Eindhoven University of Technology
Just Landed
Posted Yesterday
PhD in Fair Distributed Optimization and Control of Large-Scale Networked Energy Systems Eindhoven University of Technology in Netherlands
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Computer Science
Funding
Full-time employment for four years with an intermediate assessment after nine months. The position provides a gross base salary of €3,204–€4,051 per month at Dutch Universities Collective Labour Agreement scale P, plus an 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% year-end bonus. Benefits include pension, leave, parental and maternity provisions, commuting, home-working and internet allowances, and other employee benefits.
Deadline
Dec 4, 2026
Country
Netherlands
University
Eindhoven University of Technology
Apply for this position
Keywords
Suggested positions
About this position
This PhD project develops fair, scalable and reliable methods for controlling large-scale networked systems, with the electricity distribution grid as its main application. Thousands of solar panels, heat pumps and electric vehicles increasingly compete for limited network capacity, creating a need for transparent and equitable congestion management.
The research will formalize fairness concepts such as proportional, max-min and probabilistic fairness as mathematical objectives or constraints in distributed optimization and control. You will design consensus-based, primal-dual, ADMM-type and game-theoretic algorithms that coordinate many agents using local computation and limited communication.
You will also develop fairness-aware distributed model-predictive and online feedback controllers, study randomized and weighted allocation policies, and incorporate uncertainty through stochastic, robust and learning-based control. The theoretical work will address convergence, stability, robustness, constraint satisfaction and fairness under forecasting errors, model mismatch and communication delays.
Algorithms will be validated through realistic distribution-network simulations and real-world data from Dutch distribution system operators. The project connects distributed optimization, control theory, multi-agent systems, responsible artificial intelligence, machine learning and power systems, and is part of the Responsible AI for Fair and Efficient Control of Energy Systems (RAICES) project.
The successful candidate will join the Control Systems group at Eindhoven University of Technology and collaborate with experts in distributed control, responsible AI and electrical engineering. The work combines rigorous mathematical analysis with societally relevant applications that can support renewable-energy integration and public trust in the energy transition.
Funding details
Full-time employment for four years with an intermediate assessment after nine months. The position provides a gross base salary of €3,204–€4,051 per month at Dutch Universities Collective Labour Agreement scale P, plus an 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% year-end bonus. Benefits include pension, leave, parental and maternity provisions, commuting, home-working and internet allowances, and other employee benefits.
What's required
Applicants must have a master's degree or equivalent university degree in Systems and Control, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Operations Research or a related field. Candidates still completing an MSc should state their expected graduation date in the cover letter. Applicants should have a strong background in control theory and/or optimization, such as convex or distributed optimization, multi-agent systems, model predictive control or game theory; solid mathematical skills and an interest in rigorous analysis and proofs; programming experience in Python, MATLAB or Julia; a research-oriented attitude; ability to work in an interdisciplinary team; motivation to develop teaching and student-coaching skills; and fluent spoken and written English at C1 level. Prior knowledge of power or energy systems is not required.
How to apply
Submit a complete online application using the advert's Apply button. Include a cover letter describing your motivation and qualifications and a CV with publications and contact details for three references. Applications sent by email or post will not be processed.
Make your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.
Make your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.