Meet Mengfei – New PhD‑student in electronics

What is your background?

I graduated in 2015 with a bachelor's degree from Zhejiang Sci-Tech University in China, where I studied Mechanical Design, Manufacturing, and Automation. After college, I worked in mechanical design for a few years. In 2020, I started my master's studies at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences.

My master's degree was in Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, focusing on enhancing low-light images through electronic hardware platforms and algorithms. This is a significant challenge to maximize the useful information in extremely low-light images while simultaneously removing complex background noise at both the hardware platform and algorithm at this stage. In my thesis, I proposed an unsupervised deep learning method and a gradient field transformation method for image enhancement. Both methods produced satisfying results.

Additionally, during my master's period, I also participated in a research project on power grid scheduling using reinforcement learning at the Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

How come you chose Mid Sweden University?

I chose Mid Sweden University mainly because of a research project on designing self-powered smart bearings. In May 2023, I saw a job posting for this project online. After learning about the project's details, I realized that it matched my background and interests perfectly, so I applied. In my previous jobs, I often found bearing failures in machinery to be a big problem. When bearings fail, machines need to be stopped for repairs and part replacements, which disrupts production and burdens workers. If this project succeeds, it could help a lot of people.

Another reason for choosing Mid Sweden University is that I believe it is a vibrant research university. It takes academic research seriously and has an inclusive academic environment, which fits my future work expectations. Here, I can balance my life and work well. Also, I really like Sundsvall, a city with beautiful scenery and a rich history.

What is going to be your focus during your PhD studies?

In my PhD studies, I think it's important to approach my research from both a big-picture and a detailed perspective. From the big-picture perspective, I focus on the two main aspects of my project: "self-powered" and "smart." "Self-powered" means I need to explore the limits of power generation and mechanical performance for self-powered bearings. "Smart" means I need to consider the sensors, data collection, and fault diagnosis systems that support the smart bearings.

From a detailed perspective, I need to concentrate on specific technologies, like the self-powered principle based on variable reluctance that I'm currently studying. I also need to pay attention to technical details such as the production cost, assembly accuracy, and maintenance of the bearings.

How has your time in Sundsvall been so far?

I've been living in Sundsvall for six months now, and it's been a great experience. I often discuss my work with my advisors, Professor Sebastian Bader and Assistant Professor Ye Xu, and we keep working on optimizing and simulating existing bearing designs.

I've also settled into life in Sundsvall pretty well. I've made many friends and explored this city. Living here is full of surprises. For instance, I discovered a monument to Johan Henrik Fieandt just next to our office building, which led me to learn more about its history. Sundsvall is surrounded by beautiful forests and lakes, and I've also taken lots of photos to capture the scenery.