PhD scholarship on Flexibility Characterization and its use for Grid and Balancing Services - DTU Compute

We are seeking candidates for a 3-year PhD project as part of the European Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network on “Consumer Energy Demand Flexibility in Electricity Use” (CoDeF). In the future weather-driven energy system consumers and citizens will play an important role through flexible energy use and matching demand to available renewable energy supply. Nonetheless, technical, economic, and societal challenges currently hinder consumer participation in energy markets.

If you want to contribute to the green transition of society, thrive in collaborative team work and have ambitions for an academic research career, then you might be our new colleague in our research section ‘Dynamical Systems’ at DTU Compute, where we offer a vibrant and inspiring research community in methodologies for accelerating the green transition by activating the demand-side flexibility. In addition, you will become part of a European network of 15 PhD students and their supervisors funded under the MSCA Doctoral Network CoDeF, with four of the PhD positions located in and around Copenhagen. More information on the CoDeF training network can be found here . Your main supervisor will be Professor, Henrik Madsen, Dynamical Systems, DTU Compute. 

Responsibilities and qualifications
In your PhD project entitled “Flexibility characterization for living-labs and its use for grid and balancing services” you will use data-driven methods to characterize demand-side flexibility using a set of coupled stochastics differential equations or data-driven digital twins, which leads to the Flexibility Functions for a cluster of end-users. You will also be study how the flexibility can be used for grid and balancing services, with a focus on flexibility in low voltage areas. As an important example we will study how flexibility can be used to provide dynamic transformer rating. This includes optimal use of batteries in distribution grids. 

Using e.g. the concepts of Smart-Energy OS, which is a hierarchy of methods for aggregation, forecasting and control, you will study collaborate on implementation of methods for demand-side flexibility for both grid and balancing services. The concepts include efficient control-based alternatives to classical electricity markets as well as embedded DSO-TSO coordination. 

We foresee two secondments during this PhD trajectory: subject to confirmation, this would consist of an academic secondment to KU Leuven, Belgium, and Center Denmark/TREFOR to better understand how to provide grid services in practice. Collaboration with AI-Energy which provides AI tools for smart grid services is foreseen. In addition, the doctoral network aims to provide extensive training in research and transferable skills, centred around annual workshops in Dublin (IE), Dübendorf (CH), Copenhagen (DK) and Bochum (DE).

Besides this, your tasks may include teaching and supervising Masters students and participation in outreach and dissemination activities of the department commensurate with research at PhD level. 

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree. We are seeking candidates with a Master's degree. Preferably, you have documented qualifications around around data-driven digital twins, energy systems modelling, forecasting and control. Some prior knowledge on distribution grids and methods for grid services is preferred.

Moreover, the following qualifications will be considered in the assessment:

• Strong background and interest in dynamic modelling and control
• Skills and experience with time series analysis and formulation of stochastic dynamical models
• Excellent communication skills, both in writing and oral presentation. Preferably you have good skills in Danish and English.
• Open-minded team player, able to work in multidisciplinary and multinational teams
• A longer-term interest in pursuing a research career

About us:
The Dynamical Systems section is part of the Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science at the Technical University of Denmark. We strive to be a leading research group on data-driven and stochastic methods in engineering. In addition, we have a dedicated focus on the next generation of methods for smart grids and for accelerating the green transition. This includes also methods for designing hierarchies of energy markets, which respects the dynamics and stochasticity of physics linked to buildings, industry and cities. We do also take leading roles in suggesting new regulatory aspects like dynamic tariffs and energy taxes for accelerating the green transition. 

Approval and Enrolment  
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see the DTU PhD Guide. 

Please note the mobility requirements for recruitment under the European MSCA programme: in general, recruits must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting organisation for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date. You can find more information here .

Assessment
The assessment of the applicants will be made by a committee consisting of Professor, Henrik Madsen and Head of Section, Senior Researcher, Razgar Ebrahimy.

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The PhD position will be fully funded for three years under the CoDeF project under the normal MSCA conditions found here . The period of employment is 3 years. 

The workplace is primarily DTU Campus, Lyngby, Denmark. 

You can read more about career paths at DTU here http://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/working-at-dtu/career-paths.

Further information  
Further information including the project description may be obtained from Professor Henrik Madsen, DTU Compute, + 45 20 83 43 04, [email protected] . 

You can read more about DTU Compute at www.compute.dtu.dk .

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark . 

Application procedure 
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 31 October 2024 (23:59 Danish time) . The interviews will be carried out within 2-3 weeks after the application deadline and employment is planned to start in early 2025. 

Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply online", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file . The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae 
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale
• A short PhD project proposal (maximum 2 pages plus references) describing a possible research objective, theoretical framework and intended methodological approach.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

DTU Compute
DTU Compute is a unique and internationally recognized academic department with 385 employees and 11 research sections spanning the science disciplines mathematics, statistics, computer science, and engineering. We conduct research, teaching and innovation of high international standard – producing new knowledge and technology-based solutions to societal challenges. We have a long-term involvement in applied and interdisciplinary research, big data and data science, artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things (IoT), smart and secure societies, smart manufacturing, and life science. At DTU Compute we believe in a diverse workplace with a flexible work-life balance.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.