Delft University of Technology is hiring a postdoc on the subject of "digital twins for energy valleys". In order to reduce the carbon footprint of our society, the energy systems must develop on the local scale. To enable local energy systems we need digital twins that can support operational decision making by the local community (energy valley) stakeholders. The role of this postdoc is to establish the digital twin blueprint for energy valleys and implement it in a real-world setting. The main scientific challenge lies in modelling the system with various stakeholders (companies, governments, citizens) imperfect and partial information.

This positions is a part of the REFORMERS Horizon EU project. The postdoc will collaborate with partners from across EU and the Netherlands. The postdoc will be required to occasionally travel within the Netherlands, and to the consortium project meetings across EU. Additionally, the postdoc will contribute and lead several deliverables in this EU project.

In a nutshell, your work will be to develop the blueprint architecture of the digital twin for energy valleys. This includes ontologies, APIs and open source software stack to standardize the digital twin for this application. Starting with already existing open source solutions is desirable. The postdoc will also be in charge of validating and testing the developed solution. The postdoc will also develop several needed algorithms for proper functioning of the digital twin, including scenario evaluation, automated model creation, model adaptation, etc.

We are looking for a candidate with strong computer science background and system thinking. The knowledge and experience in the energy field is highly desirable. 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. The candidates will be screened as the applications arrive until the position is filled or the posting has expired.

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.

Essentials:

• A PhD degree in a field with a strong emphasis on computer science, 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.   

Fixed-term contract: 1 year by good results this will be extended by 2 years.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. 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

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!

Faculty Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science

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.

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Milos Cvetkovic, e-mail: m.cvetkovic@tudelft.nl.

For information about the selection procedure, please contact Brenda Reyes Munoz, Secretary, email: b.reyesmunoz@tudelft.nl.