PhD Stipend in Digital Twin Modelling and Multi-Timescale Optimization of Electrolysis Systems

Aalborg University; Aalborg; On-site; DKK 350,000 - 480,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation support

Danish language courses

Job summary

Aalborg University’s AAU Energy invites applications for a 3-year PhD position focusing on digital twins, multi-timescale optimization, and integrated Power-to-X systems. You will develop system-level digital twins, validate models, and collaborate with DTU, University of Toronto, Stanford, and Utrecht, with research visits to partners.

The position starts Nov 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter, with opportunities for teaching and supervision.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in energy engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, control engineering, or related discipline.
• Strong foundation in at least one of: electrochemical or energy-system modelling, dynamic modelling and control, mathematical optimization, or data-driven modelling.
• Experience with numerical modelling, simulation, optimization, control, or engineering-data analysis.
• Good programming skills in Python, MATLAB/Simulink, or a comparable scientific computing environment.
• Fundamental understanding of energy-conversion systems, thermodynamics, electrical engineering, heat and mass transfer, electrochemistry, or control engineering.
• Ability to conduct independent, systematic, and scientifically rigorous research while working effectively in a multidisciplinary team.
• Good written and spoken English.

Responsibilities

• Develop and validate digital-twin and optimization methods for electrolysis systems.
• Build computationally efficient models for monitoring, performance prediction, optimization and potential real-time implementation.
• Investigate interactions across operational timescales from short-term to long-term decisions.
• Develop optimization strategies to improve electrolyzer performance, efficiency, flexibility, and economics.
• Collaborate with academic and industrial partners and disseminate results through publications, conferences, and project activities.
• The position may include teaching and supervision of bachelor’s and master’s students.

Skills

Digital twins

Optimization

Python/ MATLAB

English proficiency

Education

Master's degree in engineering/related field

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

Python

Job description

Help to build the digital backbone of tomorrow's Power-to-X plants. This 3-year PhD position offers a unique opportunity to build a research career at the intersection of digital twins, multi-timescale optimization, and integrated Power-to-X systems. You will drive the development of system-level digital-twin and optimization methodologies, integrating electrolyzer models with renewable generation, power conversion, energy and hydrogen storage, downstream processes, and energy demand, to enable more efficient, flexible, and economically viable Power-to-X operation. This position is expected to start from 1st of November 2026 or as soon as possible hereafter.

About the project

The position is affiliated with the Pioneer Center for Accelerating P2X Materials Discovery (CAPeX) and the section for Applied Power Electronic Systems. You will join an interdisciplinary team working across electrolysers, Power-to-X systems, power electronics, control, digital twins, and energy-system optimization, in close collaboration with the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), University of Toronto, Stanford University, and Utrecht University, and research visits to partner facilities may form part of the position.

Your work tasks

You will develop and validate digital-twin and optimization methods for electrolysis systems, working both independently and collaboratively with the group and with academic and industrial partners. In particular, you will:

• Develop and validate physics-based, data-driven, or hybrid digital twins of Electrolysis systems, capturing their electrochemical, thermal, flow, and system-level behaviour for system monitoring, state estimation, and performance prediction.
• Build computationally efficient models suitable for monitoring, performance prediction, optimization, and control, and evaluate their accuracy, robustness, computational efficiency, and practical applicability. They could also be implemented in real-time systems.
• Investigate interactions across operational timescales (Multi-timescale optimization) — from short-term power, thermal, and flow management to longer-term production scheduling and energy-system operation — connecting fast system dynamics with slower operational decisions.
• Develop optimization strategies to improve Electrolyzer performance, efficiency, flexibility, and economic operation under variable electricity supply and renewable-energy integration.
• Collaborate with academic and industrial partners and disseminate results through scientific publications, conferences, and project activities.

The position may also include a limited amount of teaching and supervision of bachelor's and master's students in areas related to your expertise.

