) develop conventional statistical approaches and artificial intelligence (AI) models from data provided by testing a large number of samples under controlled conditions to validate and generalise the research findings

e) recommend future work to implement the realised improvements

This PhD project aims to create a meaningful impact through the collaboration between EPRG (Engineering and Power Research Group) at Swansea University and Vishay Intertechnology. 

Candidates must hold an UK Bachelor degree with a minimum of Upper Second Class honours in Engineering or similar relevant science discipline, or overseas Bachelor degree deemed equivalent to UK Bachelor (by UK ECCTIS) and achieved a grade equivalent to UK Upper Second Class honours in Engineering or similar relevant science discipline.– see country specific qualifications.

English Language: IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 5.5) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here. 

This scholarship is open to candidates of any nationality. 

ATAS

Please note that the programme requires some applicants to hold ATAS clearance; further details on ATAS scheme eligibility are available on the UK Government website. 

ATAS clearance IS NOT required to be held as part of the scholarship application process; successful award winners (as appropriate) are provided with details as to how to apply for ATAS clearance in tandem with their scholarship course offer. 

If you have any questions regarding your academic or fee eligibility based on the above, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk with the web-link to the scholarship(s) you are interested in. 

This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend of £19,237.

Additional research expenses of up to £1,000 per year will also be available.

International students: Fully if the applicant is successful in being offered a SUIPRES Scholarship as outlined below. 

Swansea University is pleased to offer the Swansea University International Postgraduate Research Excellence Scholarship (SUIPRES). This is a competitively awarded Scholarship open to overseas PhD and Professional Doctorate applicants eligible for the international rate of tuition fees who can demonstrate excellence in academic achievement.   

The SUIPRES Scholarship covers the difference between the International and the Home tuition fee for the duration of the PhD/Professional Doctorate programme. Successful candidates will be charged fees aligned to the UK rate per year. This is £4,786 for 2024/25, increasing annually in line with UKRI (United Kingdom Research and Innovation), usually 3%. The scholarship will be offset against your tuition fee liability.

All International applications will be considered for a SUIPRES Scholarship. You will be informed whether a SUIPRES Scholarship will be offered within your offer letter. 

To apply, please complete your application online with the following information:

1. Course choice – please select as per preferred start date, either - 
   
   
   *October 2024 start, select:

   Electronic and Electrical Engineering/ PhD / Full-time / 3 Years / October

   OR

   *January 2025 start, select:

   Electronic and Electrical Engineering/ PhD / Full-time / 3 Years / January
   
   

   In the event you have already applied for the above programme previously, the application system may issue a warning notice and prevent application, in this event, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk where staff will be happy to assist you in submitting your application.

2. Start year – please select 2024 or 2025
3. Funding (page 8) –

• ‘Are you funding your studies yourself?’ – please select No
• ‘Name of Individual or organisation providing funds for study’ – please enter ‘RS649 - Gate-Oxide Reliability’

*It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying, please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award.

One application is required per individual Swansea University led research scholarship award; applications cannot be considered listing multiple Swansea University led research scholarship awards.

We encourage you to complete the following to support our commitment to providing an environment free of discrimination and celebrating diversity at Swansea University: 

• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Monitoring Form (online form) 

As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via e-mail). We strongly advise you to provide the listed supporting documents by the advertised application closing date. Please note that your application may not be considered without the documents listed:

• CV
• Degree certificates and transcripts (if you are currently studying for a degree, screenshots of your grades to date are sufficient)
• A cover letter including a ‘Supplementary Personal Statement’ to explain why the position particularly matches your skills and experience and how you choose to develop the project.
• Two references (academic or previous employer) on headed paper or using the Swansea University reference form. Please note that we are not able to accept references received citing private email accounts, e.g. Hotmail. Referees should cite their employment email address for verification of reference.
• Evidence of meeting English Language requirement (if applicable).
• Copy of UK resident visa (if applicable)
• Confirmation of EDI form submission (optional) 

Informal enquiries are welcome; please contact Dr Mohammad Monfared  (mohammad.monfared@swansea.ac.uk / +44 7935649915).

*External Partner Application Data Sharing – Please note that as part of the scholarship application selection process, application data sharing may occur with external partners outside of the University, when joint/co- funding of a scholarship project is applicable.