Postdoctoral position in Advanced Control for Power Systems

Description

Electrification and digitalisation are among the largest areas for the future in the conversion to sustainable societies. The Department of Electrical Engineering conducts successful research and education in the areas - renewable energy sources, electric vehicles, industrial IoT, 6G communication and wireless sensor networks as well as research and education within Life Science, smart electronic sensors and medical systems. The Department of Electrical Engineering is an international workplace with around 160 employees that all contribute to important technical energy and health solutions at the Ångström Laboratory.

Come and work with us!
The position will be at the Division of Signals and Systems, at the Department of Electrical Engineering. Here you will find a friendly work environment with a dedicated colleague and a variety of experimental projects. The Division of Signals and Systems works in collaboration with Swedish companies - public and private - and stakeholders in the different fields of research. We look forward to receiving your application. Join us and build the future with us!

Project description:

Achieving reliable and safe electrification depends on the effective integration of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), connected to the system via power electronic inverters and referred to as Inverted-Based Resources (IBRs). Power system controllers play a crucial role in maintaining security and stability during disturbances, suppressing oscillations and preventing outages. Practice-proven (legacy) controllers rely on simplified control strategies that cannot guarantee the aforementioned properties.

The project aims to systematically address emerging challenges associated with increasing uncertainties in IBR-dominated power systems, and to develop advanced control methods that overcome the limitations of legacy controllers while appropriately adapting to real-time system conditions.

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at Uppsala University.

Duties

The postdoctoral researcher will carry out research in the area of control for power systems. The successful candidate will explore topics such as:

• Adaptive control for IBR-integrated power systems
• Multi-agent hybrid control strategies
• Data-driven control from real-time data
• Safety-constrained control for state confinement within desired limits
• Integration of real-time control and machine-learning techniques

The successful candidate will also collaborate with power-system and machine-learning experts as well as the power-system industry. The duties also include participating in teaching and other institutional tasks to a maximum of 20% of the working time.

Requirements 

• The applicant must hold a PhD degree or a foreign degree equivalent to a PhD degree in automatic control or related areas.
• The degree needs to be obtained by the time of the decision of employment. Those who have obtained a PhD degree three years prior to the application deadline are primarily considered for the employment. The starting point of the three-year frame period is the application deadline. Due to special circumstances, the degree may have been obtained earlier. The three-year period can be extended due to circumstances such as sick leave, parental leave, duties in labour unions, etc.
• Excellent oral and written proficiency in English.
• The candidate must clearly document a high degree of self-motivation in the application. Personal characteristics, such as a high level of creativity, thoroughness, and a structured approach to problem-solving are desired.
• Good collaboration and communication skills with other researchers. Ability to work purposefully, structured, and to work effectively both individually and in groups.

Additional qualifications 

• Background in power systems, power electronics and experience in related research and/or strong interests in developing new control tools for power systems;
• Strong mathematical background;
• Good proficiency in programming (Python, MATLAB, or C++).

Application

Please use the link below. You should include a brief description of your research interests and relevant experience, a CV, copies of diplomas and certificates, thesis (or a draft thereof) and other relevant documents. You are encouraged to provide contact information to reference.

About the position

The position is a temporary two-year appointment in accordance with the central collective agreement. The employment is full-time. Starting date: 2025-11-15 or as agreed. Location: Uppsala.

For more information about the position, please contact: Christos Verginis (christos.verginis@angstrom.uu.se)

You are welcome to submit your application no later than 15 September 2025, UFV-PA 2025/2449.