Publisher
source

Delft University of Technology

PhD in Distribution Systems Flexible Operation under Uncertain and Incomplete Information Delft University of Technology in Netherlands

Degree Level

PhD

Field of study

Computer Science

Funding

Four-year doctoral appointment at TU Delft with employment contracts. Salary ranges from €3204 to €4051 gross per month over the four years based on a full-time 38-hour contract, plus 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus. Includes Graduate School enrollment, a customizable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution.

Deadline

Sep 27, 2026

Country flag

Country

Netherlands

University

Delft University of Technology

Social connections

How do I apply for this?

Sign in for free to reveal details, requirements, and source links.

Apply for this position

Keywords

Computer Science
Electrical Engineering
Information Technology
Mathematics
Operations Research
Artificial Intelligence
Optimisation
Smart Building
Energy Transition
Observability Theory
Surrogate Modeling
Statistics
Power System
Distributed System
Distributed Energy
ML

Suggested positions

About this position

TU Delft is hiring a PhD candidate for the project Distribution systems flexible operation under uncertain and incomplete information, part of the Future Network Services (FNS) 6G Project. The research sits in the Intelligent Electrical Power Grids group within the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science.

The project focuses on the energy transition at the low-voltage distribution level, where distributed energy resources (DERs) such as PV, electric vehicles, electric heat pumps, and smart buildings can provide flexibility to address voltage problems and network congestion. A central challenge is how to exploit this flexibility when data availability is limited and operational uncertainty is high. The PhD will investigate how AI and machine learning can support coordinated operation of DERs and smart buildings, improve observability, and develop surrogate models for distribution systems.

The position is jointly supervised by Pedro P. Vergara and Peter Palensky. The group emphasizes mathematically rigorous methods, near-term application potential, and open science practices such as publishing code and data. The role also includes opportunities to collaborate with industrial partners and researchers from related fields such as mathematics and operations research, plus some teaching support.

This is a four-year PhD appointment at Delft University of Technology. Funding is provided through employment, with a salary from €3204 to €4051 gross per month over the four years, plus holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus. TU Delft also mentions health insurance discounts, a work costs contribution, and relocation support for moving to the Netherlands.

Eligibility highlights include an MSc in a highly technical discipline (for example electrical engineering or computer science), strong analytical skills, basic power systems knowledge, and a solid foundation in machine learning and/or operational research. English proficiency is required; the post states that candidates do not need to submit test results initially, but TOEFL/IELTS evidence will be requested later. Desirable experience includes distribution systems, power flow, congestion management, optimization, Pyomo, Python, command-line tools, and version control.

Apply online by 27 September 2026. Submit a CV with grades for your qualifying degrees and a motivational letter. Applications sent by email or post will not be processed.

Funding details

Four-year doctoral appointment at TU Delft with employment contracts. Salary ranges from €3204 to €4051 gross per month over the four years based on a full-time 38-hour contract, plus 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus. Includes Graduate School enrollment, a customizable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution.

What's required

Applicants should have basic knowledge of power systems and a completed MSc degree in a highly technical related discipline such as computer science or electrical engineering, ideally at the top of their class. Strong analytical skills and a solid basis in machine learning and/or operational research are required, along with the ability to understand literature in both fields. Excellent oral and written English is required, with minimum TOEFL 100 or IELTS 7.0 per sub-skill. Desirable experience includes electrical distribution systems, power flow, congestion management, optimization methods, scheduling problems, Pyomo, Python, machine learning, command-line tools, and version control. Candidates should be independent, self-motivated, eager to learn, and willing to work with partners and assist in teaching.

How to apply

Apply online via the application button by 27 September 2026. Upload a CV with grades for BSc and MSc degrees and a motivational letter explaining your motivation and fit. Do not apply by email or post.

More information can be found here

Ask ApplyKite AI

Start chatting
Can you summarize this position?
What qualifications are required for this position?
How should I prepare my application?