PhD Position – Robust and secure renewable energy supply to achieve greenhouse gas neutrality

Your Job:

Current political events highlight the high importance of a robust and affordable energy supply. The transformation towards a greenhouse gas-neutral renewable energy system can foster independence from fossil fuels, but at the same time also create new uncertainties in supply. In this doctoral thesis, you will investigate which disruptive events and crises could jeopardise the transformation and what an effective strategy for a robust renewable energy supply could consist of. You will analyse how robust renewable, greenhouse gas-neutral energy systems can be and which disruptive events could affect the energy system and in which way. The first step is to identify disruptive events for a secure, renewable energy supply. Then, with the help of the "Modelling to Generate Alternatives (MGA)" technique, the solution space of energy system optimization models will be examined for near-optimal solutions that would be as robust as possible to the disruptive events. For this purpose, you will further develop existing models for energy system analysis in Python and perform the following work:

• Creative, science-based development of a definition of robustness or resilience of renewable energy supply to disruptive events
  
• Identification and modelling of disruptive events and scenarios for renewable energy supply
  
• Integration of the methodology "Modelling to Generate Alternatives (MGA)" into the IEK-3 framework for energy system modelling "FINE" in Python ( https://github.com/FZJ-IEK3-VSA/FINE )
  
• Identification of robust transformation pathways under international crises for the energy system and their path dependencies.
  
• Identification of robust transformation pathways and analysis of the robustness of the German energy system under disruptive events and crises for the renewable energy supply
  
• Active participation in the scientific and public discourse (including publication of results in renowned scientific journals)

Your Profile:

• A completed master`s degree in the field of natural or (industrial) engineering, informatics, or a related field of study.
  
• Good knowledge of mathematical optimization methods (knowledge of robust optimization is an advantage)
  
• Very good knowledge of energy technology and economics
  
• Programming skills are an advantage (e.g. Python)
  
• High degree of independence and willingness to show great commitment
  
• Very reliable and conscientious work style
  
• Fluent English and German language skills, both written and spoken

Our Offer:

We work on the very latest issues that impact our society and are offering you the chance to actively help in shaping the change! We offer ideal conditions for you to complete your doctoral degree:

• Strong collaboration in a project team in the RESUR project (https://www.fz-juelich.de/en/iek/iek-3/projects/resur)
  
• The opportunity to complete a doctoral thesis within 3 years through professional supervision and internal support services; time taken to submit the final thesis for the last 16 doctoral students at IEK-3: 2.7 - 3.4 years
  
• A highly motivated working group as well as an international and interdisciplinary working environment in one of the largest research institutions in Europe
  
• Active further development of a comprehensive energy system model in order to support energy policy decision-makers in a scientifically sound manner
  
• Excellent scientific and technical infrastructure
  
• Opportunity to participate in (international) conferences and project meetings
  
• Continuous professional support by your scientific supervisor(s)
  
• A large research campus in the countryside, which offers the best opportunities for networking with colleagues as well as for a sporty balance besides work
  
• Best conditions for successful work in a home office (moving to the Aachen-Düsseldorf-Cologne region is not absolutely necessary)
  
• 30 days of annual leave and provision for days off between public holidays and weekends (e.g. between Christmas and New Year)
  
• Further development of your personal strengths, e.g. through an extensive range of training courses; a structured program of continuing education and networking opportunities specifically for doctoral researchers via JuDocS, the Jülich Center for Doctoral Researchers and Supervisors: https://www.fz-juelich.de/en/judocs
  
• Targeted services for international employees, e.g. through our International Advisory Service
  

The position is for a fixed term of 3 years. Pay in line with 75% of pay group 13 of the Collective Agreement for the Public Service (TVöD-Bund) and additionally 60 % of a monthly salary as special payment („Christmas bonus“). Further information on doctoral degrees at Forschungszentrum Jülich including our other locations is available at: https://www.fz-juelich.de/gp/Careers_Docs

We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds, e.g. in terms of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation / identity, and social, ethnic and religious origin. A diverse and inclusive working environment with equal opportunities in which everyone can realize their potential is important to us.