PhD Stipend in Digital Twin Modelling and Multi-Timescale Optimization of Electrolysis Systems at Aalborg University Aalborg University in Denmark

PhD stipend at Aalborg University in Digital Twin Modelling and Multi-Timescale Optimization of Electrolysis Systems.

This 3-year PhD project sits at the intersection of electrolysis systems, Power-to-X, digital twins, dynamic modelling, control, and energy-system optimization. The successful candidate will help develop system-level digital-twin and optimization methodologies that integrate electrolyzer models with renewable generation, power conversion, energy and hydrogen storage, downstream processes, and energy demand to improve flexibility, efficiency, and economic operation.

The position is affiliated with the Pioneer Center for Accelerating P2X Materials Discovery (CAPeX) and the Applied Power Electronic Systems section at AAU Energy. The work is based in Aalborg, Denmark, and involves collaboration with academic and industrial partners, including links to DTU, the University of Toronto, Stanford University, and Utrecht University. Research visits to partner facilities may be part of the project.

Research tasks include developing and validating physics-based, data-driven, or hybrid digital twins of electrolysis systems; building computationally efficient models for monitoring, performance prediction, optimization, and control; studying interactions across short- and long-timescale operations; and designing optimization strategies for variable renewable-energy integration. The project is strongly oriented toward modelling, simulation, optimization, control, and data analysis.

Applicants should hold a relevant master’s degree and have a strong foundation in at least one of electrochemical or energy-system modelling, dynamic modelling and control, mathematical optimization, or data-driven modelling. Good programming skills in Python or MATLAB/Simulink are expected, together with solid English skills. Experience with electrolyzer technologies, model predictive control, machine learning, renewable-energy integration, or hardware-in-the-loop would be an advantage.

The PhD stipend is normally for 3 years. The student must be enrolled at the Doctoral School of Engineering and Science, complete 30 ECTS of PhD courses, gain teaching/dissemination experience, and complete an external research stay outside Aalborg University, preferably 3–6 months abroad.

How to apply: submit the required documents through Aalborg University’s recruitment system via the job advertisement. The post includes a motivation letter, CV, diplomas, a 3–5 page project description, and any publications or other relevant documents.