PhD Research Fellow in AI Integration in the New Nordic Energy Balance Model

PhD Research Fellow in AI Integration in the New Nordic Energy Balance Model

Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Technology, Environmental and Social Sciences has a open position for PhD Research Fellow in AI Integration in the New Nordic Energy Balance Model

About the position:

The Department of Computer Science, Electrical Engineering and Mathematical Sciences at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, has a vacancy for a research fellow (PhD position) for a period of 4 years, in data-driven techniques for improving energy-balance model and hydropower optimization

The PhD research fellow will be part of the PhD programme in Computer Science: Software Engineering, Sensor Networks and Engineering Computing (https://www.hvl.no/en/research/phd-programmes/phd-programme-in-computer-science/ (https://www.hvl.no/en/research/phd-programmes/phd-programme-in-computer-science/)). The research programme in Computer Science currently includes 20 professors and associate professors, more than 30 PhD and post-doctoral fellows, and a large number of master's students.

The place of employment is Campus Bergen.

About the PhD project/ work tasks:

The future of the Nordic power system is expected to be increasingly weather-dependent and integrated into new consumption patterns. Nordic energy policies' aim is to significantly increase the share of variable renewable energy sources (VRES), especially offshore wind to the grid, by 2040. These new changes require a new Nordic Balancing Model (NBM) to ensure the security of supply in the most effective manner. Norway's hydropower systems are especially important for improving NBM flexibility and integrating more VRES into the power systems. One of the considerable changes to the current NBM model is the transition from hourly resolution to shorter resolution (minutes-based resolutions). Implementing shorter resolutions significantly impacts the Nordic transmission system operators, for running balancing processes and shortening planning and operation horizons. Therefore, it is essential to develop highly automated tools to aid decision-makers facing the future challenges of the NBM. Meanwhile, AI and Machine learning techniques offer new opportunities to revolutionize the design and operation of NBM. However, it is important to ensure that results obtained from AI models are trustworthy, given the sensitive requirement of meeting the demand of power supply. In this project, the PhD student should find solutions to address the challenges related to implement trustworthy AI-based NMB. The PHD student is responsible to explore and develop physics aware AI models for maximizing NBM flexibility by facilitating the use of Norway hydropower capacity.

Qualifications:

The PhD research fellow must hold a master's degree in computer science, Electrical engineering, Applied or computational mathematics or in a closely related field. Candidates who have submitted a master's thesis (but who has not yet been awarded a master's degree) may also qualify for the position provided that the master`s degree is awarded within 4 weeks after the application deadline. A solid background in one or more of the following fields are required:

• Decision theory or statistics
• AI and machine-learning techniques
• Programming languages such as Python, C++, Julia or similar

as well as excellent English-writing and -speaking skills

Furthermore, experience within:

• Knowledge of Hydropower planning and hydrology
• Graph neural networks.
• Causality analysis on time-series data

will be considered an advantage when candidates are ranked. Candidates already holding a PhD within this field are not eligible for this position.

In addition to the required educational and scientific background, the following criteria will be evaluated: competence and grades on completed course work, quality of the master's thesis (excellent grade, equivalent of grade B or better on the ECTS grading system), publications (if any), research and teaching experience, practical software engineering skills and experience. A possible outline of a research plan for a potential PhD project will also be taken into account.

The candidate must be diligent and display the ability to work independently, supplemented with regular guidance, and is expected to carry out high-quality research and to publish the results in international workshops, conferences, and journals.

The PhD research fellow must enroll in the PhD programme in Computer Science: Software Engineering, Sensor Networks and Engineering Computing at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, and must meet the formal admission requirements for admission into the PhD programme. 25% of the 4-year period will be designated to duties such as teaching, development and administrative tasks. The employment period may be reduced if the successful applicant has held previous employment as a research fellow.

The PhD candidate will be assigned two academic supervisor(s) at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. An application for enrolment should first be submitted after an appointment is made and the supervisor(s) will help with this procedure. The candidate must be enrolled as a PhD student within 3 months from the start of the employment according to Regulations relating to programmes of study and examniations at Western Norway University of Applied SciencesHVL § 2-4.

