Job description

The University of Stavanger invites applicants for a position as Postdoctoral Fellow in Optimization of Multi-Energy Systems at the Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering. 

The position is vacant from October 2024 and the starting date is no later than 01.02.2025.

The objective of the position is to strengthen research, and to give researchers/scholars holding a doctoral degree the opportunity for further qualification toward top academic positions.

Postdoctoral Fellow is employed for a period of three years. The employment period includes required duties as teaching and supervision of students. 

The Postdoctoral Fellow will be affiliated with the Flexible Digitalized Integrated Energy System-FLEX project. 

The position is funded by Equinor ASA through the UiS-Equinor Academia Agreement.

The qualifying project will be carried out at the University of Stavanger. It is assumed that the appointee will work full time on the project and that she/he will participate in the academic community.

Information about the project

The FLEX project aims at improving the economic and environmental performance of integrated multi- energy systems via gathering/establishing necessary foundations to enable an integrated energy system planning and operational management. The Postdoctoral Fellow will address the modelling and optimization of multi-energy systems (MES). 

MES, as comprehensive networks that can unify existing primary energy systems, such as electrical power, natural gas, and heating and cooling networks, can enable a higher penetration of renewable energy sources and allow widely distributed energy end-users. Consequently, the application of MES can contribute to decarbonize the global energy system.

In Norway, utilising the benefit of its mostly renewable-based power system (mainly hydropower and wind energy), there have been several electrification initiatives carried out (for example increasing electrification of the transport sector). In addition, there are several national strategies on different topics (among them hydrogen, green industry, and battery manufacturing) that will increase the electricity consumption in case of successful implementation. To supply more electricity due to all the current and future electrification initiatives, electric grid expansion activities are being prioritised in Norway. However, all these activities require significant time and large investments. A parallel advantage of MES is that they can contribute to depressurize the power grid by better integration and coupling of local grids (not only electric grid but also others like heating and cooling), energy carriers (including new energy carriers like hydrogen), and infrastructure (also including storage options).

It is expected that the Postdoctoral Fellow plays a key role on characterising MES through the following activities; 

• developing (and gathering) mathematical models to represent energy flows, conversion and storage technologies (including thermal energy storage systems), and interactions within MES and interaction of MES with external distribution systems; 
• defining various objective functions and criteria; 
• formulating constraints from different aspects also including system limitations, environmental considerations, and regulatory requirements; 
• selecting optimisation algorithms (perhaps using mixed integer linear programming – MILP approach) and performing optimisation processes.

It is also expected that the Postdoctoral Fellow present research outputs, for example at conferences and project review meetings, provide guidance as required to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research, and contributes to writing proposals in the same field of research towards externally funding schemes.

Project proposal

You must submit a description of a research project within the subject area and plan for its completion. The project proposal must show how you will proceed to carry out the research work, what the key issues and hypotheses will be, what theories and methods you will apply, publication channels and a schedule for carrying out the work. It must be clear from the application in what way the project will add your competence. The project proposal will be included in the competence assessment.

The final project description and progress plan are drawn up in consultation with the supervisor (s) during the first three months of the employment period. It is a prerequisite that you complete the project during the employment period.

Qualification requirements

You must have a Phd within energy systems, or energy conversion processes and technologies, or energy storage technologies and undergraduate and graduate degrees in relevant fields of science or engineering, for example: energy engineering, mechanical/chemical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science or discipline closely related to the main duties. You must be able to document recent and active research activities. 

The PhD thesis must have been submitted for evaluation within the application deadline for the position and approved before accession.

Applicants that have submitted the PhD thesis within the last 5 years will be prioritized. Similarly, those that can document significant experience in performing research in close collaboration with industry will be prioritized.

You must have a good command of both oral and written English.

The following selection criteria will be emphasized:

• strong background within mathematical modelling and analysis of multi-energy systems
• strong and proven track record in techno-economic optimization approaches including (but not limited to) mixed-integer linear program (MILP)
• strong track-records and skills in code development and proficiency in high-level programming languages such as Phyton, or GAMS or other similar for simulations and optimization of energy systems
• strong and demonstrable proficiency in software tools related to simulation/optimization of energy systems (e.g. MATLAB, Modelica, Julia, Engineering Equation Solver – EES, or other similar)
• strong knowledge of energy conversion technologies (including those applicable for power-to-X applications), district heating systems, forecasting methodologies, sector coupling, power distribution grids, energy markets (and specifically electricity market), and game theories
• previous experience in application of machine learning techniques within energy systems
• strong analytical skills and ability to collect, analyze and study the impact of low carbon technologies
• good knowledge of decision-making theories, and uncertainty modeling and quantification in energy systems
• experience in development of graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and application programming interfaces (APIs)
• proven track record of academic publications, strong ability to disseminate project outcomes, and experience in proposal development in the same field of research

In the assessment the following criteria will be emphasised:

• relevance, quality and feasibility of the project
• submitted scientific work and your personal skills for completing the project within the time frame
• international experience and network
• qualifications within the areas of creativity, innovation and commercialisation of research
• good teamwork, communication skills and ability to participate in research communities across organisational units
• ability to work independently in a structured manner
• motivation, sense of responsibility and accountability, work capacity and enthusiasm for research

We offer

• varied duties in a large, exciting and socially important organisation
• an ambitious work community which is developing rapidly. We strive to include employees at all levels in strategic decisions and promote an informal atmosphere with a flat organisational structure
• colleague-based guidance programme (NyTi) if teaching is part of your position
• access to Lifekeys, a digital service for the preservation of personal mental health and well-being
• salary in accordance with the State Salary Scale, l.pl 17.510, code 1352, NOK 550.000 - 650.000 gross per year. A higher salary may be considered in special cases. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.
• automatic membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, which provides favourable insurance and retirement benefits
• favourable membership terms at a gym and at the university sports club, SiS sports club at campus
• employment with an Inclusive Workplace organisation which is committed to reducing sick leave, increasing the proportion of employees with reduced working capacity, and increasing the number of professionally active seniors
• Hjem-jobb-hjem, discounted public transport to and from work
• as an employee in Norway, you will have access to an optimal health service, as well as good pensions, generous maternity/paternity leave, and a competitive salary. Nursery places are guaranteed and reasonably priced.
• relocation programme

Diversity

Diversity is a resource in the working and learning environment at UiS. When we have different backgrounds and experiences, we can approach challenges from multiple perspectives and find better solutions.

