PhD Student in Smart Energy Technology

Do you want to be involved in the green energy transition? Do you wish to contribute to the new enabling technologies, digitalization of energy and development of energy efficiency in smart buildings based renewable energy sources? Are you looking for a career in R&D or Academia? Then, we have an opportunity!

We are looking for a highly motivated and skilled candidate to join us as PhD scholar at our Department of Engineering. The Department is part of our Faculty of Computer Science, Engineering and Economy, which currently offers 11 BA programmes and two MA programmes at our campuses in Halden and Fredrikstad. The vacant position will mainly contribute to our activities in Fredrikstad.

We have internationally leading research environments, and we prioritize strong cross-disciplinary collaborations within HIOF, with leading international universities and facilities, and with private companies. We have a strong focus on the development of smart energy solutions as the backbone of the future energy system.

You will be part of an international team conducting research in the electrical engineering department, where the working language is English. Our research in smart grid technology is dedicated to Grid Integration, Control Strategies and Energy Storage Systems related to renewable energy in general.

The PhD-position is a full time (100%) fixed term position for 3 years and fully funded by Østfold University College.

Starting date: First of September - exact details to be agreed upon.

A smart hybrid microgrid combines multiple distributed energy resources of electricity generation and storage assets in a single power plant and have the potential to increase overall project profitability through multiple avenues.

You will be focusing on modelling, simulating, testing, and analyzing the dynamic performance of an energy management and control system based on demand side management and demand response/load management for energy and cost savings in a hybrid microgrid. You will also investigate and develop innovative solutions based on edge computing and AI algorithms (ML, SL, RL).

Special focus will be on development and testing of simulation models, AI algorithms, and tools for interactive buildings in Smart Grids, using co-simulation software programs like MATLAB-Simulink and Phyton.

The main purpose of the PhD will be to strengthen the Engineering Department competences within electrical engineering design and control of and reliability services provision by hybrid microgrids combining wind power, solar PV, distributed storage technologies and interactive buildings. You are expected to collaborate closely with the other members - internal and external - of the ongoing projects.

Your primary tasks will be:

• Plan and manage your PhD project in collaboration with your supervisors
• Model and analyze different microgrid architectures and their static and dynamic performance
• Develop controllers and investigate grid code compliance and ability to provide advanced reliability services such as grid forming and black start
• Demonstrate and validate the developed controllers in real-time laboratory environment
• Potentially contribute to education in teaching and co-supervising BSc and MSc student projects

The successfull candidate is required to have:

• Completed a Master's degree or second degree (equivalent to 120 credits) in electrical engineering, natural sciences, or similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree 
• The grade of the Master thesis must be B or better in terms of the Norwegian grading scale
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English
• For international candidates (outside of EU/EEA area), approved TOEFL English proficiency test with min score 90 or IELTS test with min. score 7.5.
• Ability to work in a project team and take responsibility for own research goals

Emphasis will be placed on the following:

• Prior academic and/or research performance
• Prior relevant work experience (if applicable)
• The applicant's own ideas of research themes and research design that would be relevant for the project proposal

Currently ØUC does not offer a PhD-programme. Consequently, the selected candidate must be admitted to a PhD-programme at another institution. The application process will be assisted by the Faculty of Computer Sciences, Engineering and Economics. 

The appointment is to be made in accordance with the State Employees law, the act relating to Universities and Universities Colleges and the national guidelines for appointment as a PhD student, a postdoctoral fellow or a research assistants. (https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2006-01-31-102?q=forskrift%20stipendiat)

For further information about the position please contact

• Professor Lucian Mihet
  E-mail: lucian.mihet@hiof.no

Depending on qualifications and relevant experience, PhD candidates will be placed in the Norwegian government pay scale position code ?1017 PhD student" (491 200, - 507 600 NOK per year) and follow ordinary meriting regulations.

The appointment process and the conditions of employment will follow national guidelines for University and University College PhD scholars.

In order to apply, please click on the 'Apply for this job' button. You will need to create an account, if you do not have one already, in order to log on.

Application must include the following:

• letter of intent (one page) that includes your qualifications, skills and motivation
• a short (ca. 1 000 words) outline of the proposed research project
• curriculum vitae
• list of publications (if applicable). Include a short description of your contribution in multi-authored publications
• copies of degree certificates and transcripts of academic records (all certified and translated to English if not awarded in the Scandinavian region)

All attachments should be included electronically within the application deadline. The relevant ØUC faculty may require further documentation, e.g. proof of claimed English proficiency.