Western Norway University of Applied Sciences is subjected to the regulation for export control system. The regulation might be applied in the processing of the applications.

Application procedure:

Applications will be evaluated by an expert panel of three members.

Applicants are asked to submit their application and CV online. Please use the link “Apply for this job" (“Søk stillingen").

The following documentation should be uploaded as an attachment to the online application:

• Master Thesis
• Copies of selected academic publications (no more than 15)
• A CV with a complete list of academic publications
• Diplomas and certificates

Applicants should indicate which publications or parts of publications should be given special consideration in the evaluation. If the documents submitted are not in a Scandinavian language or in English, the applicants must submit certified translations of these. The transcripts must specify the topics, the course works, and the grades at the bachelor`s and master`s degree levels.

Applicants with a degree from a country other than Norway, need to attach a certified translation of the diploma and transcripts of grades to English or a Scandinavian language, in addition to the original documents, if the original is not in any of these languages. It is required that the applicant encloses a recognition document showing that their degree is equivalent to a Norwegian bachelor's degree, master's degree, or PhD. You can read more about applying for recognition of foreign higher education here. (https://hkdir.no/en/foreign-education/education-from-outside-of-norway/recognition-of-foreign-higher-education-bachelor-master-and-phd)

The Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir) offers an automatic recognition document for certain degrees from selected countries. If the applicant's degree is covered by the automatic recognition, it will be sufficient to attach this document. Read more about automatic recognition here. (https://hkdir.no/en/foreign-education/education-from-outside-of-norway/recognition-of-foreign-higher-education-bachelor-master-and-phd/automatic-recognition-a-quicker-alternative)

As the HK-dir application process may take some time it is recommended to apply to HK-dir as soon as possible. If you have not received a recognition document from HK- dir within the application deadline, please enclose documentation from HK-dir showing that they have received your application.

Applicants should note that the evaluation will be based on the documentation submitted electronically via Jobbnorge within the submission deadline. The applicants are responsible for ensuring that all the documentation is submitted before the closing date. It is of utmost importance that all publications to be considered in the evaluation are uploaded as an attachment with the application, since these are sent electronically to the expert panel. Applications cannot be sent by e-mail or to individuals at the college.

Salary:

• Good occupational pension, insurance and loan schemes from The Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Exciting academic environment with the possibility of competence enhancement and development
• Opportunities for training within the working hours

Initial salaries will be offered at grade 54 (code 1017) in the Civil Service pay grade table scale.

There is a compulsory 2 % deduction to the pension fund (see http://www.spk.no for more information). The successful applicant must comply with the guidelines that apply to the position at any time.

General information:

The appointment will be made in accordance with the regulations for State employees Law in Norway ("Lov om statens ansatte)". Organizational changes and changes in the duties and responsibilities associated with the position must be expected.

State employment shall reflect the multiplicity of the population at large to the highest possible degree. Western Norway University of Applied Sciences Bergen has therefore adopted a personnel policy objective to ensure that we achieve a balanced age and gender composition and the recruitment of persons of various ethnic backgrounds.

Information about the applicant may be made public even though the applicant has requested not to be named in the list of applicants. The applicant will be notified if his/her request is not respected.

Short-listed applicants will be called in for an interview.

Employed on condition that you are granted a work and residence permit (must be considered individually).

Western Norway University of Applied Sciences is subjected to the regulation for export control system. The regulation will be applied in the processing of the applications.

Contacts:

1) Associate Professor Mojtaba Yousefi,

phone: +47 55 58 7778,

e-mail: Mojtaba.Yousefi@hvl.no

2) Associate Professor Luca Porta-Mana,

phone: +47 55 58 7914,

e-mail: pima@hvl.no

3) Professor Håvard Helstrup, Head of PhD Programme on Computer Science,

phone: (+47) 55 58 75 61, e-mail: Havard.Helstrup@hvl.no

Inclusion, challenging norms, collaboration

Homepage (http://www.hvl.no)