PhD position Computational Modeling for Power and Energy Systems

Join us and start your carrier as a researcher and scientist in the field of power and energy systems. Develop computational methods and software algorithms to navigate the energy transition. 

Delft University of Technology is hiring a doctoral candidate on the subject of "computational modeling for power and energy systems". In order to reduce the carbon footprint of our society, the energy system must be redesigned to accommodate sustainable technologies. The computational modeling tools we use today lack the capability to accurately represent the nuances of the new technologies, such as renewable sources, batteries, electrolyzers, heat pumps, etc. In this project, you will work on the algorithms that improve the representation of these flexible and sustainable technologies in the energy system tools.

This positions is a part of the MUESSLI project under the CRESYM umbrella. The PhD will collaborate with another PhD from TU Delft, with industry partners (RTE, Total Energies, GrtGaz) as well as with PhD candidates from the Technical University of Denmark and Comillas Pontifical University.

In a nutshell, your work will be to develop methods and algorithms that capture flexibility of various sustainable energy technologies and their impact on the energy system.

Specifically, your tasks will be:

The exact formulation of the PhD topic is still pending approval from the project consortium. We expect to have this approval before the final round of interviews in February.

We are looking for a mathematically oriented researcher with a strong computational and/or computer science background. The knowledge and experience in the energy field is desirable but not necessary. The affinity with modeling and modeling formalisms (such as optimization modeling, simulation modeling, agent-based modeling) is desirable.

We are looking for candidates who can start as soon as possible, although there is some flexibility in the starting date for the suitable candidate.

“Your PhD supervisor will be Dr. Milos Cvetkovic supported by Dr. Simon Tindemans. You will be a member of the Intelligent Electrical Power Grids research group, which is part of the Electrical Sustainable Department (ESE) within the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, and Computer Science.”

We are looking for candidates who can start as soon as possible, although there is some flexibility in the starting date for the suitable candidate.

Essentials:

• An MSc degree in a field with strong emphasis on modelling and algorithms. Relevant mathematical frameworks include simulation modelling, optimization theory, co-simulation, multi-scale modelling, complex system theory, control theory, operations research.
• Knowledge of the energy field is desirable.
• Affinity with programming.
• Good analytical and problem solving skills.
• Excellent writing skills.
• Excellent English skills. The minimum requirement of a TOEFL score of 100 IELTS of 7.0 per sub-skill (writing, reading, listening, speaking) applies to all candidates wanting to pursue a PhD at TU Delft.    

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements .

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2770 per month in the first year to € 3539 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. 

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service . This service provides information for new international employees to help you prepare the relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme  for partners and they organise events to expand your (social) network.

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 scientific disciplines. Combined, they reinforce each other and are the driving force behind the technology we all use in our daily lives. Technology such as the electricity grid, which our faculty is helping to make completely sustainable and future-proof. At the same time, we are developing the chips and sensors of the future, whilst also setting the foundations for the software technologies to run on this new generation of equipment – which of course includes AI. Meanwhile we are pushing the limits of applied mathematics, for example mapping out disease processes using single cell data, and using mathematics to simulate gigantic ash plumes after a volcanic eruption. In other words: there is plenty of room at the faculty for ground-breaking research. We educate innovative engineers and have excellent labs and facilities that underline our strong international position. In total, more than 1000 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.

About the department

The research in the Department of Electrical Sustainable Energy is inspired by the technical, scientific, and societal challenges originating from the transition towards a more sustainable society and focuses on four areas:

• DC Systems, Energy Conversion and Storage (DCE&S)
• Photovoltaic Materials and Devices (PVMD)
• Intelligent Electrical Power Grids (IEPG)
• High Voltage Technologies (HVT)

The Electrical Sustainable Energy Department provides expertise in these areas throughout the entire energy system chain. The department owns a large ESP Laboratory assembling High Voltage testing, DC Grids testing environment, and large RTDS that is actively used for real-time simulation of future electrical power systems, AC and DC protection and wide-area monitoring and protection.

The Intelligent Electrical Power Grid (IEPG) group, headed by Professor Peter Palensky, works on the future of our power system. The goal is to generate, transmit and use electrical energy in a highly reliable, efficient, stable, clean, affordable, and safe way. IEPG integrates new power technologies and smart controls, which interact with other systems and allow for more distributed and variable generation.

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Milos Cvetkovic, e-mail: [email protected]

For questions regarding the recruitment process please contact Brenda Reyes, e-mail: [email protected]

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply before January 31, 2024 via the application button and upload:

• a cover letter that details your motivation and fit to the job requirements,
• your CV with a list of (academic and/or industry) references that we can contact,
• a list of grades of your qualifying degrees (BSc, MSc),
• if available, the thesis or another sample of your technical writing. Incomplete applications will not be considered.    

The deadline for applications is January 31st at 23:59 CET. After the initial screening, the shortlisted candidates will receive the invitation for interview in February. The knowledge security screening may be performed.

• 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.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.