POWER ELECTRONICS
I am Thiago Batista Soeiro, a professor and the head of the Power Electronics & EMC (PE) group within the Faculty of EEMCS at the University of Twente. My research focus is Power Electronics.
Background
I am passionate about researching and developing power electronics technologies that are reliable, compact, and efficient. Joining the university’s Power Electronics and EMC group was a perfect fit for my profile and experience. Here’s a bit about my background: In 2012, I earned my PhD in Power Electronics from ETH Zurich. After a Senior Engineering position in Brazil in 2013, I joined and worked nearly 5 years at the Corporate Research Centre (CRC) Team at ABB Switzerland. From 2018 to 2021, I served as a tenured Associate Professor at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), where I led R&D activities and developed laboratory infrastructure to support the Power Electronics group and the ESE department. My focus was on energy storage, battery chargers for e-mobility, robust grids with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), and future medium-voltage power electronics applications.
Later, I joined the European Space Agency, where I managed several R&D projects in collaboration with European industry. My primary focus was working on new GaN-based power conditioning and distribution units, as well as power supplies for electric propulsion and radio communication systems. These experiences have given me a solid foundation in power electronic systems.
What is your position about?
My primary role is to help shape the next generation of power electronics engineers in Europe at the Master’s and PhD levels. This involves securing research funding and expanding my network across the Netherlands and Europe. Additionally, I am committed to developing a robust power electronics program within the Electrical Engineering Bachelor’s and Master’s curricula, ensuring it is current and relevant to produce top engineers in the Netherlands. I am dedicated to advancing R&D activities and building laboratory infrastructure to support both education and research at the university. My research mainly focuses on energy storage, battery chargers for e-mobility, robust grids with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), and future power electronics applications.
How does your research create impact for society?
Advancing research, education, and knowledge transfer in power electronic systems is essential. This involves applying current and future technologies, as well as proposing and testing innovative ideas to address the unique challenges of each application. Power electronics is at the core of technological development and is therefore of paramount importance to the Dutch economy and society. It holds the key to accelerating the energy transition towards a more sustainable world by enabling and resolving the technical challenges associated with the widespread adoption of renewable energy sources.
A career in power electronics is both exciting and rewarding, particularly due to the multidisciplinary nature of the field. The power electronics community in the Netherlands spans a wide range of application areas and markets, featuring prominent global players and innovative SMEs. As a result, there is a high demand in the job market for skilled power electronics engineers.
Figure 1: Power Electronics Rsearch Ambition
In the years to come
Thanks to the sector plan initiative, UT is already developing outstanding and specialized power electronics engineering programs at the Master’s and PhD levels. We are confident that our efforts will continue to bolster the Dutch economy through direct research collaborations, enhancing industry competitiveness and creating new jobs. In doing so, we are contributing to the resolution of significant societal challenges in the energy sector.
Collaborations
We collaborate with numerous companies and research institutes, maintaining close academic partnerships with institutions such as TU Delft, TU Eindhoven, the University of Nottingham, and TU Munich, among others. Our industry cooperation extends to several Dutch and European companies, including NLR, Aeronamics, Elaad, Damen Shipyard, Signify, Philips, Alfen, and Elestor.