Ph.D. student in Informatics specializing in Smart Grid technologies

featuring a collaborative atmosphere, modern facilities, and excellent industrial partnerships. For more than a decade, the School of Engineering Science has demonstrated how we can provide excellent, high-quality applied research and education, as well as generate the means and technological innovations that characterize a successful research group. We work within an integrated educational value chain that offers known added value for students, where our new engineering programs are CDIO-adapted and provide students with excellent opportunities for internships and collaboration with our industry partners. Research studies are conducted in the field of Informatics, which at the University of Skövde is defined as the subject that deals with how information is represented, processed, and communicated in artificial and natural systems, as well as how information technology systems are used and developed to achieve practical solutions for individuals, organizations, or society. Your role Heavy industry is electrifying, but what happens to the grid when a large industrial load suddenly needs megawatts of electricity? As a Ph.D. student in Informatics specializing in Smart Grid technologies, you will investigate this question at Volvo’s Skövde plant, one of Sweden’s most advanced production sites. Your research will primarily be conducted within the VINNOVA-funded FLEXFURN project, “Digital Energy Management for Electrified Industrial Furnaces: Demand Flexibility and Energy Storages at Volvo’s Skövde Plant” which explores how digital energy management, demand flexibility, and energy storage can support industrial electrification. Together with Volvo Powertrain, Vattenfall Eldistribution and AI Sweden, you will develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven energy management system (EMS) that lets electrified industrial furnaces operate flexibly, cut peak power costs and ease pressure on the grid. Your research will combine machine learning (MI), optimization and energy systems and your results will be tested on real industrial processes, not just in simulation. This project integrates demand-side management, layered energy storage, waste heat recovery, and smart grid technologies into a unified optimization framework. In the FLEXFURN project, you will focus on the following points: Developing ML models for energy, price, and grid forecasting. Developing optimization algorithms for flexible industrial loads and energy storage. Assessing the techno-economic potential of batteries, hydrogen, supercapacitors, and molten iron storage. Developing decision-support tools for day-ahead energy planning. Validating the methods at Volvo Powertrain and supporting transfer to other energy-intensive industries. We are looking for candidates who have: Obtained a degree at advanced level, or completed at least 240 higher education credits (ECTS), of which at least 60 credits are at the advanced level, or acquired essentially equivalent knowledge within or outside Sweden. Completed course requirements of at least 60 higher education credits (ECTS), including independent thesis work comprising at least 15 higher education credits at an advanced level, in the field of Informatics, related applied areas, or other subject areas deemed directly relevant to dissertation work within the field of Informatics, electrical engineering, computer science, information technology, automation technology, or other relevant subject areas. Documented English language proficiency equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6. This can also be demonstrated by an internationally recognized test such as IELTS (overall score of 6.5), TOEFL (total score of 90), PTE (total score of 62), etc. We will also evaluate the candidates based on the following assessment criteria: Good proficiency in acquiring education at the doctoral level. Knowledge of industrial energy systems, microgrids, and smart grids. Experience in energy system modelling, optimization, and EMS. Experience with AI, ML, Python, GAMS, or similar tools. Collaboration skills and experience working with interdisciplinary teams. Of the criteria above, particular emphasis will be placed on knowledge of industrial energy systems and smart grids, experience in energy system modelling and optimization, and experience with AI/ML tools. What we offer A dedicated supervision team with expertise in smart grids, AI, and industrial energy systems. A national network of leading partners in industry, energy and AI. Opportunities to present your work at international conferences. A friendly, collaborative research environment on a compact campus with affordable living and easy access to Gothenburg and Stockholm The employment is a fixed-term employment up to and including the completion of a doctoral degree, however, for a maximum of 5 years. The scope of employment is 100%, of which 80% doctoral studies and 20% departmental service. Salary is paid in accordance with a local agreement on a salary ladder for postgraduate students. Only those who are admitted or have already been admitted to a doctoral program may be employed as doctoral students. Application deadline: December 1st 2026. Reference no.: HS 2026/723 Contact details: For further information, please contact the Head of the Division, Kristens Gudfinnsson, ( kristens.gudfinnsson@his.se ) and Mostafa Kermani ( mostafa.kermani@his.se ), FLEXFURN Project Leader and Head of Subject, Electrical Engineering. Union information is provided by Anders Johansson (Saco-S) or Maria Carlstedt (ST). All personnel can be reached via the University's switchboard 0500-44 80 00. Application: You can apply for the job via our website, www.his.se/jobb , by clicking on "Apply" at the bottom of the advertisement. There you will also find information on how to prepare your application. The following documents must be attached to your application: Cover letter including a Statement of Purpose where you explain in English your motivation, research interests, and expectations from the doctoral program Reference/Recommendation letter CV Certificates/grades and other qualifications that you, as an applicant, want to invoke Academic degree and transcript Master’s thesis work Relevant publications Contact the HR department at hr-specialister.hr@his.se if you have publications that cannot be attached electronically directly in the application. The publications must be received by the university no later than one week after the last application date.