Research Assistant - PhD Student for ERC Synergy Grant SAFEr Grid (m/f/d)

The energy transition presents power grids with fundamental challenges: Conventional power plants with synchronous generators are increasingly moving renewable energy sources, which are usually power-electronically coupled. This transformation drastically reduces the physical inertia of the power grid and simultaneously increases the volatility of generation and consumption. These developments can in future reinforce network instabilities and even cause large-scale power failures. So pioneering research questions are: how can the interaction of energy producers, consumers and energy storage be optimized in order to efficiently meet local and global energy needs and to ensure the reliable operation of a low-noise system? What regulatory procedures, coordination mechanisms and IT solutions are necessary in order to operate millions of decentralized power electronics within the power grid in a stable and efficient manner? Could the existing paradigm of globally synchronized and centrally controlled power grids be replaced by novel, alternative functional principles? At the Institute for Automation of Complex Power Systems of RWTH Aachen, we are devoting ourselves to these visionary questions as part of the SAFEr Grid project funded by the European Research Council with a Synergy Grant. The aim of the project is to develop an innovative architecture for future power grids, characterized by asynchronous coupling and a store and forward principle for controlling energy flows in the power grid. Instead of a synchronous and monolithic system, a decentralized and asynchronous network consisting of autonomous and modular subnetworks is developed. The subnetworks act independently of one another, but can exchange energy with one another in a targeted manner if necessary – an approach that is oriented towards the structure and functioning of the Internet. Become part of our interdisciplinary team and together with us as well as internationally leading scientists from the fields of energy supply, control technology, power electronics, communication technology and innovation management, you will form the basis for a new era of power supply. Work on innovative concepts and technologies that not only make future power grids safer and more reliable, but also actively drive the energy transition. The RWTH is certified as a family-friendly university. RWTH offers a variety of health, counselling and prevention services (e.g. university sports) as part of a university health management. There is a wide range of training and the possibility of obtaining a job ticket for employees and civil servants.

Your duties As part of an interdisciplinary team, you play a central role in implementing the scientific work packages within the SAFEr Grid project. In close cooperation with the partners within and outside RWTH Aachen, you will work on complex research tasks and develop innovative concepts for the operation of asynchronous power networks. According to your scientific expertise, your tasks include: Extension of the theory of dynamics and stability of electrical power networks taking into account asynchronously coupled subnetworks Integration of concepts and methods of cyber-physical systems into the theory of dynamics and stability of electrical power networks Development and simulative testing of novel regulatory approaches focusing on island networks Validation of the theoretical approaches at laboratory level using real-time simulation and hardware-in-the-loop tests You will present the results of your research at international specialist conferences and publish them in high-level journals (e.g. IEEE Transactions, Elsevier, Springer Nature). In addition, you actively support the courses of the Institute for Automation of Complex Power Systems.

Your profile You bring the following profile: A completed university degree (master or equivalent) in electrical engineering with a specialization in energy technology Knowledge of modelling, operation and control of electrical power networks Interest in scientific work with the aim of a doctorate Enthusiasm for exploring the latest technologies Experience in programming Innovative and interdisciplinary thinking, independent and structured working methods Social competence, communication and team skills Flowing English, preferably also fluent German Ideally, your profile is rounded off with knowledge and experience in: Real-time simulation of electrical networks by means of commercial simulators such as RTDS or OPAL-RT Co-simulation of energy supply infrastructures Hardware-in-the-Loop investigations for electrical power networks and their components System dynamics and stability analyses in electrical power networks Operation and control of island networks with network-forming and network-following converters Modern control methods for energy systems such as Virtual Oscillator Control, Active Disturbance Rejection Control or Hamiltonian Control Model-predictive regulations and optimization methods for complex, decentralised energy systems

The employment is in the employment relationship. The place shall be occupied at the next possible time and shall be limited to 2 years. A further employment of at least 1 year is envisaged. There is the option to extend the place for another 3 years. The temporary employment is carried out within the framework of the time-limits of the science-time contract law. It is a full-time job. If desired, parttime employment can be made possible. There is a doctoral opportunity. The grouping depends on the TV-L. The place is rated with EG 13 TV-L. The job description is aimed at all sexes. We want to promote the careers of women at RWTH Aachen University and are therefore looking forward to applicants. Women are preferably taken into account in the case of equal suitability, competence and professional performance, provided You are underrepresented in the organisational unit and, if not in the person of a competitor, outweigh the reasons. Applications for suitable people with difficulty are expressly desired. For the purposes of equal treatment, we ask you to waive an application photo. Information on the collection of personal data pursuant to Articles 13 and 14 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) can be found at https://www.rwth-aachen.de/dsgvo-information-bewerbe