Postdoc position in EMT reference models of microgrids and customer-side assets for UTOPYS

Future power systems are converter-dominated, fast, and interconnected across scales that today's modelling tools cannot capture. UTOPYS (Understanding Large and Complex Power Systems) addresses this with a state-of-the-art real-time power system simulator: a large RTDS cluster at TU Delft's ESP Lab that simulates thousands of nodes in full electromagnetic transient (EMT) detail, in real time, and that can be coupled to hardware, SCADA systems and other simulators. This infrastructure will enable unprecedented research into the dynamics, control, and market design of future power systems dominated by renewables, power electronics, and cyber-physical interactions.

UTOPYS is a ten-year national research infrastructure (2026-2036) built by a consortium of eight Dutch universities and research institutes, coordinated by TU Delft, driving scientific breakthroughs in mathematical modeling, control strategies, and policy/regulatory frameworks for complex power systems.

UTOPYS is a state-of-the-art real-time power system simulator. A simulator of this size is only as valuable as the models that run on it. The first phase of UTOPYS is therefore dedicated to the UTOPYS Library: an open, modular and validated collection of EMT component models, reference system models, scenarios and datasets that will serve the consortium, external academic users and industry for the coming decade.

We are looking for one postdoc to join UTOPYS and build part of this Open Source Library, developing plug & play EMT reference models of customer-side assets and the microgrids they form: e.g., residential and small commercial connections, PV, batteries, EV charging, heat pumps and flexible demand with grid-forming (GFM) and grid-following (GFL) converters, covering weak-grid and islanded operation, GFM/GFL transitions and black start, with a flexible level of detail.

You will work in collaboration with Postdocs from the universities involved in UTOPYS who will be working on similar reference models for different parts of the whole power system. At the end all models should come together to form the complete model library at the heart of UTOPYS.

Your key responsibilities as Postdoc (include but are not limited to):

• Develop and validate EMT models of microgrids and customer-side components in RSCAD/RTDS, for example converters and their controls (GFM and GFL), PV panels, EV chargers, Heat-Pumps, energy storage, backup generators, loads and flexibility assets, taking into account their link to a tertiary control layer such as an Energy Management System.
• Create an RTDS library of customer-side, microgrid and converter-based components, and a working, realistic RTDS microgrid model built from those components that can be integrated with the larger UTOPYS RTDS model
• Combine that library into reference system models that reproduce the phenomena UTOPYS is meant to study at this part of the power system, such as islanding, frequency and voltage collapse, converter-driven instability, interoperability under different control strategies, transition from GFM to GFL and vice versa, black start capability.
• Work out how such models are built to last: conversion from other tools, parameterisation, scalability and model reduction, documentation, version control, testing and validation criteria.
• Publish your models, datasets and methods open access, and present them in journals and at conferences.
• The answers you develop will shape how UTOPYS is used for the next decade.

Requirements

• PhD in Electrical Engineering, power systems or a closely related field.
• A solid background in power system dynamics and electromagnetic transient (EMT) simulation.
• Proven experience with modelling, simulation and analysis of power systems (steady-state and dynamic) using software such as OpenDSS, pandapower, Matpower, PSCAD, DiGSILENT PowerFactory, RSCAD/RTDS, EMTP, Simulink/Simscape, OPAL-RT, Typhoon HIL, or PyPSA.
• Proven experience with programming languages, e.g., MATLAB/Simulink, Python, c++, etc.
• Strong ability to present results effectively and prepare scientific papers for publication in international journals and conferences.
• Creative mindset with excellent problem-solving, writing, analytical, and communication skills.
• Able to work independently while demonstrating strong teamwork skills in an interdisciplinary and international environment.
• Enthusiasm for open science.

Desirable:

• Hands-on experience with RTDS/RSCAD, real-time simulation or hardware-in-the-loop set-ups.
• Expertise in one or more of: converter control and grid-forming/grid-following operation; microgrids modelling; model order reduction; parameter estimation and model validation; large-scale or synthetic network modelling.
• Experience in converting or interfacing models between different simulation tools.
• Experience in contributing to courses and training.
• Experience in coordinating technical work across a team or between partners: setting modelling standards or interfaces, integrating contributions from others, leading a work package or acting as technical lead.

Conditions of employment

• A full-time position for 1 year, with a possibility of 2 years extension according to performance, and the flexibility to work (partially) from home. The primary workplace for this role is the University of Twente, with regular sessions held at TU Delft (initially on a weekly basis).
• Your salary and associated conditions are in accordance with the collective labour agreement for Dutch universities (CAO-NU).
• You will receive a gross monthly salary ranging from €4.422,- to €5.760,- depending on qualifications and experience.
• There are excellent benefits including a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary, an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%, and a solid pension scheme.
• A minimum of 232 leave hours in case of full-time employment based on a formal workweek of 38 hours. A full-time employment in practice means 40 hours a week, therefore resulting in 96 extra leave hours on an annual basis.
• Free access to sports facilities on campus.
• A family-friendly institution that offers parental leave (both paid and unpaid).

Department

You will be working in a multidisciplinary team that jointly performs research under the Resilient and Intelligent Energy System coalition of the University of Twente's Climate Centre, which next to technical disciplines also includes behavioural scientists. This group works on various aspects of bottom-up energy management to enable the energy transition for citizens, industrial areas and energy access in developing countries, by e.g., developing novel power electronics, coordination algorithms and governance structures.

For this position you will work specifically in the Power Electronics (PE) and Mathematics of Operations Research (MOR) groups. The PE group has excellent laboratory facilities to perform HIL-based co-simulation of power systems and power electronics, and advanced battery characterization, performance testing and next-gen BMS development. The MOR group works on scalable and resilient energy management algorithms for energy cells through the developed open-source DEMKit simulator, we not only study these algorithms, but also test them in practice.

Additional information

Are you interested in this position? Please send your application via the 'Apply now' button below before November 6, 2026, and include:

• A cover letter (maximum 2 pages A4), emphasising your specific interest, qualifications, and motivation to apply for this position.
• A Curriculum Vitae, including a list of all courses attended and grades obtained, and, if applicable, a list of publications and references.

For more information regarding this position, you are welcome to contact Nataly Bañol Arias (m.n.banolarias@utwente.nl) & Gerwin Hoogsteen (g.hoogsteen@utwente.nl).

Screening is part of the selection process.