Doctoral Research Fellow (PhD)

About the position

The PhD Fellow will be affiliated with the project “Positive Energy Districts Driven by Citizens" (PERSIST), funded under Driving Urban Transitions (DUT 2022), a European Partnership in the Horizon Europe programme. The university college leads one of the work packages, focusing on “energy flexibility as a service". This flexibility should serve as a mechanism in energy community towards its participation in local energy trading, improve neighbourhood power grid and enhance resilience in the system.

The candidate will be employed at the The Faculty of Computer Science, Engineering and Economics.

Project description

 A large amount of energy is consumed to create comfortable, built environments for people, associated with a large amount of carbon emissions. New methods and tools are needed to increase the use of renewable energy in cities. As energy systems in buildings, districts and cities are complex, energy saving, and energy flexibility provision must reflect system physics for efficient energy management. Thus, this project integrates system physics in a hierarchical spatial and temporal framework, including models for energy aggregation at different levels, combining machine learning with mathematical models of known physical processes. 

The overall focus of the project will be data analytics, data-driven modelling, and energy flexibility characterization. The tasks include data-driven characterization of energy dynamics of typical energy systems in buildings; aggregation and disaggregation of energy consumption and flexibility; optimization methods for distributed energy systems; and game theory-based methods for optimization and coordination of buildings and distributed energy systems. Partners in the project will test and showcase developed methods in their living labs.

Qualification requirements

The successful candidate is required to have:

• completed a master's degree or second degree (normally equivalent to 120 credits according to Norwegian standard definitions) within the fields of electrical power engineering, electronics and communication, computer science, information technology or other fields relevant for the position before the date of employment.
• been awarded the grade B or better for the Master thesis - in terms of the Norwegian grading scale. If the research summary is of excellent quality, grade C candidates can be considered.
• excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

 

The right candidate is expected to meet one or more of the following specific qualifications: 

• Knowledge of different energy needs in residential, and commercial buildings having HVAC applications.
• Skills in big data analysis/machine learning and data-driven modelling.
• Experience in building automation or building energy management.
• Knowledge of time series analysis.
• Proven experience with programming, e.g., Modelica, Python, R.
• Having experience from publications in International journals and conferences.

 

Additionally, the successful candidate is expected to have:

• professional and personal skills for completing the doctoral degree within the time frame.
• the ability to work independently and in a team, be innovative and creative.
• the ability to work structured and handle a heavy workload.

About Doctoral Research fellowship

The Doctoral Research Fellowship is a full time (100%) fixed term position for 3 years being funded by the project PERSIST at Østfold University College, Norway.

The candidate will be employed at the The Faculty of Computer Science, Engineering and Economics. The candidate is expected to apply for admission to our Doctoral Programme “The Digital Society" at Østfold University College. Read more on our website:  Digitalisation and Society  (https://www.hiof.no/english/research/phd-programme/)

Estimated starting date: 1st of February 2023.

We offer

• a gross annual salary of minimum NOK 532 200 and annual development with a 3 % increase during the period. In addition to taxes, a further 2% is deducted for the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.
• an exciting job opportunity at Østfold University College.
• participation in our interdisciplinary doctoral program and a research group where the project is located.
• beneficial pension arrangements with the Norwegian State Pension Fund.
• good employee welfare arrangements.

Submitting an application

Please submit your application electronically via our recruitment system Jobbnorge.no.  All attached documentation must be in a Scandinavian language or in English. Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system.

Application must include the following:

• A short (1-2 page) cover letter describing your motivation to apply for this position, suitability for this position, relevant qualifications, and research interests.
• A copy of your CV, with highlights on relevant activities and experience.
• 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)
• Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number).

All attachments should be included electronically within the application deadline. Other documentation may be claimed at a later stage, e.g., proof of claimed English proficiency. Original documents must be presented if you are invited for an interview. Østfold University College performs document inspections in order to give you as a candidate a proper evaluation and ensure fair competition.

Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered. The application must state your reasons for applying to the project and what makes you particularly qualified to carry out this PhD work.

In the evaluation of this applicants emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates.

Admission and appointment

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 assistant.

Contact persons

For further information about the project, please contact the main supervisor. For other information, please contact advisor or the Vice-Dean:

•              Main supervisor: Prof. Nand Kishor, +47 696 08 622, e-post: nand.kishor@hiof.no

•              Vice-Dean of Research: Tore Gimse, +47 696 08 058, e-post: tore.gimse@hiof.no

•              Advisor for the research department: Liv Simensen, +47 696 08 561, e-post: liv.simensen@hiof.no

Other information

Østfold University College practices an inclusive working life and conforms to the government's inclusion efforts. This means that we welcome qualified applicants with disabilities, different national or ethnic backgrounds, and candidates who, for various reasons, are unable to document an unbroken professional career.

We practice open government in the state. If you require any confidential processing of your application, please note that information about you may still be disclosed. You will then be notified of this, cf. §25 of the Freedom of Information Act

If you state that you have disabilities, an immigrant background or gaps in your CV, your information may be used for statistical purposes.  

Østfold University College is a state university college with around 7800 students and 620 employees. The University College’s academic communities are organised into three major faculties: The Faculty of Health, Welfare and Organisation, the Faculty of Teacher Education and Languages, and the Faculty of Computer Science, Engineering and Economics. We are located in Fredrikstad and Halden and have a broad portfolio of studies ranging from vocational programmes of study to arts programmes, both at bachelor’s and master’s level.The University College is experiencing positive growth and has an ambitious strategy for the future, including the establishment of an interdisciplinary doctoral programme called ‘Digitalisation and Society’, delivering outstanding educational programmes that are socially relevant, and strengthening interaction with trade and industry and society – both in education and research.The main aim of the University College’s activities is to provide students with access to outstanding programmes of study that are socially relevant and professionally oriented. We will ensure that students have a great learning outcome and are ready for a working life with rapid restructuring, by focusing on quality, on technology, on infrastructure and on new teaching methods. The students will also experience a close relationship between theoretical knowledge, fields of profession and societal needs, and the college will therefore strengthen its strategic and binding cooperation with working life. 
Although we have a strong regional foundation, our education programmes are increasingly characterized by an international commitment. Østfold University College also works to strengthen its partnerships with selected national and international educational institutions.We are looking for applicants who are passionate about developing Østfold University College and want to build an attractive, competent and development-oriented university college.For more information about Østfold University College, visit our website at https://www.hiof.no/english/