PhD position in the development of methods to analyze electrical conductivity of oil impregnated cellulose

Electrification and digitalisation are among the largest areas for the future in the conversion to sustainable societies. The Department of Electrical Engineering conducts successful research and education in the areas - renewable energy sources, electric vehicles, industrial IoT, 6G communication and wireless sensor networks as well as research and education within Life Science, smart electronic sensors and medical systems. The Department of Electrical Engineering is an international workplace with around 160 employees that all contribute to important technical energy and health solutions at the Ångström Laboratory.

Come and work with us!
The position will be at the Division of network embedded systems, at the Department of Electrical Engineering. Here you will find a friendly work environment with a lively doctoral network and a variety of experimental projects. The Division works in collaboration with Swedish companies - public and private - and stakeholders in the different fields of research. We look forward to receiving your application. Join us and build the future with us!

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at Uppsala University.

Research project:

Cellulose, the most abundant biopolymer, is vital for sustainable materials and energy technologies. Its moisture-dependent electrical conductivity impacts bio-based electronics, sensors, insulation, and green composites. Reliable methods to measure and interpret this conductivity advance both fundamental science and applications such as energy storage, smart packaging, and biodegradable systems.

Understanding cellulose conductivity is especially critical for transformer insulation, where oil-impregnated cellulose plays a central role. While traditional oils had much lower resistivity than pressboard, highly purified oils now show comparable values, making accurate models of cellulose conductivity essential for robust insulation design. Even small amounts of moisture greatly increase conductivity, yet a consistent microscopic model is still missing. This project will integrate modelling and experiments on both non-impregnated and oil-impregnated cellulose to develop a comprehensive conductivity model for the oil–cellulose system.

The project, funded by Hitachi Energy AB, will be conducted in close collaboration with the industrial partner and their research organization. Access to state‑of‑the‑art facilities and expertise is ensured, though special rules may apply regarding publication and IP rights.

We have an exciting work environment designed by the doctoral student and the research team together. The doctoral student will be supervised by at least two supervisors. The Department of Electrical Engineering also gives a salary supplement to employed PhD students at the Department of Electrical.

Duties

PhD studies require independent research work within a chosen subject, supported by supervisors and collaboration with fellow researchers.

Research tasks include:

1. Developing experimental protocols and descriptive models to study conductivity in cellulose pressboard at multiple scales
2. Characterizing conductivity in the oil–pressboard system under varying time, field, temperature, and moisture conditions.
3. Designing further experimental and theoretical strategies to deepen understanding of oil–cellulose insulation systems.
4. The duties may also include participation in teaching and other departmental work, however, a maximum of 20% of the working time.

Qualifications required

• The applicant must hold a master of science degree (or equivalent) in physics, engineering physics, material science, or electronics
• Strong collaboration spirit and very good communication skills in oral and written English are required 

Qualifications desired

• Previous experience in working with cellulose or electrical measurement systems will be valuable

About the employment

Application: Please use the link below. You should include a brief description of your research interests and relevant experience, a CV, copies of diplomas and certificates, thesis (or a draft thereof) and other relevant documents. You are encouraged to provide contact information to reference.

Salary: Individual salary setting.

Start date: 2026-04-01 or by agreement.

Employment type: Fixed-term employment according to HF Chapter 5 § 7.

Scope of employment: 100%

Information about the employment is provided by: [Associate Prof. Apurba Dev; tel: +46 18-471 10 77; e-mail: apurba.dev@anagstrom.uu.se].

Welcome with your application no later than January 15, 2026, UFV-PA 2025/3853.