PhD Researcher Smart Grids

Job offer:
Research position to pursue a Ph.D. degree (4 years)
Focus on highly scalable and distributed algorithms to coordinate energy consumption and
production (demand response, DR), as well as the required network (and related software)
architectures & protocols to enable implementing them
Challenging, creative and constructive environment
Unique opportunity to participate in European research projects and to cooperate with
important ICT-oriented companies
Competitive salary
Function:
Our research group currently is involved in a couple of national, as well as European, research
projects in the area of smart grids. The focus of our smart grid team in these projects is on scalable
software and network architectures, as well as coordination algorithms for e.g., demand response. The
overall objective of the smart grid applications we want to support is to accommodate large
penetration of renewable sources (wind mills, solar panels, etc.) without requiring excessive
investments in the power grid infrastructure.

Your role in these projects will be to devise and evaluate cutting edge algorithms, and study the
required (distributed) software and network architecture, to be able to realize them in realistic large-
scale deployments, and possibly design/implement software prototypes for simulation and proof-of-
concept demonstrations (in lab settings, but also in live field trials). You will perform this work in the
context of research projects that will give you the opportunity to interact and collaborate with
researchers and engineers of leading European universities, research institutes and companies. As
you will be dealing with several aspects of designing and evaluating systems (mathematical models,
optimization techniques, machine learning, network and distributed software architectures, software
development, simulation, etc.), the function is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate and further
improve several of your mathematical and engineering skills.
Your profile:
You have strong analytical skills, you are well organized, you are an excellent communicator, a
team player.
You have a strong sense of responsibility and are also able to autonomously plan and perform
research tasks. You respect the predetermined milestones in research projects.
Your English is fluent, both in speaking and writing
Both young graduates and candidates with (industrial) experience are welcome
Master in electrical engineering, ICT, computer science or similar disciplines.
Knowledge of computer network architectures, basic distributed software concepts,
optimization techniques (e.g., linear programming, heuristics), machine learning fundamentals.
A proven experience in software development (e.g., student projects or master thesis
successfully completed and in which an important software development component was
required), knowledge of C/C++, Java.
Interested?
Send your motivation letter and CV to martine.buysse@intec.ugent.be , indicating Application: PhD
Researcher Smart Grids in the subject.