Doctoral Fellow in Large-Scale Electric Vehicle Charging and Grid Integration – Department of Electromechanical, Systems and Metal Engineering

This doctoral fellowship at Ghent University’s Department of Electromechanical, Systems and Metal Engineering is hosted by the EnSy/Lemcko research group, located on the UGent campus in Kortrijk. The group specializes in power quality, smart microgrids, renewable energy, hosting capacity, and grid flexibility. The research project focuses on developing key technological components for the large-scale coordination of light-duty electric vehicle (EV) charging and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) integration, aiming to support grid balancing and congestion management. The work involves creating a simulation framework to model the electric behavior of large-scale EV charging and discharging, treating EVs as coupled mobility and energy assets within the energy system. You will develop models to determine the hosting capacity of the distribution grid, including transformers, as a function of urban and grid morphology. The project includes analyzing charging data from various types of charging stations (residential, public, high-power) to gain realistic insights into connection times, charging capabilities, arrival times, and charging power. You will develop probabilistic models to capture the stochastic nature of driver charging behavior and use GIS applications to estimate the maximum number of EVs that can fit in an area from an urban planning perspective. The research will also estimate the proportion of EVs that can be connected to public and private car parks or along streets, providing a realistic picture of potential storage capacity based on environmental conditions. Analysis of dynamic hosting capacity at both low-voltage (LV) and medium-voltage (MV) levels is included. Synthetic load profiles for charging station users will be analyzed to determine the maximum available power for EVs and compare it with local load profiles. The project will assess the total reception capacity of the MV grid for large-scale EV charging and discharging, considering business parks, shopping malls, and charging plazas. A scalable network model will be developed based on urban morphology to determine the maximum allowable EV hosting capacity in the network. Expected research outcomes include a set of categorical synthetic charging profiles, prediction of the tolerable number of EVs for a given feeder model, and forecasting of dynamic hosting capacity. Additional responsibilities include project reporting, publishing research results in high-ranked journals, supervising Master’s thesis students, and supporting Lemcko staff in teaching and lab sessions. The position offers a full-time doctoral fellowship for up to 48 months, with a competitive salary and comprehensive staff benefits. Applicants should have a relevant Master’s degree, strong motivation, scientific and practical skills in renewable energy and grid systems, proficiency in Matlab, Simulink, Python, and Latex, excellent English communication skills, and willingness to learn Dutch. Applications must be submitted by November 18, 2025.