Doctoral student in industrial automation with focus on electric power systems - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Description of the workplace

The position is with the division of Industrial Electrical Engineering and Automation (IEA), https://www.lth.se/iea/english/. IEA has about 30 employees and is located in the newly renovated M-building on LTH campus in Lund. 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. The LTH profile area ”The energy transition – power and transport” https://www.lth.se/english/research/the-energy-transition/ has its coordinator at IEA, which also leads the sub area ”Electrification”. All research is carried out in close collaboration with industry and other need-owners and 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 real-life data or experiments in the new IEA electric power laboratory. The research in electric power systems integrates power system automation, power systems analysis, wind power systems, electrical machines and power electronics. Doctoral students in electric power systems are encouraged to take great responsibility for the research and to get involved in societal issues and build networks within and outside the academia.

Subject description

The expansion of renewable generation and electrification of transports and industry are central to the energy transition in society. An immediate consequence is a need for increased transfer capacity in the existing grid while new lines are built. The doctoral student will initially work in SPS4SE (System Protection Schemes for Sweden) which is a three-year collaborative project involving RISE in Göteborg, Division of Electric Power and Energy Systems at KTH and IEA at LTH. System protection schemes, uses automation to increase the transfers in the transmission grid beyond the N-1 criterion. The reference group of the project gathers representantives from Svenska Kraftnät, Statnett and Fingrid, the three major Swedish DSOs and a major manufacturer. The focus for the doctoral student at LTH is development of new algorithms for control of active and reactive power. The doctoral student at KTH will work with control room aspects of system protection schemes.

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%).

Detailed description of the work duties, such as:

• Theoretic analysis of small power system models;
• Simulation of large power system models in PowerFactory and ARISTO;
• Presentation of results at project meetings and international conferences;
• Writing of articles for conferences and journals and thesis writing;
• Collaborative work with the doctoral student at KTH and with RISE;
• Teaching assistant and student project supervisor at IEA.

Admission requirements 

A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if the applicant: 

• has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or
• has 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 the applicant has: 

• at least 30 credits in the second cycle relevant for the field of study; for example in power engineering and mathematical applications such as modelling and control as part of a master in e.g. electrical engineering, engineering physics or energy.

Additional requirements

• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.

Assessment criteria

Selection for third-cycle studies is based on the student’s potential to profit from 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. An assessment of 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 with power system planning, optimization or control;
• Experience with modelling and coding in simulation software;
• Experience with experimental work in electric power engineering ;
• Experience with scientific publishing; particularly as sole author;
• Proficiency in spoken and written Swedish for teaching.

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.

We offer

Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme.

Read more on the University websites about working at LTH  and Work at Lund University.

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 §§.

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.).

Welcome to apply!