"PhD in Robust Optimization & Control of District Heating & Cooling Systems under Uncertainties"

Job Summary

Decarbonizing heat is critical as the thermal sector accounts for approximately 50% of the EU’s final energy use. District heating and cooling networks (DHCNs) provide a flexible alternative by absorbing surplus renewable energy and alleviating grid stress. Advanced tools are needed to replicate these networks and support optimized design and data-driven control strategies.

Responsibilities

• Optimize network design: Develop a robust, scalable thermodynamic-hydraulic framework to size and configure prosumer-based heating and cooling networks under conditions of price volatility, CO₂ taxation, demand uncertainty, and storage limitations.
• Quantify uncertainty: Apply advanced techniques to assess and mitigate market-driven performance and investment risks.
• Develop real-time control schemes: Design advanced operational strategies, such as model-predictive control, tailored to dynamic prosumer energy demand.
• Foster collaboration: Work closely with industrial and research partners to ensure practical relevance and technical alignment.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering and Management, Mechanical Engineering, Energy Systems, Control Engineering, Data Science, or a related field, with solid foundations in thermodynamics, optimization, and control theory.
• Strong understanding of mathematical modeling, numerical optimization, and/or model predictive control (MPC).
• Experience working with large-scale, energy-related datasets.
• Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, and/or Julia for modeling, simulation, and data analysis.
• Familiarity with GIS tools (e.g., QGIS), time-series databases (e.g., InfluxDB), and version control (e.g., GitHub) is a plus.
• Excellent analytical skills, a collaborative mindset, and strong scientific writing abilities.

What the Employer Offers

A full-time position with a fixed-term contract of 12 months, potentially renewable for up to three more years. Salary starts at €2,770 gross per month in the first year, up to a maximum of €3,539 gross per month in the fourth year. Additional benefits include a holiday allowance of 8% gross annual income, an 8.3% year-end bonus, and enrollment in a PhD training program. Employed PhD candidates are expected to spend 10% of their working hours on teaching and/or supervising candidates.