One or more Postdocs in Power Electronics for Asynchronous SAFEr Grid
At the Faculty of Engineering and Science, AAU Energy, one or more postdoc positions are available within the general study program. The PhD stipend is open for appointment from 1st September 2025 or soon after.
The positions are for 2 years, and it is funded in the new European Research Council (ERC) Synergy grant on Store-and-Forward Energy grid (SAFEr Grid), which unlocks a new power grid architecture.
Your work tasks
Join our interdisciplinary team and work with leading scientists in the fields of power electronics, control systems, power systems, communication technology, and innovation management to research the fundamentals for a new era of power supply. Contribute to the development of innovative concepts and technologies that will not only make future power systems more reliable but also actively facilitate the success of the energy transition. This project will be in close collaboration with RWTH Aachen. Due to a high degree of interdisciplinarity, postdocs are expected to work closely with colleagues from RWTH Aachen and visit their facilities.
The candidate(s) will focus on conceptualizing and modeling the asynchronous architecture for future power grids. As we depart away from synchronicity, this will require new control strategies, coordination mechanisms between asynchronous modular grids that ensure more reliable and secure operation of power grids – without compromising the efficiency. The outcomes will be to validate its efficacy against frequent unstable events, handling contingencies, accommodate protection technologies by tokenizing energy-based control and modeling mechanisms – instead of power based signaling approaches.
Qualification requirements
- Appointment as Postdoc presupposes scientific qualifications at PhD–level or similar scientific qualifications. Research potential of each applicant will be emphasized in the overall assessment. Appointment as a Postdoc cannot exceed a period of four years in total at Aalborg University.
- Motivation and potential for research activities. Ability to work independently and in a team. Be innovative and creative. Keep an open mind.
- Expertise within the following topics will be an advantage: Distributed control, Cyber-physical systems, Smart transformers, Machine Learning, Power systems.
- Expertise with the following engineering tools and programming languages can be an advantage but not limited to: MATLAB, PLECS, PSCAD, others
- Excellent English language skills (both oral and written). Publications in international
journals/conferences will be valued.
Who we are
The energy transition poses fundamental challenges for our power grids: large conventional power plants with synchronous generators are successively being replaced by small-scale renewable energy sources, which are typically interfaced via power electronics converters. This transformation drastically reduces the physical inertia within electrical power grids while simultaneously increasing the volatility of generation and consumption. In the future, these developments could aggravate grid instabilities and even cause large-scale blackouts.This poses the following key research questions for the power grid community:
- How can we ensure reliable and stable operation of low-inertia power systems?
- How will the current power grid architecture sustain increased integration of renewable energy sources interfaced with power electronics?
- With reduced inertia, will the synchronous theory still hold?
- How can power electronics be enabled to operate and coordinate from the systems perspective instead of local theories?
AAU Energy is a dynamic engineering research department in continuous growth and inspiring surroundings.
AAU Energy has a very international environment and covers all areas of clean and sustainable energy systems of the future within electrical, thermal and mechatronic energy technology. AAU Energy has campuses in both Aalborg and Esbjerg, this position is located in Aalborg.
The mission is to be world leading in both research and research-based education of the energy engineers of the future. AAU Energy has approx. 300 employees of many nationalities, of which 25 are administrative staff. In addition, AAU Energy constantly has approx. 50-70 guest researchers from around the world.
Research and teaching are in the absolute world elite in the field of energy, and we have extensive and leading workshop and laboratory facilities, where research and innovation are carried out in direct collaboration with industry to a great extent.
The position is offered in relation to the research program "Power Electronic Control Reliability and System Optimization" and the postdocs will be positioned to the section for “Applied Power Electronic Systems”.
With decades of excellency in the field of power electronics, AAU Energy is dedicated to addressing the systemic challenge behind current power grid operation by incrementally conceptualizing asynchronicity using power electronics as a fundamental block. Inspired by the structural principles of the internet, the store-and-forward logic to control energy will be augmented into power electronic converters for real-time dynamic response and handling contingencies. As a result, power electronics will sustainably transform the current synchronous, monolithic system into multiple decentralized, modular asynchronous grids.
How to apply
Your application must include the following:
- Application, stating reasons for applying, qualifications in relation to the position, and intentions and visions for the position
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Diplomas (master's degree diploma and PhD diploma)
- List of publications, with an indication of the attached publications that you wish to be taken into account in the assessment. You may attach a maximum of ten publications. If you are applying for a position at The Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH), you must submit a co-author statement, see template for co-author statement
- Documentation of teaching qualifications. Depending on which faculty you are applying for employment, please see guidelines for teaching portfolio at The Technical Faculty of IT and Design, The Faculty of Engineering and Science and The Faculty of Medicine or guidelines for teaching portfolio at The Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. If this is not enclosed, the applicant must enclose the reasons for this .
- Dissemination qualifications, including participation on committees or boards, participation in organisations etc.
- Additional qualifications in relation to the position
- References/recommendations
You can read more about the requirements for your application here.
The application must be submitted via Aalborg University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aalborg University's website.
Aalborg University wants to reflect the surrounding society and has diversity as a core value. Therefore, everyone, regardless of personal background and orientation, is encouraged to apply for the position.
Do you have any questions?
If you have any questions about the position, you are more than welcome to contact us. For professional information, please contact Professor Frede Blaabjerg, fbl@energy.aau.dk.
Other questions, please contact HR AAU Energy, hr@energy.aau.dk.
Further information
Read more about our recruitment process here
The appointment process at Aalborg University involves a shortlisting process. You can read more about the shortlisting and appointment process here.
The hiring process at Aalborg University may include a risk assessment as a tool to identify potential risks associated with new hires, ensuring the safety, compliance, and integrity of the workplace.
Salary and terms of employment
The employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities (the Appointment Order) and the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (in Danish) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities (in Danish).
Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the state (AC collective agreement) (only in Danish) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities (only in Danish).
Aalborg University - Knowledge for the world
Aalborg University is an international workplace with more than 3,700 employees. We offer real-world-oriented education and create world-class research results through collaboration between researchers, students, and public and private companies. This is how we achieve insights, new solutions to societal problems, and knowledge that changes the world. Our main campus is in Aalborg, but we also have campuses in Esbjerg and Copenhagen.
Contacts
- Frede Blaabjerg: fbl@energy.aau.dk
- HR - AAU Energy: hr@energy.aau.dk
Ref number
2025/209