PhD scholarship in Modelling Highly Renewable Energy Systems under Extreme Weather Events – DTU Wind

Do you hold a MSc in engineering, physics or math and want to become a researcher on energy system modelling?? Do you want to investigate the impacts of extreme weather events on highly renewable energy systems?

Then the best opportunity is in front of you. Apply and join our EXTREMES project at DTU Wind and Energy Systems!

In the EXTREMES project, we will investigate how frequent, severe, prolonged in time, and extended in space the extreme episodes challenging our energy system can be. Gaining a deep understanding of these extreme phenomena is crucial to avoiding blackouts and designing strategies to minimize their impact. We will use the PyPSA-Eur, an open high-resolution network model of the sector-coupled European energy system. We will use the model to derive robust configurations of net-zero emissions energy systems. Then, we will use different techniques such as extreme statistics, principal component analysis, and machine learning techniques to unveil the key spatial and temporal characteristics of such extreme events. We will also investigate the impacts of climate change-induced events on energy systems.

Responsibilities and qualifications
Your overall focus will be to strengthen the department’s competences within computational modeling of highly renewable energy systems under extreme weather events. You will work with nearby colleagues, and with both academic and industrial partners in Denmark as well as abroad. Your primary tasks will be to:

• Structure and curate the large-scale datasets (including reanalysis and climate change data for several decades) using open repositories, 
• Design and implement the analysis including code development,
• Lead the writing of scientific articles and present results at conferences, 

Applicants must have:

• Experience with Python.
• Good writing and communication skills in English.
• The candidate must show initiative and collaborate in teamwork.
• A good understanding of the energy system technologies and economics.
• Experience with other programming languages, open-software development, project managing with Github, and high-performance computing clusters will be positively evaluated.

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree.

Approval and Enrolment 
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education. 

Assessment
The assessment of the applicants will be made by Marta Victoria.

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. 

The period of employment is 3 years. Starting date is 1 October 2024 (or according to mutual agreement).

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information 
Further information may be obtained from Marta Victoria, mvipe@dtu.dk.

You can read more about the Department of Wind and Energy Systems at https://wind.dtu.dk/.

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark. Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU. 

Application procedure 
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 9 august 2024 (23:59 Danish time). Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae 
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it. 

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

DTU Wind and Energy Systems aims at developing the future sustainable and integrated energy systems with wind energy as the backbone. Our goal is to create an impact for people and society through research, education and innovation, and collaborate with the entire energy sector to develop the most effective technology on the planet. The department has 400 employees.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.