Joao Leal

A 100% PhD Research Fellow position is available at the University of Agder (UiA), Faculty of Engineering and Science, Department of Engineering Sciences, for a period of three years. The position is based at Campus Grimstad and is linked to the Energy Systems Group and the national research centre FME SOLAR, a major Norwegian collaboration focused on photovoltaic energy and grid integration. The project addresses power quality assessment and operational planning for distribution and transmission grids with high shares of photovoltaics and inverter-based resources. Research topics include development of digital twins for pilot LV/MV and HV grids, event-based power quality assessment frameworks, and a PQ toolbox based on electromagnetic transient simulations. The work also covers grid control strategies for increasing PV hosting capacity, such as active/reactive power control, voltage management, reactive power compensation (SVC/STATCOM), energy storage, demand-side management, and hybrid PV-wind systems. Another key objective is to develop optimal strategies that balance power quality, voltage stability, and losses, with validation through scaled hardware-in-the-loop laboratory experiments. The position is collaborative by design, involving close work within the FME SOLAR consortium. UiA offers a dynamic, inclusive, and international research environment, modern laboratories including OPAL-RT-based facilities, membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, and no tuition fees. The role is remunerated according to the State Salary Scale, code 1017 PhD Research Fellow, with a current gross annual salary of NOK 550,800. Eligibility requires a Master’s degree (120 ECTS) or equivalent in Electrical Engineering, Renewable Energy, or a related field. Final-semester candidates may apply. Applicants should have scientific programming and data analysis experience, preferably in MATLAB and/or Python, and good written and spoken English. If required under NOKUT rules, English proficiency must be documented through TOEFL or IELTS. Admission to UiA’s PhD programme in Engineering Sciences, Scientific Field Renewable Energy, is a prerequisite for employment. Preferred experience includes power quality analysis, EMT simulations, event-based power system studies, voltage control, hosting capacity analysis, renewable-energy grid integration, hardware-in-the-loop or laboratory power system experiments, and research output such as a Master’s thesis or publications. Knowledge of Norwegian or another Scandinavian language is also advantageous. Applications are evaluated on academic qualifications, relevance, technical and methodological competence, research potential, motivation, personal suitability, and language skills. The application deadline is 23 October 2026. Candidates must apply electronically and include diplomas and transcripts, a grading-system description for foreign education, a list of publications if applicable, and contact details for referees. Short-listed applicants may be invited for interview, and background and reference checks may be carried out before appointment.