Research Assistant in Probabilistic Design and Surrogate Modelling - DTU Wind

Would you like to contribute to the green energy transition by advancing the design and reliability of floating offshore wind systems? The Structural Integrity and Load assessment (SIL) section at DTU Wind and Energy Systems invites candidates to apply for a Research Assistant position focused on Reliability-Based Design Optimisation (RBDO) of mooring and platform systems for floating offshore wind.

We offer a stimulating role in an international and interdisciplinary environment that promotes academic excellence and impactful engineering solutions. You will work in a dynamic team committed to research excellence, with access to state-of-the-art research infrastructure and career development support.

Job description
You will be part of the SIL team contributing to:

• Risk and reliability engineering, probabilistic design and system-level optimisation
• Development and application of surrogate modelling and machine learning techniques for computationally efficient system analysis
• Formulation of component and system limit states for mooring and anchor systems
• Design and validation of RBDO frameworks combining uncertainty quantification and cost/environmental impact metrics
• Integration of RBDO into floating wind system simulations using high-fidelity numerical tools
• Dissemination of results through high-impact publications and contributions to the broader academic and industrial community

As a specialist, you are expected to be fluent in data science and analytics, with a solid knowledge of reliability engineering, uncertainty quantification, and optimisation strategies for offshore structural and mechanical components. You will contribute to improving asset integrity and enabling cost-effective, high-performance design solutions for floating wind mooring and platform systems.

This requires the development of numerical and surrogate models, integration and analysis of simulation and environmental data, formulation of limit states, and the creation of performance-driven KPIs. These elements will feed into a reliability-based design optimisation (RBDO) framework, which supports sustainable and cost-efficient system design under uncertainty. The work will be carried out in close collaboration with the SIL section and the broader consortium of the EU-funded TAILWIND project, leveraging high-fidelity simulations, experimental insights, and sustainability-driven design practices.

Your primary responsibilities will include:

• Assisting in the development of a surrogate-based RBDO tool for mooring-platform arrays, incorporating environmental and material uncertainties
• Performing numerical simulations and developing meta-models for floating offshore wind systems using tools such as OpenFAST, SIMA, or OrcaFlex
• Implementing optimisation routines (e.g. genetic algorithms, gradient-free methods) to identify cost-effective and reliable mooring system designs
• Supporting the demonstration of RBDO methods using representative case studies
• Contributing to publications, reports, and EU project deliverables
• Collaborating with partners in the TAILWIND project, including DTU, to ensure alignment with project objectives

The following qualifications are relevant to this post

Essential qualifications

• Educational Background: A master’s degree (or equivalent) in mechanical, marine, civil, offshore, or wind energy engineering, with a strong foundation in applied mathematics, structural mechanics, or reliability engineering.
• Numerical Modelling Skills: Experience in developing and applying numerical models for the analysis of structural or offshore systems, ideally including floating structures, moorings, or anchor systems.
• Data Analytics and Uncertainty Quantification: Competency in the application of probabilistic methods, statistical inference, or machine learning to support reliability analysis or design under uncertainty.
• Simulation and Coding: Proficiency in scientific programming (Python, MATLAB, or similar) for data analysis, surrogate model training, and numerical optimisation.
• Engineering Knowledge: Familiarity with structural design principles, limit states, and performance-based or reliability-based design.

Desired qualifications

• Reliability and Risk-Based Design: Experience in structural reliability methods (e.g. FORM, SORM, MCS), risk-based optimisation, or RBDO in engineering applications.
• Surrogate Modelling Techniques: Knowledge of surrogate modelling techniques (e.g. Kriging, Polynomial Chaos, Gaussian Processes, or ANN-based regressors) applied to complex engineering simulations.
• Optimisation Algorithms: Exposure to global optimisation techniques such as genetic algorithms, evolutionary strategies, or gradient-free optimisation for high-dimensional problems.
• Floating Wind Experience: Background or coursework in floating offshore wind systems, mooring/anchor system design, or coupled dynamic analysis (e.g. with SIMA, OrcaFlex, OpenFAST).
• Project Involvement: Participation in academic or industrial research projects, particularly within an EU or multidisciplinary setting.

As a formal qualification, you must hold a PhD degree (or equivalent). 

You will be assessed against the responsibilities and qualifications stated above and the following general criteria:

Research experience

• Experience and quality of teaching 
• Research vision and potential
• International impact and experience 
• Societal impact
• Innovativeness, including commercialization and collaboration with industry
• Leadership, collaboration, and interdisciplinary skills
• Communication skills

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 1 year. Starting date is 01 September 2025 or ASAP then after.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information  
Further information may be obtained from Professor Athanasios Kolios, Head of Section, atko@dtu.dk.

You can read more about DTU 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.

Application procedure 
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 5 August 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:

• Application (cover letter)
• Vision for research 
• CV including employment history, list of publications, H-index and ORCID (see http://orcid.org/)
• Academic Diplomas (MSc/PhD)

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.

DTU Wind and Energy Systems is one of the largest and most well-known university department for wind energy in the world with 400 employees. The institute is in the international driving field with a unique integration of research, education, innovation and public / private government service. DTU Wind and Energy Systems has extensive expertise in wind turbine technology, focusing on the impact of loads, structural design and reliability, aeroelastic design and materials.

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.