Doctoral student in industrial automation with focus on electric power systems

Description of the workplace

The student will be employed at the division for Industrial Electrical Engineering and Automation (IEA). IEA has about 30 employees and is located in the newly renovated M-building on LTH campus Lund. IEA has research groups in electric power systems, electric drive systems and water systems, and first and second cycle education in electric power engineering and in automation. The LTH profile area “The Energy Transition”  has its coordinator at IEA, that also leads the focus area “Electrification”. All research at IEA is carried out in close co-operation with industry and other stakeholders and aims at a sustainable society in line with EU climate targets and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. More specifically, scientific methods for modelling, analysis and control are applied to systems of industrially relevant complexity and validations are based on field measurements or experiments in the new power engineering laboratory at IEA. The electric power systems research integrates power system analysis, power system automation, power electronics, electric machines, and wind power systems. Doctoral students in electric power systems are encouraged to take great responsibility for their research and to take active part in societal issues and form networks within and outside the academic world.   

• Learn more about the Division for Industrial Electrical engineering and Automation (IEA) - iea.lth.se
• Learn more about the LTH Profile Area "The Energy Transition" - lth.se/the energy transition
• Learn more about the doctoral student's active part in societal issues at "NMT dagarna 2022" - urplay.se

Subject description

Expansion of renewable electricity generation and electrification of transports and industry are central parts of the energy transition. A direct consequence is the need to manage a substantial increase in variable renewable generation as well as new consumption. Energy storage will play a key role in this. 
The student will initially be part of the three-year project “Three aspects of balancing – production, energy storage and new consumption” in the competence centre SESBC (Swedish Electricity Storage and Balancing Centre). The project has three doctoral students: one at IEA at LTH, one at the Division of electric power engineering at Chalmers Technical University in Göteborg, and one at the Division of electroscience at Uppsala University. Fifteen of the business partners of the centre are involved in the project and represented in the reference group, including Svenska Kraftnät, Vattenfall, Göteborg Energi and Hitachi Energy. The three doctoral students work together, but mainly with one aspect each of how energy storages best contribute to the future electric power systems:

• Energy storage in the expansion of generation, grid, and electrolysis (LTH)
• Energy storage for ancillary services (Chalmers)
• Energy storage for electric power plants (Uppsala)

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:

• Theoretical analysis of small power systems;
• Simulation of larger power systems in e.g. PowerFactory;
• Presentation of results at project meetings, SESBC meetings and international conferences;
• Writing scientific papers for conferences, journals and thesis;
• Common subprojects/activities for the doctoral students in the project;
• Taking part in PhD network and other SESBC activities;
• Teaching at BSc/MSc level as teaching assistant, laboratory assistant, degree project supervisor.

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 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 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 anlaysis, planning, optimization or control of electric power systems;
• Experience with modelling and programming for simulation/optimization;
• Experience with scientific writing; especially as first author.
   

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 website about being a Lund University employee 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 §§.

Starting date: as soon as possible.

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.).

We look forward to receiving your application!