Dragan Jovcic

Professor Dragan Jovcic is the Chair in Engineering at the University of Aberdeen's School of Engineering, where he has been a faculty member since 2004 and a full professor since 2012. Concurrently he serves as Director of the Aberdeen HVDC Research Centre, a role he has held since 2015.

Education:

• PhD in Electrical Engineering, University of Auckland, 1999
• Diploma Engineer in Control Systems, University of Belgrade, 1993
• Postgraduate Certificate in University Teaching, University of Ulster, 2003

Research Interests:

Professor Jovcic’s research centres on high-power electronics and HVDC transmission systems, with particular emphasis on the development of DC transmission grids that will enable large-scale integration of offshore wind energy. His work spans DC/DC converters, DC circuit breakers, modular multilevel converters (MMC), flexible AC transmission systems (FACTS), and advanced power system modelling and control. The overarching goal is to underpin the transition from fossil-fuel generation to renewable-dominated power systems, especially in the North Sea and European contexts.

Publication Trends:

Recent publications (2020-2023) reveal a strong focus on DC protection technologies—notably circuit breakers and energy absorbers—and on modelling methodologies for HVDC grids and offshore wind integration. The works address both theoretical advances (phasor and state-space models) and experimental validation (kV-level prototypes), reflecting a balanced portfolio of fundamental research and practical demonstration.

Scientific Awards & Recognition:

• IEEE Fellow (2021)
• IEEE PES Distinguished Lecturer (since 2015)
• IET Fellow (2019) and Chartered Engineer (2018)

Research Funding & Supervision:

With over £5.5 million in external research income, Professor Jovcic is principal investigator or work-package leader on numerous EU Horizon Europe and EPSRC projects. He has supervised 9 PhDs to completion and is currently mentoring 2 PhD students and 2 post-doctoral fellows. Major grants include the €35 million PROMOTioN project on multiterminal DC networks and the €4 million MoWiLife project on wide-bandgap power electronics.

Laboratory & Facilities:

The Aberdeen HVDC Research Centre hosts a 0.9 kV DC grid demonstrator, 30 kW thyristor- and IGBT-based DC/DC converters, and 5 kV, 2 kA DC circuit breaker test benches, providing a world-class platform for experimental research and student training.