PhD in Robust Optimization & Control of District Heating & Cooling Systems under

Decarbonizing heat is critical—the thermal sector accounts for approximately 50% of the EU’s final energy use. Electrification through heat pumps and EVs is already straining electricity grids, which are further challenged by the variability of renewables. Expanding grid capacity is both costly and slow. District heating and cooling networks (DHCNs) offer a smarter, more flexible alternative. Thanks to their significant thermal inertia and ultra-low-temperature operation, DHCNs can absorb surplus renewable energy, respond to market signals, alleviate grid stress, and provide flexibility. To fully unlock this potential, we need advanced tools that digitally replicate these networks and support optimized design and data-driven control strategies.

As our PhD candidate, you will:

- Optimize network design: Develop a robust, scalable thermodynamic–hydraulic framework to size and configure prosumer-based heating and cooling networks under conditions of price volatility, CO₂ taxation, demand uncertainty, and storage limitations.
- Quantify uncertainty: Apply advanced techniques to assess and mitigate market-driven performance and investment risks.
- Develop real-time control schemes: Design advanced operational strategies, such as model-predictive control, tailored to dynamic prosumer energy demand.
- Foster collaboration: Work closely with industrial and research partners, including CENAERO Belgium and the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Groningen, to ensure practical relevance and technical alignment.

The objective of the temporary position is the production of a number of research articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals and conference proceedings, which together will form the basis of a thesis leading to a PhD degree (Dr) at the University of Groningen.

Organisation
Founded in 1614, the University of Groningen enjoys an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative institution of higher education offering high-quality teaching and research. Flexible study programmes and academic career opportunities in a wide variety of disciplines encourage the 34,000 students and researchers alike to develop their own individual talents. As one of the best research universities in Europe, the University of Groningen has joined forces with other top universities and networks worldwide to become a truly global centre of knowledge.

Within the Faculty of Science and Engineering, a 4-years PhD position is available at the Engineering and Technology Institute Groningen with the topic Robust Optimization & Control of District Heating Systems in Uncertain Energy Markets. The candidate would become a member of the Discrete Technology and Production Automation and will work under the supervision of Saeed Ahmed, Arpan Rijal, and Michele Cucuzzella.

The successful candidate should have:

- Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering and Management, Mechanical Engineering, Energy Systems, Control Engineering, Data Science, or a related field, with solid foundations in thermodynamics, optimization, and control theory.
- Strong understanding of mathematical modeling, numerical optimization, and/or model predictive control (MPC).
- Experience working with large-scale, energy-related datasets.
- Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, and/or Julia for modeling, simulation, and data analysis.
- Familiarity with GIS tools (e.g. QGIS), time-series databases (e.g. InfluxDB), and version control (e.g. GitHub) is a plus.
- Excellent analytical skills, a collaborative mindset, and strong scientific writing abilities.

We offer you, following the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities:

- a salary of € 2,770 gross per month in the first year, up to a maximum of € 3,539 gross per month in the fourth and final year for a full-time working week.
- a holiday allowance of 8% gross annual income and an 8.3% year-end bonus.
- Teaching: employed PhD candidates are expected to spend 10% of their working hours on teaching and/or supervising candidates.
- a full-time position (1.0 FTE). The successful candidate will first be offered a temporary position of one year with the option of renewal for another three years. Prolongation of the contract is contingent on sufficient progress in the first year to indicate that a successful completion of the PhD thesis within the next three years is to be expected. A PhD training programme is part of the agreement and the successful candidate will be enrolled in the Graduate School of Science and Engineering.