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SINTEF
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PhD Candidate (MSCA) in Optimal High-Temperature Heat Pump Control SINTEF in Norway
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Chemical Engineering
Funding
Three-year PhD position funded through the EU Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Network Grant HeatMinds; position is conditional on external funding.
Deadline
Nov 22, 2026
Country
Norway
University
SINTEF
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About this position
This PhD project is part of the HeatMinds MSCA Doctoral Network and is hosted by SINTEF Energy in close collaboration with Brunel University and other European partners. The advertised project, “Advanced Control Strategies for Dynamic Operation of High-Temperature Heat Pump Systems,” focuses on how high-temperature heat pumps can be controlled and integrated more effectively in dynamic industrial settings.
The doctoral research combines thermal engineering with advanced control and optimisation. The student will investigate and develop control approaches for high-temperature heat pump systems, including model predictive control, reinforcement learning, and self-optimizing control. The work also covers the evaluation of these strategies in integrated scenarios relevant to industrial decarbonisation and energy-system flexibility, along with demonstration in a pilot-scale laboratory system.
The position is situated within SINTEF Energy’s research environment, which has experience in the analysis, design, and experimental testing of high-temperature heat pumps and in advanced control methods for energy systems. The project is embedded in an international consortium spanning universities, research centres, and industrial actors across Europe, with collaborative research, secondments, training, and conference participation as key parts of the doctoral experience.
The candidate will be enrolled in the doctoral programme at Brunel University while carrying out the project at SINTEF, with supervision and collaboration across both institutions. The project includes an international secondment to the German Aerospace Center (DLR) Institute of Low Carbon Industrial Processes, offering exposure to experimental facilities and practical heat pump control methods.
The position is one of two PhD candidate roles in thermal engineering and industrial heat supply using high-temperature heat pumps within the HeatMinds network.
Funding details
Three-year PhD position funded through the EU Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Network Grant HeatMinds; position is conditional on external funding.
What's required
Applicants must hold a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS) or an equivalent degree at master's level. Final-year master's students may apply if the degree is completed and documented before 2027-01-01. A strong academic record (average grade B or better) or demonstrated research potential is required, along with eligibility for the Mechanical Engineering PhD program at Brunel University. Excellent written and spoken English is required. The MSCA mobility rule applies: at the time of employment, the candidate must not have lived, worked, or studied in Norway for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately preceding the start date. Mandatory background includes mathematical modelling, simulation and analysis of dynamic thermal systems, thermodynamic cycle analysis, control theory and PID tuning, and scientific programming in MATLAB or Python. Preferred experience includes MPC and/or RL, heat pump or thermal management system analysis and design, optimisation methods, and plantwide/self-optimizing control.
How to apply
Submit a cover letter, CV, grade transcripts, BSc/MSc diploma in English with grading scale description, and the names/contact details of two references. Ensure all required documentation is included because incomplete applications will not be considered.
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