PhD Student in Forecasting and Data-Driven Control for Energy Transition

Deadline: September 24th, 2023
The University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI), in response to the successful acquisition of two Horizon Europe projects on demand-side management of electric vehicles (EVs), is opening a PhD position at the Department for Environment Constructions and Design (DACD), located in Mendrisio, within the Institute of Applied Sustainability to the Built Environment (ISAAC).
Start Date: 1st October 2023, (or a start date to be agreed upon). Full time position (100%).

Scope and purpose of the position

The ideal candidate will possess skills in data science, machine learning, and optimization, with a strong interest in energy transition topics and smart grids. This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to Switzerland's ambitious plans to significantly increase the installation of distributed energy resources by 2050 and to facilitate the electrification of the mobility and heating sectors.

The selected candidate will engage in research into data-driven, robust, forecasting and control techniques that facilitate the integration of EVs into the electrical grid. This research will be conducted in the ISAAC Smart Energy System team, in close collaboration with the Institute Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence (IDSIA). The PhD title will be granted by a co-supervising Swiss University or Federal Institute of Technology, determined based on SUPSI’s network and the candidate's preferences.

Responsibilities and activities

The candidate will conduct research in the field of forecasting and control. Specific responsibilities include:
  • Researching and proposing new innovative probabilistic techniques to forecast mobility patterns, energy production, and consumption, such as diffusion models and graph-based neural networks.
  • Working on how to optimally exploit these forecasts in a decision process to control and schedule electrical loads.
  • Publishing research findings in peer-reviewed academic journals and presenting at relevant conferences.
  • Collaborating with the ISAAC Smart Energy System team and the Swiss AI Lab IDSIA on ongoing research projects.

Requirements

  • A Master's degree in data science, computer science, statistics, applied mathematics, or a related field.
  • An interest in data-driven decision models, decision-making under uncertainty, renewable energy generation, and power grid management.
  • Good knowledge in Python is required. The ideal candidate has a solid understanding of machine learning and statistics. The knowledge of optimization tools like cvxpy, gams, gurobi, or similar tools is a plus.
  • Good interpersonal and communications skills are required.The ability to work well in a team and the willingness to learn and conduct independent research are essential.
  • Good knowledge in English are required. Knowledge of another Swiss national language is appreciated.

We offer

  • A 3-year fixed-term, full-time position with the possibility of future extension. Salary in line with Swiss doctoral grants.
  • Cooperation with a team of researchers with extensive experience in research and development projects in the field of renewable energies and their integration in the grid.
  • Interdisciplinary working environment and collaboration within research projects of federal and European relevance, in contact with partners, companies and professionals in the field.
  • Possibility to work partially in home office.

Additional information

The requirements for this function are published within the “Direttive interne SUPSI” and within “Regolamento del personale SUPSI” on the “Documenti ufficiali”.

For further information please contact:
Roman Rudel

Applicants should submit the following documents, written in English:
  • Motivation letter
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Certificates of study
  • List of three references (with e-mail addresses)
  • Copy of identity document
  • Extract of criminal records valid for six months

Applications should be submitted electronically in English by 24th September 2023 through the appropriate online form.
Applications which are incomplete or sent after the deadline will not be considered.
The starting date will be mutually agreed on. The successful candidates from outside Switzerland and European Union should account for an additional 4-6 months for receiving their residence permit.