We expect you to have:

• A relevant master's degree in energy engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, control engineering, or a related discipline.
• A strong foundation in at least one of: electrochemical or energy-system modelling, dynamic modelling and control, mathematical optimization, or data-driven modelling.
• Experience with numerical modelling, simulation, optimization, control, or engineering-data analysis.
• Good programming skills in Python, MATLAB/Simulink, or a comparable scientific computing environment.
• A fundamental understanding of energy-conversion systems, thermodynamics, electrical engineering, heat and mass transfer, electrochemistry, or control engineering.
• The ability to conduct independent, systematic, and scientifically rigorous research while working effectively in a multidisciplinary team.
• Good written and spoken English.

Experience with some of the areas of electrolyzer technologies, digital twins, model order reduction, system identification, power electronics, model predictive control, multi-objective optimization, machine learning, renewable-energy integration, experimental testing, or hardware-in-the-loop implementation would be an advantage. You are not expected to have expertise in all of these areas.

Qualification requirements

PhD stipends are allocated to individuals who hold a Master's degree. PhD stipends are normally for a period of 3 years. It is a prerequisite for allocation of the stipend that the candidate will be enrolled as a PhD student at the Doctoral School of Engineering and Science in accordance with the regulations of Ministerial Order No. 1124 of September 19, 2025 on the PhD Programme at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions. According to the Ministerial Order, the progress of the PhD student shall be assessed at regular points in time. As part of the PhD study, you are among other things required to complete PhD courses corresponding to 30 ECTS, gain experience with teaching or other forms of knowledge dissemination and complete an external research stay outside of Aalborg University, preferably 3-6 months at a foreign research institution.

Who we are

The PhD Student will be positioned to the section for “Applied Power Electronic Systems” at Department of Energy in Aalborg University (AAU Energy). AAU Energy is an international research department at Aalborg University dedicated to developing clean and sustainable energy systems across electrical, thermal, and mechatronic energy technologies. We offer an interdisciplinary research environment, advanced laboratory facilities, and extensive collaboration with industry and academic partners. The department has campuses in Aalborg and Esbjerg; this position is based in Aalborg.

We offer access to advanced laboratory and workshop facilities and an environment where you can develop your academic profile through research, teaching and collaboration with both Danish and international external partners. As a workplace we value a collegial and inclusive culture with room for professional discussion, initiative and mutual support in everyday work.

New colleagues, whether they come from elsewhere in Denmark or from abroad, can draw on the university’s support services related to relocation, housing and practical matters. Aalborg University offers general onboarding support to all new employees, as well as dedicated support for international staff through its International Staff Unit (ISU). You can read more about relocation support and services here: https://www.en.hr.aau.dk/relocation-support

Aalborg University also offers Danish language courses to support international employees in settling into both the workplace and Danish society. International employees typically can attend Danish language courses during their first years in Denmark (depending on individual eligibility and national schemes).

You can read more about AAU Energy at www.energy.aau.dk.

Do you have any questions?

If you have any questions about the position, you are more than welcome to contact us. You will find contact persons at the bottom of the jobpost.

Further information

Read more about our recruitment process here.

The assessment of candidates for the position will be carried out by qualified experts.

Shortlisting will be applied. This means that after the application deadline, the head of the department, with the assistance of the hiring committee, will select the applicants to be assessed. All applicants will be informed whether they have been shortlisted for assessment or not.

The hiring process at Aalborg University may include a risk assessment as a tool to identify potential risks associated with new hires, ensuring the safety, compliance, and integrity of the workplace.

Read more about The Doctoral School of Engineering and Science

Salary and terms of employment

The employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities and the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities. Furthermore, your terms of employment and salary are in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the state (AC collective agreement).

You can find information about the salary and salary structure for the position in the Salary Overview for Recruitment - Scientific positions (VIP). Please refer to the introductory section of the page and the section entitled “PhD Fellow”.

There is a mutual probationary period of 3 months for the position.

Aalborg University - Knowledge for the world

Aalborg University is an international workplace with more than 3,700 employees. We offer real-world-oriented education and create world-class research results through collaboration between researchers, students, and public and private companies. This is how we achieve insights, new solutions to societal problems, and knowledge that changes the world. Our main campus is in Aalborg, but we also have campuses in Esbjerg and Copenhagen.