Postdoc in Aggregation Methods for Flexible Power Electronics Loads - DTU Wind

Do you want to be involved in the green energy transition? Do you wish to contribute to the development of flexibility and prosumers and are looking for a career in R&D or academia? Then we have an opportunity!

We invite applications for a 2-year Postdoc position focused on developing next-generation high-performance motor drives with embedded intelligence. You will work in a multidisciplinary, international environment, collaborating with top researchers at DTU and key industrial partners.

You will be affiliated with the Section on E-mobility and Prosumer Integration in the Division of Power and Energy Systems at the Department of Wind and Energy Systems. Collaboration is encouraged with neighboring sections working on distributed energy systems, hybrid power plants, smart grids, power system flexibility, and market design and operation. The Section on E-mobility and Prosumer Integration undertakes internationally leading research and teaching in the field of EV technologies, charging infrastructure and flexibility, advanced power electronics, battery energy systems and hybrid AC-DC systems. This section is currently made up of 30 researchers from 15 different countries.

The Postdoc position will focus on advancing the integration of power electronics, machine learning, and IoT-driven digitization to develop next-generation control strategies for electric drive systems. A central challenge is enabling real-time decision-making directly on the converters by combining edge computing, IoT connectivity, and cloud-based learning. This involves designing control algorithms capable of adapting to changing grid conditions while ensuring high performance and reliability. A key goal is to quantify and aggregate the flexibility of electric drive assets, such as motors and pumps, to enable their participation in ancillary service markets. This requires developing online machine learning methods that can handle noisy, incomplete data and provide formal uncertainty quantification, ensuring robust and secure operation under dynamic conditions. The position will also explore improved condition monitoring and fault detection strategies, leveraging the edge-based architecture to enhance system efficiency and reliability without depending on cloud connectivity. The outcomes will directly support the project’s vision of unlocking grid flexibility through decentralized, data-driven control of power converter assets.

Responsibilities and qualifications
The position aims to:

• Research and propose scalable system identification methods for the aggregation of controllable power-converter driven electrical loads.
• Develop stochastic forecasting methods for demand-side flexibility quantification.
• Integrate data-driven models into optimization models for optimal plant operation and flexibility provision under uncertainty, considering participation in ancillary services.
• Build real-world data and automated modeling pipelines.
• Validate the developed frameworks in industrial case studies.
• Prepare manuscripts for publication and disseminate your research at conferences and workshops.

The Postdoc will have task responsibilities in the project and will be involved in the coordination of its activities. Supervision of PhD and MSc students will be part of the job, along with participation in educational activities.

The candidate is also expected to actively contribute to raising funds for new research projects and to promote DTU activities.

As a formal qualification, you must hold a PhD degree (or equivalent). A successful candidate should additionally have a strong background in computer and/or data science and in energy conversion with power electronic converters.

As the position is part of research, development and demonstration projects, it is important that the candidate is not only technically proficient, but also able to work in a team and contribute to the successful execution of project activities.

Candidates are expected to have the following technical qualifications:

• Strong programming skills, with a focus on Python, MATLAB, and C/C++.
• Strong knowledge in system identification of linear and nonlinear systems.
• Experience with stochastic modeling and optimization.
• The ability to work effectively with data and applied statistics.
• Experience in integrating machine learning in dynamical system modeling and optimization.
• A background in model predictive control for power and energy systems.
• Experience with IoT, edge computing devices, communication protocols, and cloud platform integration.
• Knowledge in energy markets, including capacity and ancillary service markets. 
• Experience with power electronic converters (design, modulation, and control algorithms).
• Familiarity with reinforcement learning algorithms.

Furthermore, the candidate should fulfil the following criteria:

• Self-motivation in research and innovation.
• Dedication and the desire to learn.
• The ability to present results in technical reports and prepare scientific papers.
• The ability to work in a project team and to take responsibility for their own research goals.
• Fluency in communicating and reporting in English.

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 terms of employment
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 2 years.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

The workplace will be DTU Wind and Energy Systems, Lyngby Campus at Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.

Further information
Further information about the academic content may be obtained from Professor Tomislav Dragicevic (tomdr@dtu.dk).

You can read more about DTU Wind and Energy Systems at www.vindenergi.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.

Application procedure
Please submit your online application no later than the end of the 1 May 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 in the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• Application (cover letter)
• CV
• Academic Diplomas (MSc/PhD – in English)
• List of publications 

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, 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 Department of Wind and Energy Systems is one of the world’s largest centers of wind energy and energy systems research and knowledge, with a staff of more than 400 people from 37 countries working in research, innovation, research-based consulting and education. DTU Wind and Energy Systems has approximately 90 PhD students. The department’s cross-disciplinary research is organized through strategic research programmes that collaborate with Danish and international universities, research institutions and organizations, as well as the wind industry.

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.