PhD scholarships in Trustworthy Machine Learning and Data Spaces for Energy Systems - DTU Wind

Are you a talented, self-motivated, and team-oriented person, who thrives in a collaborative environment and enjoys working with complex topics? We seek two PhD students willing to be part of a world leading research environment and contribute to the development for the next generation scientific machine learning tools for power systems. One PhD student will focus on establishing trustworthy machine learning tools through physics-informed neural networks and the development of neural network verification and interpretability algorithms for energy systems. The second PhD student will build upon the Digital Twins and Energy Data Spaces we are developing at DTU and further design machine learning applications which exploit these tools to enhance power system flexibility.

The Division for Power and Energy Systems of DTU Wind and Energy Systems provides cutting edge research in sustainable, reliable and cost-efficient energy systems to the benefit of society. At DTU Wind and Energy Systems you will enjoy the advantages of a creative and inspiring work environment shared with about 400 highly skilled and motivated colleagues.

The two PhD positions are part of the ERC Starting Grant project “VeriPhIED” and the Horizon Europe research project “ODEON”. “VeriPhIED” is a prestigious grant by the European Research Council, which aims to develop the next generation scientific machine learning tools based on Trustworthy AI that remove the barriers for applying machine learning in power systems applications. ODEON is an international research project, with 34 industrial and academic partners from 13 European countries. Its objective is to introduce an open-source platform for federated Energy Data Spaces with the goal to interconnect Energy Data Spaces across Europe and unleash the data-driven innovation and sharing potential across diverse energy actors (e.g. consumers, prosumers, utilities, and others). ODEON will be extensively validated in 5 demo sites, in Spain, Greece, France, Ireland, and Denmark. ODEON is expected to start in January 2024 and will build upon the SYNERGIES project; more information about the SYNERGIES project can be found here: https://synergies-project.eu/

Responsibilities and qualifications
You will be part of a dynamic working environment with a pleasant team atmosphere where you will have the opportunity to grow and develop your academic, industry, and personal skills. Besides cutting-edge research, PhD students participate in international research projects, collaborate with industry, and are given the opportunity to assist in teaching courses, and co-supervise BSc and MSc students, which allow them to develop necessary skills for the next steps in their career.

We are looking for candidates with diverse background to join our team. MSc graduates with a background in engineering, mathematics, computer science, computer engineering, physics, sustainable energy and any related discipline are encouraged to apply.

As a PhD student, you are expected to carry-out high quality research on the intersection of machine learning, data science, power system simulation and operation, both from a theoretical/analytical point of view and coding.

We are looking for self-motivated and team-oriented persons who thrive in a collaborative environment and enjoy working with complex topics.

You are welcome to apply for both or any of the two PhD positions. If you are interested in only one of the two positions, you are welcome to indicate this in your application letter.

A successful candidate will have a solid background in four or more of the following points:

• Machine learning techniques, statistics, and probabilities
• Optimization
• Power system operation and integration of renewable electricity production
• Power system dynamics
• Programming tools such as Python, Julia, Pytorch, etc.
• Power system software such as Powerfactory
• Excellent use of the English language
• Good ability to present results in oral presentations, and prepare scientific papers for publication in international journals, and willingness to work in a team-oriented environment

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree.

Approval and Enrolment
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education .

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 appointment terms
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 3 years.

Desired starting date is April 1st 2024 or flexible, according to mutual agreement, until 1st of September 2024. Both positions are full-time positions.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here .

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Head of Section for Power Systems, Associate Professor Spyros Chatzivasileiadis, tel.: +45 4525 5621, Email: [email protected]

You can read more about the Department of Wind and Energy Systems at www.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 . Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup ”Zoom" seminar " for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU.

Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 20 February 2024 (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:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale
• A Research Statement (max. 700 words), where you outline a potential research direction that interests you. The research statement shall address the following three questions: (1) What - what is the topic you propose to carry out research on? (2) Why - why is it necessary to develop a solution (or a new solution, if one already exists) for this topic? (3) How - how do you plan to develop a solution for this topic (general research directions, not necessary to go into too much detail). The research topic you discuss is completely up to you; it may or may not be related to the research topics of the positions advertised.
• Contact details of two individuals that can provide a letter of reference

You may apply prior to obtaining your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply,

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.

Kilde: Jobnet.dk