The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the two universities selected to receive nearly $6 million to establish one or more graduate-level training programs for engineers in power electronics. This effort is part of the Obama Administration's commitment to accelerating American manufacturing and developing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education programs that support the next generation of engineers and manufacturers.
The training curricula in power electronics—which control or convert electrical energy into usable power—will include cutting-edge wide bandgap semiconductors that can operate at higher temperatures, voltages, and frequencies, and are more durable and reliable than silicon-based counterparts. The five-year traineeships programs will be implemented beginning in the fall 2016 school year and are concentrated on advanced power electronic equipment engineering, design, and manufacturing.
For this funding opportunity, the Energy Department has selected The University of Tennessee, Knoxville to receive $2.9 million and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) to receive $3 million to create masters or doctoral training programs that will enable the design, manufacturing, and deployment of advanced high-efficiency electrical equipment such as motors, inverters, and grid equipment, as well as high-efficiency electrical systems.
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in collaboration with DOE's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, will create designâ€oriented education and handsâ€on training with wide bandgap (WBG) power electronics for the next-generation power engineering workforce. The project will include wide dissemination of recruiting and teaching materials to other U.S. institutions, targeting 100% student placement and developing a clear strategy for recruitment of women and minority students into the workforce.
The Center for Power Electronics Systems and the Center for Power and Energy at Virginia Tech will implement a comprehensive graduate study and research program focused on the experimentation, design, development, and manufacturing of WBGâ€based power electronics, grid equipment, and high-efficiency electrical systems. The traineeship program aims to significantly increase enrollment and graduation in power engineering, particularly by leveraging existing research activities and engagement with a strong and diverse set of partners.
