PhD Scholarship: Enhancing Cyber-Physical Resilience in Power Systems - DTU Wind

We at DTU Wind and Energy Systems offer a vibrant, welcoming, and diverse environment with an international atmosphere, encouraging creativity, empathy, team working, superb academic collaborations, and outstanding links to the front-running Danish energy sector.

You will join the Energy Markets and Analytics (EMA) Section within the Power and Energy Systems Division. The EMA section has a strong multi-disciplinary focus on energy markets, optimisation, game theory, control and machine learning. The EMA section (https://wind.dtu.dk/research/research-divisions/power-and-energy-systems/editenergy-markets-and-analytics/employees) currently has 13 members from 11 nationalities and diverse scientific background, including electrical engineering, operations research, control theory, and applied mathematics. We believe in diversity to create a safe and supportive work environment for all. Past EMA alumni include successful scientists, both within industry and academia. 

This PhD scholarship is part of a collaboration between DTU and KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden. You will be offered an opportunity to visit our KTH collaborators at the Division of Decision and Control Systems for 6 to 9 months during your studies. These visits can be split into different periods. 

Project summary and background requirements

Motivation: The ongoing changes in the power system necessitate novel algorithmic and theoretical tools to ensure a resilient, cost-efficient system. On the one hand, the current data-rich scenario enables innovative solutions to be created by leveraging recent advancements in machine learning and increased computational power.  Denmark, for instance, is pioneering the use of such a data-driven approach to power system planning, operation, and maintenance to establish a 100% renewable-based economy. On the other hand, the abundance of data can be used by attackers to identify network bottlenecks and other system vulnerabilities. This project focuses on applying and developing new statistical and control-theoretic tools to identify and isolate cyber-attacks in power systems.

Approach: We will investigate state-of-the-art statistical learning tools and recent advancements in optimisation and control theory to build foundational approaches to identify attacks on power systems. The following bullet points summarize the expected tasks related to this project:

1. Develop statistical approaches to identify attacks on the power grid
2. Leverage control and optimization techniques to mitigate the risk of cyber-physical attacks
3. Perform benchmarks against state-of-the-art methods 

Qualifications: We seek candidates with a mathematical or coding background and a willingness to develop one or both skills during their PhD studies. We welcome candidates with either a background in control engineering, operations research, or power systems. The interview process will assess the following skills:

• Control and optimisation (convex or linear programming)
• Ability to perform abstract reasoning using mathematics
• Power systems and, more broadly, other energy systems
• Coding skills, preferably in Julia or Python
• Fluency in the English language
• Ability to communicate orally in presentations and technically in scientific publications
• Team-work mindset

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 Assistant Professor Licio Romao (DTU), Professor Jalal Kazempour (DTU), Professor Henrik Sandberg (KTH) and Associate Professor Andre Teixeira (Uppsala University).

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.

Your PhD project should start in 2025. The successful candidate can negotiate the starting date; we will make sure to accommodate your requests as much as possible. This is a full-time position.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information 
Further information may be obtained from Assistant Professor Licio Romao (licio@dtu.dk) and Professor Jalal Kazempour (jalal@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 21 March 2025 (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
• Contact of two individuals -- either academic or industrial professionals -- who can vouch for your expertise (as indicated in the application description)

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. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.

The Division for Power and Energy Systems of the Department of Wind and Energy Systems provides cutting-edge research in sustainable, reliable and cost-efficient energy systems to the benefit of society. The Department of Wind and Energy Systems aims at taking the renewable energy technology and its integration to the energy systems to the next level. Its goal is to create an impact for people and society through research and innovation and collaborate with the entire energy sector to develop the most effective technology on the planet. At the Department, you will enjoy the advantages of a creative and inspiring work environment shared with about 400 highly skilled and motivated colleagues.

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.