PhD in data-sharing & edge computing technology for Intelligent Power

Job description

Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e, https://www.tue.nl/en/) is one of Europe’s top technological universities, situated at the heart of a most innovative high-tech region, with a wealth of collaborations with industry and academic institutes. In 2017, TU/e was ranked 15th in Europe in the Times Higher Educational World University ranking for Engineering and Technology. TU/e has around 3,000 employees and 2,300 PhD students (half of which international, representing about 70 nationalities).

Programme Description

The envisioned research is part of the research program Intelligent Energy Systems (IES) performed within the Electrical Energy Systems (EES) group of TU/e. Within the IES program, research is conducted into operation and planning of future sustainable energy systems, with an emphasis on electricity systems, markets and systems integration. This research is performed in two research labs: the Digital power and energy systems lab (EES DigiPES lab) and the Electricity markets and power system optimization lab (EES EMPDO lab). The former focuses on intelligent energy network research, including: demand management and flexibility, digital twinning, data analytics, smart grid ICT architectures and systems integration in multi energy systems. The latter specializes in electricity market design (centralized & decentralized), market products & system services to integrate new technologies, forecasting, market participation strategies and risk management, large-scale, distributed, multi-objective optimization techniques applied to energy markets and power systems and AI for optimization and control in power and energy systems. The EES group has strong ties with industry both nationally and internationally, with several part-time industry researchers working in the group and a large group of strategic collaboration partners.

Recently, the Electrical Energy Systems group received grants for nationally-funded projects in Intelligent Electricity Systems. Therefore, this group currently has multiple vacancies in this field. We are currently looking for researchers with strong computer science, modelling & simulation, and research software development skills that want to develop cutting-edge knowledge and software for the energy transition.. The focus of the work will be on the application of intelligent software approaches (distributed control systems, (distributed) optimization, market mechanisms, data sharing techniques, etc.), in electrical power systems (energy system flexibility coordination, local energy markets, capacity & congestion management, etc.).

PhD position: Digital control coordination at the electricity grid edges

This PhD research is investigating the application of data-sharing, distributed decision making and edge computing technologies in electricity-grid-edge control, specifically through local market interactions in the context of future sustainable energy systems use cases. Data sharing technologies such as ontologies and multi-party computation (MPC) are being investigated. This research develops interaction models and edge-computing algorithms for three different settings: (1) investigate how edge computing can be used to feasibly operate market algorithms that are either computationally intensive or needing fast response times, (2) develop and compare interaction models for local markets incorporating participant-specific info such as time-dependencies in flexibility constraints and uncertainty, and (3) investigate advanced data sharing technology (such as multi-party computation, MPC) used between multiple actors mutually and with the market platform, allowing parties to shield off sensitive information while cooperating or negotiating with each other. The researcher will engage in an interdisciplinary cooperation with researchers at other universities and with key industry partners covering the full electricity value chain. This position is part of the MegaMind Research Program.

The position is supervised by prof.dr. J.K. Kok and dr. H.P. Nguyen.

Working Context

The PhD researcher will work in close collaboration with experts and researchers from external industry and knowledge institutes, including the Dutch Distribution System Operators, energy sector service and technology providers, consultancy firms, applied research institutes and (technical) universities. The project strives to make a tangible step in the energy transition for maximum societal impact. The project is interdisciplinary in nature, combining the state-of-the-art in computer science, mathematics and/or energy systems engineering.

Job requirements

We are looking for a highly motivated and pro-active candidate with good communicative skills and English language proficiency. As a PhD candidate you have obtained a master degree in Computer Science, Informatics, Applied Mathematics, or Electrical Engineering with excellent grades. Experience in (scientific) software development and/or modelling is a prerequisite. Candidates must have strong analytical skills, affinity with formal and simulation models, algorithmic solutions, as well as software engineering practices and have good programming skills. Candidates must be keen to work with external industrial and academic partners.

Conditions of employment

• A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university with the possibility to present your work at international conferences.
• A full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation (go/no-go) after nine months.
• To develop your teaching skills, you will spend 10% of your employment on teaching tasks.
• To support you during your PhD and to prepare you for the rest of your career, you will make a Training and Supervision plan and you will have free access to a personal development program for PhD students (PROOF program).
• A gross monthly salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities.
• Additionally, an annual holiday allowance of 8% of the yearly salary, plus a year-end allowance of 8.3% of the annual salary.
• Should you come from abroad and comply with certain conditions, you can make use of the so-called ‘30% facility’, which permits you not to pay tax on 30% of your salary.
• A broad package of fringe benefits, including an excellent technical infrastructure, moving expenses, and savings schemes.
• Family-friendly initiatives are in place, such as an international spouse program, and excellent on-campus children day care and sports facilities.

Information and application

More information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact
prof.dr. J.K. Kok, j.k.kok[at]tue.nl.

For information about terms of employment, click here or contact HR Services Flux, HRServices.flux[at]tue.nl.

Please visit www.tue.nl/jobs to find out more about working at TU/e!

Application

We invite you to submit a complete application by using the 'apply now'-button on this page.
The application should include a:

• Cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position, including availability (starting date), and statement of interests. 
• Curriculum vitae, including full education and employment histories, publication record, proof of proficiency in English, and the names of at least three references that can be contacted.
• Scans of certificates showing BSc, MSc, and other courses followed, with grades and rankings.
• Up to two selected publications (e.g. MSc thesis, conference paper) in English of which you are the first or main author.

We will evaluate applications on a rolling basis in order of reception until a suitable candidate is selected.

We do not respond to applications that are sent to us in a different way.

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