PhD in Artificial Intelligence for power load and renewable energy forecasting in electricity grids

PhD in Artificial Intelligence for power load and renewable energy forecasting in electricity grids

Published Deadline Location
8 Sep 28 Sep 's-Hertogenbosch

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JADS is seeking enthusiastic colleagues for the position of PhD students. We operationalize the huge ambition around AI by explicitly aligning our research agenda on Robust AI with the United Nation’s sustainable development goals.

The project is funded in a public private partnership by NWO/NLAIC and the private partners. This position is part of the LaNubia project.

Job description

Jheronimus Academy of Data Science (JADS) Den Bosch, is proud to start with three large Robust AI labs together with:

  1. Deloitte (Auditing for Responsible AI Software Systems) – 5 PhD’s
  2. DPG Media (responsible media lab) – 5 PhD’s
  3. ILUSTRE (Innovation Lab for Utilities on Sustainable Technology and Renewable Energy) – 5 PhD’s

Short Description 
Are you an enthusiastic and ambitious researcher with a completed master's degree in a field related to machine learning (Computer science, AI, Data Science), or in Electrical Engineering with an affinity for AI and deep learning? Does the idea of working on real-world problem, and working with industry partners excite you? Are you passionate about using deep learning and explainable AI methods for power-load forecasting and achieving promising and renewable-energy forecasting? We are recruiting a PhD candidate who will develop accurate AI-powered electricity grid forecasting methods and trial them with industrial partners who work in the Dutch Caribbean islands.

Job Description
This position is linked to ILUSTRE, a new Innovation Center for Artificial Intelligence (ICAI) to be established in Curaçao. ILUSTRE will be a living lab in the Caribbean with the objective to develop, implement and test AI innovations that will accelerate the use of clean energy and advanced solutions in water treatment and wastewater recycling/purification. The innovation lab is one of the new ICAI labs that are part of the ROBUST program on Trustworthy AI-based Systems for Sustainable Growth which is financed under the NWO LTP funding scheme. ILUSTRE offers opportunities for PhD candidates who wish to support to the acceleration of the energy transition and who have an affinity with the Dutch Caribbean islands.

Scientific Challenge
Short-term forecasts of (a) power load and (b) renewable energy supply, are crucial for decarbonizing electricity grids: without these forecasts, high-carbon baseload generators must be kept running. The scientific challenge is to achieve accurate and reliable forecasts, in the face of changeable energy demand patterns and external covariates (weather, public events, etc). Deep learning has been shown to perform very well on power-load forecasting and achieves promising results in renewable-energy forecasting (Wang et al., 2019). This Ph.D. plan sets out to develop deep learning algorithms that realize forecasts that are both accurate and reliable, with the flexibility to adapt to local conditions. You will be contributing to the research conducted in ILLUSTRE by utilizing techniques such as (geometric) deep learning, and nonparametric (Gaussian process) regression.

Specifications

Tilburg University

Requirements

  • Essential:
    - A master’s degree (or an equivalent university degree) in Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related quantitative subject.
    - A research-oriented attitude.
    - Ability to work in a team
    - Interest in collaborating with the industrial partners.
    - Fluent in spoken and written English (C1 level). 
  • Desirable:
    - Experience of programming to implement machine learning or statistics

Conditions of employment

Being appointed at JADS provides a meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious community of 2 universities and startups. Based on the project, the candidate receives an appointment at TU/Eindhoven or Tilburg University.

As a PhD Student at JADS you will have a full-time employment for a total of four years, with an intermediate evaluation after nine months. JADS offers excellent employment conditions with attention to flexibility and (personal) development and attractive fringe benefits. The gross monthly salary is in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities. The minimum gross salary is € 2.541 per month up to a maximum of € 3.247 in the fourth year;
You are entitled to a vacation allowance of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3% of your gross annual income. If you work 40 hours per week, you will receive 41 paid days of leave per year. PhD Students from outside the Netherlands may qualify for a tax-free allowance of 30% of their taxable salary if they meet the relevant conditions. The university applies for this allowance on their behalf. JADS will provide assistance in finding suitable accommodation.

Preferred starting date: January 1, 2023.

To develop your teaching skills, you will spend 10% of your employment on teaching tasks. To support you during your PhD and to prepare you for the rest of your career, you will make a Training and Supervision plan and you will have free access to a personal development program for PhD students.

Next to that we offer all kinds of facilities and arrangements to maintain an optimal balance between work and private life. All employees of the university are covered by the so-called General Pension Fund for Public Employers (Stichting Pensioenfonds ABP).  

JADS values an open and inclusive culture. We embrace diversity and encourage the mutual integration of groups of employees and students. We focus on creating equal opportunities for all our employees and students so that everyone feels at home in our university community. 
All researchers working in JADS have contracts at either Tilburg University or Eindhoven University of Technology. Please visit Working at Tilburg University and Working at Eindhoven University of Technology for more information on their respective employment conditions.

Employer

JADS

We do cool stuff that matters, with data. The Jheronimus Academy of Data Science (JADS) is a unique cooperation between Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) and Tilburg University (TiU). At JADS, we believe that data science can provide answers to society’s complex issues. We provide innovative educational programs, data science research, and support for business and society. With a team of lecturers, students, scientists and entrepreneurs - from a wide range of sectors and disciplines – we work on creating impact with data science. We do this by connecting people, sectors and industries: in the past 5 years we have been working with 300+ organizations on data-related projects. Our main drivers? Doing cool stuff that matters with data. Our location at the former monastery Mariënburg in Den Bosch houses a vibrant campus fully dedicated to data science. 

Specifications

  • PhD
  • Engineering; Economics; Behaviour and society; Law
  • 32—40 hours per week
  • €2541—€3247 per month
  • University graduate
  • 20762

Employer

Location

Sint Janssingel 92, 5211 DA, 's-Hertogenbosch

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