Doctoral student in Industrial Automation – Electric Power Systems - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The position is with the division of Industrial Electrical Engineering and Automation (IEA). IEA research has the thematic areas Electric power systems, Electric drive systems and Water systems, while IEA teaching is in Electric power engineering and Automation. All research aims at a sustainable society in line with EU climate targets and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In practice scientific methods for modeling, analysis and control are applied to systems of industrially relevant complexity and validation uses laboratory measurements and real-life data. The research in electric power systems integrates power system automation, power systems analysis, wind power systems, electrical machines and power electronics.

The thesis project of the doctoral student will be an integral part of the EU-ERANET project ANM4L (Active Network Management for All). Active network management (ANM) is an important part of Smart Grid technology and ANM4L aims at demonstrating how innovative ANM solutions can increase the integration of renewable energy sources (RES) in electricity distribution networks beyond today’s limits. The solutions will consider management of active and reactive power to avoid overload, maintain acceptable voltages, minimize the need of RES curtailment, and enable further RES uptake. In the ANM4L project, IEA at LTH is a partner together with Swedish and European academic and industrial partners. The focus of the doctoral student is the control algorithms for the active and reactive power management – to develop the algorithms and to integrate them in short-term and long-term planning.

Work duties
The main duties of doctoral students are to devote themselves to their research studies which includes participating in research projects and third cycle courses. The work duties will also include teaching and other departmental duties (no more than 20%), see Terms of employment.

Admission requirements
To meet the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes the applicant must:

• have been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
• have satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or
• have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

A person meets the specific admission requirements for third cycle studies in Industrial Automation if he or she has:

• at least 30 second-cycle credits of relevance to the field of study

Additional requirements:

• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.

Assessment criteria
Selection for third-cycle studies is based on the applicant’s potential to successfully complete such studies. The assessment of potential is made primarily on the basis of academic results from the first and second cycle. Special attention is paid to the following:

1. Knowledge and skills relevant to the thesis project and the subject of study.
2. Ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems.
3. Written and oral communication skills.
4. Other experience relevant to the third-cycle studies, e.g. professional experience.

Other assessment criteria:

• Experience from electric power systems planning, optimization or control.
• Experience with modelling and programming in simulation software.
• Experience with experimental work in electric power engineering.
• Experience with scientific writing and with being single author.
• Oral and written proficiency in Swedish.

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant, through experience and skills, is deemed to have the abilities necessary for successfully completing the third cycle programme.

Terms of employment
Only those admitted to third cycle studies may be appointed to a doctoral studentship. Third cycle studies at LTH consist of full-time studies for 4 years. A doctoral studentship is a fixed-term employment of a maximum of 5 years (including 20% departmental duties). Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

Instructions on how to apply
Applications shall be written in English and include a cover letter stating the reasons why you are interested in the position and in what way the research project corresponds to your interests and educational background. The application must also contain a CV, degree certificate or equivalent, and other documents you wish to be considered (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.).