At UiS, we are committed to showing respect for each other's differences and accommodating employees with disabilities. We take into consideration your needs and your situation in various life phases.

If you find this position interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, disability, cultural background, or whether you have been out of the workforce for a period.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, gaps in their CV, or immigrant backgrounds, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these groups for an interview. If you fall into any of these categories, feel free to indicate it when applying for the position.

Learn more about the criteria for being considered an applicant in these specific groups here.

The university aims to recruit more women within the subject area. If several applicants are considered to have equal qualifications, female applicants will be given priority.

Contact information

More information on the position can be obtained from Associate Professor Mohammad Mansouri, e-mail: mohammad.mansouri@uis.no or Head of Department Øystein Arild, e-mail: oystein.arild@uis.no.

Information about the appointment procedure can be obtained from Sr. HR advisor Margot A. Treen, e-mail: rekruttering@uis.no.

Application

To apply for this position please follow the link "Apply for this job". Your application letter, relevant education and work experience as well as language skills must be registered here. In the application letter, you must state your research interests and motivation for the position.

The following documents must be uploaded as attachments to your application:

• project proposal
• CV with a full summary of your education and experience
• documentation of approved PhD If you have not completed the PhD, you may enclose a confirmation from the institution on the expected date of obtaining the doctoral degree. 
• complete list of academic publications with information on where they are published. You may also upload up to 5 publications, including your PhD thesis or published monograph based upon the thesis.
• transcripts and certificates, and other documentation that you consider relevant

Applications are evaluated based on the information available in Jobbnorge on the application deadline. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above.

The documentation must be available in either a Scandinavian language or in English. If the total size of the attachments exceeds 30 MB, they must be compressed before upload. 

Please note that information on applicants may be published even if the applicant has requested not to be included in the official list of applicants - see Section 25 of the Freedom of Information Act. If your request is not granted, you will be notified.

UiS only considers applications and attachments registered in Jobbnorge.

General information

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. If your application is considered to be in conflict with the criteria in the latter legislation and if it is considered that you will not be able to start in the position within the date stated above, your application will be rejected without further assessment.

Employment as Postdoctoral Fellow is regulated in "Regulations concerning terms and conditions of employment for the posts of post-doctoral research fellow and research fellow, research assistant and resident".

We put emphasis on the quality, relevance and significance of the research work and not on where the work is published, in accordance with the principles of The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA).

Your qualifications for the position, based on documentation registered in Jobbnorge, will be assessed by an internal expert committee. 

Based on the committee's statement, relevant applicants will be invited to an interview before any recommendations are made. References will also be obtained for relevant candidates. More about the hiring process on our website.

UiS has an Acquisition of Rights Agreement for the purpose of securing rights to intellectual property created by its employees, including research results.

It is a prerequisite that you have a residence which enables you to be present at/available to the academic community during ordinary working hours.

The position has been announced in both Norwegian and English. In the case of differences of meaning between the texts, the English text takes precedence.

UiS - challenge the well-known and explore the unknown

The University of Stavanger (UiS) has about 12,000 students and 2,200 employees. The university has high ambitions. We strive to have an innovative and international profile, and be a driving force in knowledge development and in the process of societal change. Our common direction is driven by consideration for green and sustainable change and equitable social development, through new ways of managing natural resources and facilitating better cities and local communities. Energy, health and welfare, learning for life are our focus areas.



In constant collaboration and dialogue with our surroundings, regionally, nationally and internationally, we enjoy an open and creative climate for education, research, innovation, dissemination and museum activities. Academic life at the University of Stavanger is organised into six faculties comprising various departments/schools and National Research Centres, as well as the Museum of Archaeology. We are a member of the European Consortium of Innovative Universities. The university is located in the most attractive region in the country with more than 300,000 inhabitants. The Stavanger region has a dynamic labour market and exciting cultural and leisure activities.



Together with our staff and students we will challenge the well-known and explore the unknown.

The Faculty of Science and Technology offers study programs at bachelor, master and doctoral level. The faculty has established close cooperation on research with NORCE (Norwegian Research Centre AS) and the regional industry. A number of master's and doctoral theses are made in collaboration with the industry. The faculty has established research collaborations with universities in the US and Europe, and has developed several academic environments that are at the forefront internationally.The faculty has about 2,800 students and approximately 500 employees at the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Structural Engineering and Materials Science, Department of Mathematics and Physics, Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering, Department of Energy Resources and the Department of Safety, Economics and Planning.

Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering carries out research and offers study programs at all levels in Drilling Technology, Natural Gas Technology, Petroleum Engineering and Energy Technology. The department has established close research collaboration with relevant industry - especially in the petroleum and battery sector. The department focuses on internationalization, with the development of English study programs and high mobility among academic staff and students. There are currently 60 employees including research fellows and postdocs.