•    Are you a motivated and enthusiastic recent or soon-to-be MSc graduate interested in an academic career?
•    Do you want work on improving model-based decision support for the energy transition?
•    Do you want to join a lively interdisciplinary research group in one of the world’s leading public research universities?
•    Do you have solid quantitative skills that you want to develop further, perhaps adding programming and open-source scientific software development?

The Energy and Industry section in the Department of Engineering Systems and Services are looking for a new PhD candidate to start in autumn/winter 2022/23 (starting date flexible and based on mutual agreement). Your main supervisor will be Stefan Pfenninger [https://www.pfenninger.org/], Assistant Professor of Energy Systems Modelling.

The research area we expect you to work on is model-based guidance on large-scale infrastructure planning decisions for the energy transition in Europe and beyond, related especially to fuels and gas infrastructure, including the role of hydrogen, bioenergy, natural gas, CO2 capture, utilisation and transport, and the possible roles of all these in achieving a fully climate-neutral European energy system. We are also particularly interested in candidates that want to combine this with work on the spatio-temporal variability of electricity generation and energy demand, and have demonstrable skills for this, e.g. working with meteorological reanalyses, other measured weather data, or high-resolution climate models. 

You will join a lively community of internationally renowned interdisciplinary energy researchers in the Department of Engineering Systems and Services. Our faculty hosts a diverse group of people from different countries and disciplines, and we welcome candidates that contribute to and enjoy this diversity. We expect that as part of your PhD you will take the lead on interacting and collaborating with other researchers at TU Delft, with research groups at other universities, and with industry and other stakeholders

You must be able to demonstrate:

•    Masters degree in science, engineering, or economics (must have been awarded by the agreed-upon starting date of the PhD)
•    Strong quantitative skills
•    Very good written and spoken communication skills in English (Dutch is not required)

Our ideal candidate additionally can demonstrate one or several of:

•    Programming experience in Python, R, or a similar language
•    Prior research experience, especially in energy system modelling or other energy-related research

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 € 2443 per month in the first year to € 3122 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 sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation.

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 and aim to be as inclusive as possible (see our Code of Conduct). Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale.

Challenge. Change. Impact! 

Faculty Technology, Policy and Management

With its excellent education and research at the intersection of technology, society and policy, the Faculty of TPM makes an important contribution to solving complex technical-social issues, such as energy transition, mobility, digitalisation, water management and (cyber) security. We combine insights from the engineering sciences, the social and the humanities. We develop robust models and designs, are internationally oriented and have an extensive network with knowledge institutions, companies, social organisations and governments.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management.