丹麦奥胡斯大学博士后职位招聘–能源系统设计优化

At the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, we seek a postdoctoral researcher to investigate energy systems design optimization, in particular integrating seasonal thermal energy storage technologies. This position is part of the multidisciplinary project “Sociotechnological Breakthrough of Thermal Energy Storage – a new Approach of Constructive Technology Assessment (SOTES)”, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation, which involves scientists with an engineering as well as political science background from the University of Bern and Hochschule Luzern.

Expected start date and duration of employment

The position is available from 01/03/2023 (or as soon as possible). The position is for 2 years and 6 months, until 31/08/2025.

Job description

The project related tasks will be:

• Advance optimization-oriented models of seasonal thermal energy storage (STES) systems.
• Develop a software platform to assess and optimize the design and operation of multi-energy systems integrating combinations of various energy generation, conversion, and storage technologies.
• In collaboration with political science research partners, integrate the social acceptance perspective (acquired via conjoint experiments, an innovative instrument in political science) in the energy system design optimization.
• Work on own research ideas and translate them into research ideas / project proposals, in close collaboration with our team.

The researcher will be expected to take a leading role in the development of the modelling and optimization platform employed in this project, as well as coordinate the activities in collaboration with the project partners. Besides conducting the project-related research, the researcher will have the opportunity to join relevant ongoing activities at the Building Science Section of the Department.

Academic qualifications

• PhD degree in engineering
• Background in building and/or district energy systems modelling and simulation
• Experience with numerical optimization tools, possibly applied to energy systems design/control
• Good Python or Matlab programming skills

Personal qualifications/social skills

The candidate is expected to independently work on project tasks, be able to work well within interdisciplinary teams, and be self-motivated. Fluent communication in English is essential.
The candidate should have a good and pertinent research-track record, with publications in high-quality journals in the energy field.

Who we are

Department of Civil and Architechtural Engineering was established on January 1, 2021 in connection with Aarhus University’s reorganization of the engineering area. The department employs around 100 people and is responsible for research and education within the department’s scientific areas. We educate both Bachelors and Masters of Science in Engineering and around 950 students are enrolled in our study programs. Furthermore, we also offer an ambitious PhD program. Our PhD students have high academic ambitions and deliver high-quality results for both the private and the public sectors.

Through research and development, we forge sustainable technological solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing industry and society. We strive to contribute to sustainable development and to create green solutions to challenges within construction, indoor climate, geotechnics, environmental and climate adaptation and many other areas.

Our research is both basic and applied, and we develop current knowledge into workable solutions in the business community. We collaborate with a wide range of public and private enterprises, and many of the department’s research and development activities are based on the innovation needs of the business community. Through collaboration, we ensure that the knowledge and technology generated in the university’s technical research environments are clearly anchored in reality and benefit the surrounding society. Based on our research on building materials, architectural design and technology, we also offer research-based public sector services and consultancy on technology to public agencies and ministries.

What we offer

The department/centre offers:

• a well-developed research infrastructure, laboratories and access to shared equipment
• an exciting interdisciplinary environment with many national, international and industrial collaborators
• a research climate encouraging lively, open and critical discussion within and across different fields of research
• a work environment with close working relationships, networking and social activities
• a workplace characterised by professionalism, equality and a healthy work-life balance.

Place of work and area of employment

The place of work is Inge Lehmanns Gade 10 (Navitas), Aarhus, at the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering of Aarhus University.

Contact information

Questions regarding the position should be directed to Prof Massimo Fiorentini (massimo@cae.au.dk).

Deadline

Applications must be received no later than 04/12/2022

Application procedure

Shortlisting is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the appointment committee if necessary, – the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. All applicants will be notified whether or not their applications have been sent to an expert assessment committee for evaluation. The selected applicants will be informed about the composition of the committee, and each applicant is given the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that concerns him/her self. Once the recruitment process is completed a final letter of rejection is sent to the deselected applicants.

Letter of reference

If you want a referee to upload a letter of reference on your behalf, please state the referee’s contact information when you submit your application. We strongly recommend that you make an agreement with the person in question before you enter the referee’s contact information, and that you ensure that the referee has enough time to write the letter of reference before the application deadline.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to ensure that letters of reference received after the application deadline will be taken into consideration.

Formalities and salary range

Technical Sciences refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

The application must be in English and include a curriculum vitae, degree certificate, a complete list of publications, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching portfolio and verified information on previous teaching experience (if any). Guidelines for applicants can be found here.

Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities.

Salary depends on seniority as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Associations.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Research activities will be evaluated in relation to actual research time. Thus, we encourage applicants to specify periods of leave without research activities, in order to be able to subtract these periods from the span of the scientific career during the evaluation of scientific productivity.

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners. Read more here. Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here.

Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU. You can read more about it here.

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University’s website.

Aarhus University

Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,000 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR885 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/