Fully Funded Presidential Graduate Fellowship 2026 | PhD at UT Dallas

University of Texas at Dallas

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Vacancy

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Description

The University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) is inviting applications from outstanding candidates for a doctoral position commencing in Fall 2026 within the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. This opportunity is offered under the supervision of Professor Mona Ghassemi, a globally recognized scholar in high-voltage engineering and power systems, who currently serves as Vice President–Technical of the IEEE Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Society (DEIS). The selected candidate will be nominated for the highly competitive Presidential Graduate Fellowship, one of UT Dallas’s most prestigious funding schemes for doctoral researchers. This fellowship is intended to attract exceptional research talent and provides strong financial and institutional support throughout the PhD journey. The doctoral research will be positioned at the cutting edge of power systems and high-voltage engineering, with a particular emphasis on the integration of artificial intelligence to address emerging challenges in modern and future energy infrastructures. 

Responsibilities

Research Focus & Priorities

Professor Ghassemi is seeking doctoral candidates with a strong academic foundation in power and energy systems who are motivated to pursue advanced, interdisciplinary research. The expected research directions include, but are not limited to, the following areas:

1. Power Systems Analysis: In-depth study of modern power systems, including system modeling, stability analysis, fault diagnosis, and reliability assessment, with an emphasis on supporting next-generation energy infrastructures.
2. High-Voltage Engineering: Research on high-voltage insulation systems, dielectric materials, electrical discharges, and breakdown phenomena relevant to transmission, distribution, and high-power applications.
3. Plasma Science and Engineering: Exploration of plasma-based technologies and discharge physics, particularly as they relate to high-voltage applications, insulation performance, and advanced energy systems.
4. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Applications: Application of AI and ML techniques to power and energy challenges, such as predictive maintenance, anomaly detection, system optimization, and data-driven modeling of complex electrical and high-voltage phenomena. 

Scholarship Value and Benefits

The Presidential Graduate Fellowship at UT Dallas represents one of the university’s most prestigious funding mechanisms for doctoral study. It is designed to remove financial barriers and provide a stable, research-focused environment for outstanding PhD candidates. Key benefits include:

• Comprehensive Financial Coverage: Full coverage of tuition and mandatory university fees for the duration of the doctoral program, allowing the student to pursue research without concern for academic costs.
• Competitive Living Stipend: A generous annual stipend that supports accommodation, living expenses, and day-to-day needs, enabling the fellow to concentrate fully on research and academic development.
• Elite Research Environment: Access to advanced laboratories, high-performance computing resources, and cutting-edge research infrastructure within the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
• Distinguished Mentorship: Direct supervision and mentorship from Professor Mona Ghassemi, a recognized leader in high-voltage engineering and power systems, and Vice President–Technical of the IEEE Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Society (DEIS).
• Professional Visibility and Career Advantage: Fellowship status enhances academic prestige, strengthens the researcher’s profile for future grants, postdoctoral positions, and industry or academic careers, and provides exposure to global IEEE research networks. 

Check also: 

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Qualification

Eligibility Criteria

To be competitive for nomination to the Presidential Graduate Fellowship, applicants must demonstrate strong academic preparation, technical capability, and clear alignment with the research direction of the lab. The following criteria apply:

1. Educational Background: Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, with a clear specialization in Power and Energy or a closely related subfield. A solid foundation in power systems, high-voltage engineering, or energy-related coursework is essential.
2. Advanced Training or Experience (Preferred): Strong preference is given to candidates who already hold a Master of Science (M.S.) degree or who can demonstrate relevant professional or research experience in power systems, high-voltage engineering, plasma science, or energy-focused applications.
3. Technical and Computational Skills: Familiarity with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning tools, particularly as applied to engineering or energy systems, is highly prioritized. Experience with data analysis, modeling, simulation, or programming will strengthen an application.
4. Academic Excellence: Applicants are expected to have an excellent academic record, strong analytical skills, and evidence of research potential, such as projects, publications, or thesis work.
5. English Language Proficiency: International applicants must provide valid TOEFL or IELTS scores that meet UT Dallas graduate admission requirements, demonstrating the ability to succeed in an English-language academic and research environment.
6. Program Eligibility: Candidates must also meet all general admission requirements of the UT Dallas PhD program in Electrical and Computer Engineering for the Fall 2026 intake. 

Application Procedure

A structured pre-screening process is required for this position before submitting a formal university application. Interested candidates should carefully follow the steps outlined below:

• Initial Contact with the Supervisor: Prospective applicants must initiate contact by emailing Professor Mona Ghassemi directly at Mona.Ghassemi@utdallas.edu. This initial outreach serves as a pre-screening step to assess research alignment and academic suitability.
• Submission of Required Documents: The email inquiry must include the following documents as attachments: (a) An up-to-date Curriculum Vitae (CV) detailing academic background, research experience, and technical skills, (b) Academic transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended, (c) TOEFL or IELTS scores (for international applicants), demonstrating English language proficiency
• Pre-Selection and Guidance: Candidates whose profiles align well with the research priorities of the lab will be contacted by Professor Ghassemi and provided with detailed instructions for the next stage of the process.
• Formal University Application and Fellowship Nomination: Only shortlisted candidates will be invited to submit a formal application to the UT Dallas Graduate School. Selected applicants will then be nominated for the Presidential Graduate Fellowship as part of the official admission process. 

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