Postdoc on Advancing and Facilitating the Use of Modelling to Generate Alternatives (MGA) in Energy

Do you have groundbreaking ideas to contribute to MGA’s rapid scientific advancements?
Do you want your research outputs to be used by real-world energy system operators?

Job description
Energy planning decisions on the energy transition are urgent, and system operators, legislators and consultancy firms are increasingly relying on energy system planning models to support such decisions. However, the conventional approach to using such models, which focuses exclusively on finding the plan that minimises economic costs, is increasingly recognised as short-sighted and misleading. Simple cost-minimising solutions overlook critical aspects, such as social viability and technical resilience, resulting in poorly accepted or unreliable plans that slow down rather than accelerate the energy transition.

In the last few years, rapid developments of methods known as ‘Modelling to Generate Alternatives’ (MGA) have demonstrated the possibility of providing substantially more reliable and practically useful insights from the same energy system planning models. Instead of focusing on a single, cost-minimising solution, MGA enables the efficient finding of many viable planning options, all technically feasible and economically comparable. By appraising the trade-offs between such alternative planning options, stakeholders can then identify practically viable consensus solutions that may dramatically accelerate real-world implementation.

MGA’s popularity has been growing exponentially, with our group at TU Delft among those spearheading such success. Still, critical advancements are needed to fully establish MGA as the new standard for energy transition planning. Among those, there are:

• Ensuring interoperability across energy system modelling formulations and software.
• Streamlining the understandability and usability of the more nuanced outputs it produces.
• Further integrating it with information on the uncertainty associated with key parameters in the models, such as costs, demand and weather.

Our group is at the forefront of such further critical advancements. We are currently running pilot experiments and developing projects in all of the above areas, as well as others. As a postdoc at TU Delft, you will seamlessly integrate into this vibrant environment and contribute to accelerating existing pilot experiments and/or developing new ones of your own initiative, in close collaboration with numerous international and national scientific partners and real-world energy system stakeholders, including leading energy system operators. Among the many developments that we are prioritising, you will have room for tailoring the specific focus of your contribution depending on your expertise and interests. The ultimate goal is to make MGA the new global standard in energy system planning, thereby dramatically accelerating socially viable and technically resilient energy system planning decisions.

You will join a recently established unit with a few core members and several external collaborators, including visiting researchers, from both other TU Delft groups and other institutions. Fostering a synergetic, open-minded, and win-together culture, we regularly interact and share views, unlocking opportunities, forms of incubation, and deployment of knowledge and ground-breaking developments. We also stimulate a healthy and inclusive work environment in which you can take initiatives, grow and bring out the best in yourself. We value autonomy, professionalism, and a balanced work-life approach.  

The appointment is for 18 months. Because we are continuously working on funding acquisition on the above developments, there may be the possibility of an extension, but this cannot be guaranteed at the moment. You will be also encouraged (and supported) to help with the writing of proposals for the further acquisition of funds. 

Job requirements

• PhD degree in Engineering, Mathematics or Physics.
• Prior experience in energy system modelling, optimisation or closely related fields.
• Programming experience in Python.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills.
• A result-oriented attitude.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English.

Bonus points if you have:

• Prior experience with Modelling to Generate Alternatives (MGA).
• Prior experience with open-source energy system modelling software, such as PyPSA, Calliope, Tulipa or others.
• Prior experience with methods to handle parametric uncertainty.
• Programming experience with interactive interfaces, particularly based on Plotly-Dash.
• Programming experience in languages other than Python.
• Knowledge of AI methods such as machine-learning surrogate models and meta-heuristics. 

TU Delft (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 Technology, Policy and Management
The Faculty of TPM provides an important contribution to solving complex technical-social issues, such as energy transition, mobility, digitalisation, water management and (cyber) security. TPM does this with its excellent education and research at the intersection of technology, society and policy. We combine insights from both engineering and social sciences as well as the humanities. TPM develops robust models and designs, is internationally oriented and has an extensive network of knowledge institutions, companies, social organisations and governments.

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

Conditions of employment

• Duration of contract is 18 months Temporary
• A job of 36-40 hours per week.
• Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages.
• Flexible working week.
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.
• Partially paid parental leave
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.

Additional information
For more information about this vacancy, please contact Francesco Lombardi (f.lombardi@tudelft.nl).

Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 15 January 2026 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• Research statement in maximum one (A4 format) page. Please explain clearly your key skills which will help you successfully generate and steer high-quality scientific research within the scope of this postdoc position.
• Detailed CV, including your top-three research outputs.
• Names and contact information of at least three relevant references who may be contacted at a later stage of the selection procedure. We will only contact references after you have given your consent.

You can address your application to Francesco Lombardi, Assistant professor.

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed. The processing of personal data in the context of the risk assessment is carried out on the legal basis of the GDPR: performing a public task in the public interest. You can find more information about this assessment on our website about knowledge security.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.