The Intelligent Electrical Power Grids (IEPG) research section has a very ambitious and diversified research programme covering major technological challenges concerning the operation and planning of future electrical sustainable electrical power grids.

The research team Resilient Sustainable Energy Systems of IEPG, led by Dr. Jose Rueda, seeks two PhD candidates, each one to conduct research in one of the following projects:

1. PROJECT 1 - Assessment and adaptive damping control to mitigate oscillations with time-varying properties that can jeopardize stable operations of converters in offshore energy systems.
2. PROJECT 2 - Assessment and adaptive fast active power control to mitigate imbalances that can cause partial disruptions or blackouts in offshore energy systems.

The research will lead to data and artificial intelligence driven methods for highly automated and effective calibration of dynamic digital models, trustworthy stability assessment, and effective control schemes from complex and diverse measurements or data.  

The research activities for both projects will be based on real-time electromagnetic transient digital simulations, and hardware-in-the-loop testing, data analytics, and artificial intelligence methods.

These PhD positions, starting from April 2023, offer great opportunities to participate in  cutting-edge research and education projects involving a strong academia-industry collaboration.

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 three 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.

We are looking for acandidates with the following qualifications:

• MSc degree in Electrical Engineering or Power Systems or a closely related field.
• Background in power system stability and control.
• Background in modelling and control of power electronic interfaced devices.
• Demonstrated competences in one or more of the following complementary categories: Power System Modelling and Simulation (e.g. Digsilent Power Factory, RTDS), Software programming (e.g. Python), Data Analytics, and artificial intelligence.
• An affinity with teaching and guiding students.
• A proven record and interest in further developing your modelling, programming, analytical and scientific writing skills.
• Proficiency in English for effective communication and writing proven by a minimum score of 100 in TOEFL or IELTS of 7.0 per sub-skill.Candidates do not need to present the test results as part of their application. These results will be requested at a later stage during the selection procedure. For more information see https://www.tudelft.nl/onderwijs/opleiding/phd/admission.
• Ability to work in a team, take initiative, good time management, open to feedback and eager to continously improve, be results oriented and systematic.

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.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

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 € 2541 per month in the first year to € 3247 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 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 disciplines - electrical engineering, mathematics and computer science. Combined, they reinforce each other and are the driving force behind the technology we use in our daily lives. Technology such as the electricity grid, which our faculty is helping to make future-proof. We are also working on a world in which humans and computers reinforce each other. We are mapping out disease processes using single cell data, and using mathematics to simulate gigantic ash plumes after a volcanic eruption. There is plenty of room here for ground-breaking research. We educate innovative engineers and have excellent labs and facilities that underline our strong international position. In total, more than 1,100 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.