PhD Machine Learning for Outliers in Grids Operations and Intraday Energy Markets

Collaborate & Learn: TU Delft and AIT

Challenge: Conventional carbon-intensive energy use

Change: Turn data into knowledge for efficient systems

Impact: Boost the sustainable reliable energy transition

As part of your 4-year PhD project, you will develop novel Artificial Intelligence(AI)-based algorithms for coupling electric mobility and energy systems. You will join the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT) as an employee (PhD contract) and enrol as a PhD at TU Delft. You will be based in Vienna, Austria and travel around two times a year to the Netherlands for research visits of multiple weeks. You will benefit from the professional development programs and facilities of AIT and TU Delft at the same time.

Your PhD project is to develop a self-learning algorithm that detects anomalies in grid & market data and distinguishes them from transferable policies. You will work with data from Phasor Measurement Units (PMU) and market anomalies. Subsequently, you will develop an unsupervised learning algorithm to detect outliers that have never been seen before. You investigate how incrementally to improve the algorithm's performance under system changes. For example, a change in the distribution grid data could relate to a detected outlier, cyber-attack or planned maintenance. You will design an algorithm using the network topology, transfer learning, General Adversarial Networks, and building the algorithmic blocks with modules that consider reasonable perturbations from expert knowledge.

AIT and TU Delft are launching the "AI research in energy system planning and operations" program forming a new expert team combining the strength of both institutions. In this program, we combine ground-breaking AI methods with the reliable theory of the physical energy system. The area of data-driven scientific computing promises to incorporate statistics, time-frequency analysis, low-dimensional model reductions, and other techniques to extract information from data. With AI, we make such valuable information for managing and planning complex energy systems. At TU Delft, your academic supervisors are Dr. Jochen Cremer (daily supervisor) and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Peyman Mohajerin Esfahani, Delft Center for Systems and Control. At AIT, your supervisors are Tara Esterl, Fabian Leimgruber and Dr. Mark Stefan.

• A MSc degree in either Machine Learning, Robotics, Control Systems, Operations Research or in Power/Energy Systems, Electrical Engineering, etc.
• Demonstrated competences in one or more of these categories: AI, computer/data science, machine learning, energy system modelling, dynamic systems, power systems or another relevant field.
• An affinity with teaching and guiding students
• A proven record and interest in further developing your modelling, programming, analytical and scientific writing skills
• An affinity with energy and power systems, with net-zero carbon targets, technical challenges
• The minimum requirement of a TOEFL score of 100 IELTS of 7.0 per sub-skill (writing, reading, listening, speaking) applies to all PhD candidates.
• The ability to work in a team, take initiative, be results oriented and systematic

You will be employed at Austrian Institute of Technology and you will be based in Vienna, Austria. Your employment will involve travelling to the Netherlands for research stays of several weeks at TU Delft. At AIT you can expect EUR 31.326,4 gross per year, for 30 hours / week, plus additional company benefits. You will be part of the international AIT PhD community and participate in the AIT PhD framework programme. As research institution and university, AIT and TU Delft are familiar with the supervision and execution of PhD theses and we are looking forward to supporting you!

At AIT and TU Delft, the promotion of women is important to us - that's why we are especially looking forward to applications from female candidates!

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) brings together three disciplines - electrical engineering, mathematics and computer science. Combined, they reinforce each other and are the driving force behind the technology we use in our daily lives. Technology such as the electricity grid, which our faculty is helping to make future-proof. We are also working on a world in which humans and computers reinforce each other. We are mapping out disease processes using single cell data, and using mathematics to simulate gigantic ash plumes after a volcanic eruption. There is plenty of room here for ground-breaking research. We educate innovative engineers and have excellent labs and facilities that underline our strong international position. In total, more than 1,100 employees and 4,000 students work and study in this innovative environment.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science.

The AIT is Austria's largest Research and Technology Organisation, significantly impacting socially relevant future infrastructure topics. AIT is positioned as an international key player in the research and scientific community, leading in many infrastructure topics worldwide. At the AIT Center for Energy, over 250 experts are developing sustainable solutions for our future energy system under the leadership of Wolfgang Hribernik. The Center combines longstanding experience and scientific excellence with high-quality laboratory infrastructure and a global network offering companies innovative applied research services, thus providing them with a competitive edge in this promising market. The thematic portfolio of the Center for Energy focuses on three critical systems: sustainable energy supply systems, decarbonisation of industrial

TU Delft is a top-tier university and is exceedingly active in the field of Artificial intelligence, and TU Delft's campus has strong expertise in energy systems. Energy systems are the backbone of our modern society but are becoming increasingly complex and challenging to operate as renewable energy, heating and transport sectors are integrated into the system. It's crucial that energy systems are sustainable, reliable and effective, now and in the future. Recognising the transformational power of AI, TU Delft has launched a significant cross-faculty AI initiative where you will affiliate with the Delft AI Energy Lab, focusing on developing AI-based algorithms for operating sustainable and dynamical energy systems. You will affiliate with TU Delft's Delft Center for Systems and Control contributing to fundamental aspects of dynamical systems and control as well as advancing innovative and high-tech applications, in combination with relevant industrial and academic partners.

For information about this vacancy and the selection procedure, please contact Jochen Cremer, Assistant Professor, email: [email protected].     

The applications for this post should be submitted via the application button. A motivation letter can be addressed to Dr. J. Cremer.

Submit the following in three pdf files:

• (pdf 1) 1-page Motivation letter and your CV;
• (pdf 2) a (part of your) M.Sc. thesis or a paper that you have written, in which you demonstrate your writing skills,
• (pdf 3) your MSc and BSc transcripts of grades and courses taken.

Please highlight in your motivation letter and/or CV examples of projects and achievements that demonstrate your relevant competences.      

• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated.

Collaborate & Learn: TU Delft and AIT

Challenge: Conventional carbon-intensive energy use

Change: Turn data into knowledge for efficient systems

Impact: Boost the sustainable reliable energy transition

As part of your 4-year PhD project, you will develop novel Artificial Intelligence(AI)-based algorithms for coupling electric mobility and energy systems. You will join the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT) as an employee (PhD contract) and enrol as a PhD at TU Delft. You will be based in Vienna, Austria and travel around two times a year to the Netherlands for research visits of multiple weeks. You will benefit from the professional development programs and facilities of AIT and TU Delft at the same time.

Your PhD project is to develop a self-learning algorithm that detects anomalies in grid & market data and distinguishes them from transferable policies. You will work with data from Phasor Measurement Units (PMU) and market anomalies. Subsequently, you will develop an unsupervised learning algorithm to detect outliers that have never been seen before. You investigate how incrementally to improve the algorithm's performance under system changes. For example, a change in the distribution grid data could relate to a detected outlier, cyber-attack or planned maintenance. You will design an algorithm using the network topology, transfer learning, General Adversarial Networks, and building the algorithmic blocks with modules that consider reasonable perturbations from expert knowledge.

AIT and TU Delft are launching the "AI research in energy system planning and operations" program forming a new expert team combining the strength of both institutions. In this program, we combine ground-breaking AI methods with the reliable theory of the physical energy system. The area of data-driven scientific computing promises to incorporate statistics, time-frequency analysis, low-dimensional model reductions, and other techniques to extract information from data. With AI, we make such valuable information for managing and planning complex energy systems. At TU Delft, your academic supervisors are Dr. Jochen Cremer (daily supervisor) and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Peyman Mohajerin Esfahani, Delft Center for Systems and Control. At AIT, your supervisors are Tara Esterl, Fabian Leimgruber and Dr. Mark Stefan.

• A MSc degree in either Machine Learning, Robotics, Control Systems, Operations Research or in Power/Energy Systems, Electrical Engineering, etc.
• Demonstrated competences in one or more of these categories: AI, computer/data science, machine learning, energy system modelling, dynamic systems, power systems or another relevant field.
• An affinity with teaching and guiding students
• A proven record and interest in further developing your modelling, programming, analytical and scientific writing skills
• An affinity with energy and power systems, with net-zero carbon targets, technical challenges
• The minimum requirement of a TOEFL score of 100 IELTS of 7.0 per sub-skill (writing, reading, listening, speaking) applies to all PhD candidates.
• The ability to work in a team, take initiative, be results oriented and systematic

You will be employed at Austrian Institute of Technology and you will be based in Vienna, Austria. Your employment will involve travelling to the Netherlands for research stays of several weeks at TU Delft. At AIT you can expect EUR 31.326,4 gross per year, for 30 hours / week, plus additional company benefits. You will be part of the international AIT PhD community and participate in the AIT PhD framework programme. As research institution and university, AIT and TU Delft are familiar with the supervision and execution of PhD theses and we are looking forward to supporting you!

At AIT and TU Delft, the promotion of women is important to us - that's why we are especially looking forward to applications from female candidates!

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) brings together three disciplines - electrical engineering, mathematics and computer science. Combined, they reinforce each other and are the driving force behind the technology we use in our daily lives. Technology such as the electricity grid, which our faculty is helping to make future-proof. We are also working on a world in which humans and computers reinforce each other. We are mapping out disease processes using single cell data, and using mathematics to simulate gigantic ash plumes after a volcanic eruption. There is plenty of room here for ground-breaking research. We educate innovative engineers and have excellent labs and facilities that underline our strong international position. In total, more than 1,100 employees and 4,000 students work and study in this innovative environment.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science.

The AIT is Austria's largest Research and Technology Organisation, significantly impacting socially relevant future infrastructure topics. AIT is positioned as an international key player in the research and scientific community, leading in many infrastructure topics worldwide. At the AIT Center for Energy, over 250 experts are developing sustainable solutions for our future energy system under the leadership of Wolfgang Hribernik. The Center combines longstanding experience and scientific excellence with high-quality laboratory infrastructure and a global network offering companies innovative applied research services, thus providing them with a competitive edge in this promising market. The thematic portfolio of the Center for Energy focuses on three critical systems: sustainable energy supply systems, decarbonisation of industrial

TU Delft is a top-tier university and is exceedingly active in the field of Artificial intelligence, and TU Delft's campus has strong expertise in energy systems. Energy systems are the backbone of our modern society but are becoming increasingly complex and challenging to operate as renewable energy, heating and transport sectors are integrated into the system. It's crucial that energy systems are sustainable, reliable and effective, now and in the future. Recognising the transformational power of AI, TU Delft has launched a significant cross-faculty AI initiative where you will affiliate with the Delft AI Energy Lab, focusing on developing AI-based algorithms for operating sustainable and dynamical energy systems. You will affiliate with TU Delft's Delft Center for Systems and Control contributing to fundamental aspects of dynamical systems and control as well as advancing innovative and high-tech applications, in combination with relevant industrial and academic partners.

For information about this vacancy and the selection procedure, please contact Jochen Cremer, Assistant Professor, email: [email protected].     

The applications for this post should be submitted via the application button. A motivation letter can be addressed to Dr. J. Cremer.

Submit the following in three pdf files:

• (pdf 1) 1-page Motivation letter and your CV;
• (pdf 2) a (part of your) M.Sc. thesis or a paper that you have written, in which you demonstrate your writing skills,
• (pdf 3) your MSc and BSc transcripts of grades and courses taken.

Please highlight in your motivation letter and/or CV examples of projects and achievements that demonstrate your relevant competences.      

• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated.