Nicolas Calabrese

Ph.D. candidate in Ingegneria Elettrica, Elettronica E Delle Comunicazioni , 41^st cycle (2025-2028)
Department of Energy (DENERG)

nicolas.calabrese@polito.it

Profile

PhD

Research topic

Characterization of Automotive-class Wide Bandgap Semiconductors and Modular Packaging Design

Tutors

Research presentation

Poster

Keywords

Micro- and nanotechnologies, devices, systems and applications

Modeling, simulation and CAD

Power systems, Power converters, Electrical machines and drives

Biography

My Ph.D. project addresses these challenges by combining reliability testing, failure analysis, and packaging innovation to enable robust, high performance WBG power modules for next-generation electric and hybrid vehicles.

Research Objectives:
2.1 Characterization Under Abnormal and Fault Conditions:
• Develop experimental setups to evaluate SiC and GaN devices under Short circuit and avalanche stress
• Identify degradation signatures, precursors to failure, and catastrophic failure modes.
• Create physics-based models linking stress conditions to long-term Objectives reliability.

2.2 Reliability-Oriented Packaging Innovation:
Investigate advanced packaging materials and architectures (including: Advanced additive manufacturing, including mixed metal/insulator 3D printing, Low inductance module layouts, Double-sided cooling structures and High frequency optimized interconnects)
• Assess thermo-mechanical robustness under automotive mission profiles (thermal cycling, vibration, humidity, power cycling).
• Explore embedded sensing or monitoring features for predictive maintenance.

2.3 Co-Design of Device, Package, and System:
• Develop multi-physics simulation frameworks combining electrical, thermal, and mechanical domains.
• Optimize module design for: Fast switching,EMI mitigation,Thermal spreading and Fault tolerance
• Validate optimized designs through prototype fabrication and accelerated stress testing