PhD Student in Forcing and Nonlinear Interactions in Wind Turbine Wakes - DTU Wind

Danmarks Tekniske Universitet; Ørsted; On-site; DKK 335,000 - 420,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PhD stipend

International collaboration

Institute funding

Job summary

DTU Wind and Energy Systems in Denmark seeks a motivated PhD candidate to explore how nonlinear interactions in turbulent flows affect wind turbine wakes. The project combines fluid mechanics, high-fidelity simulations, and data-driven reduced-order modelling to advance wake dynamics under realistic atmospheric conditions.

The PhD is conducted with Imperial College London and Professor Oliver Buxton, including an extended stay at Imperial to bridge simulations and experiments and develop novel

Qualifications

• Background in engineering, physics or similar.
• Understanding of fluid mechanics, turbulence, boundary layers, wake aerodynamics.
• Understanding of dynamical systems.
• Experience developing data-driven methods (POD, autoencoders) and spectral analysis.
• Ability to work with large data sets.
• Experience with scientific programming, e.g. Python.
• Clear and concise communication skills in English.
• Positive attitude, strong drive, critical thinking, and eagerness to learn.
• Two-year master’s degree (120 ECTS) or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Perform CFD simulations of wind turbine wake aerodynamics across various conditions.
• Investigate data-driven methods for accuracy and efficiency to develop wake models.
• Conduct uncertainty quantification and validate data-driven models against high-fidelity results.
• Provide physical interpretation of constructed models.
• Participate in conferences and publish results in journals.

Skills

Turbulence theory

Wake modelling

Data-driven models

POD

Autoencoders

Dynamical systems

Large data handling

Python

English communication

Education

Master's degree (2-year)

Tools

High-performance computing

CFD

Job description

Are you motivated by fundamental questions in turbulence and excited to develop next-generation data-driven models for wind turbine wakes?

At DTU Wind and Energy Systems, we are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to investigate how nonlinear interactions between turbulent flow structures influence wind turbine wake dynamics.

The project combines fluid mechanics, high-fidelity simulations, and data-driven reduced-order modelling to advance our understanding of wind turbine wake behaviour under realistic atmospheric conditions.

The PhD is conducted in close collaboration with Imperial College London and Professor Oliver Buxton, and includes an extended research stay at Imperial with the aim of bridging state-of-the‑art numerical simulations and advanced laboratory experiments to create new modelling approaches for turbulent wind turbine wakes.

Responsibilities and qualifications

Your overall responsibilities will be to:

• To perform CFD simulations of wind turbine wake aerodynamics across various operational and atmospheric conditions.
• To investigate different data-driven methods in terms of accuracy and computational efficiency, e.g. linear and non‑linear methods, in order to develop models of wind turbine wake aerodynamics
• To perform detailed uncertainty quantification and higher‑order validation of the data‑driven models compared to high‑fidelity experimental and CFD results.
• To provide physical interpretation of the constructed models.
• Participate in scientific conferences and publish results in scientific journals.

We expect that you have:

• A background in engineering, physics or similar.
• Understanding of fluid mechanics, including turbulence, boundary‑layer flows and wake aerodynamics.
• Understanding of dynamical systems.
• Experience developing and using data‑driven methods, such as POD and/or autoencoders, and spectral analysis.
• Ability to work with large data sets.
• Experience with scientific programming, e.g. Python.
• Clear and concise communication skills in English.
• Positive attitude, a strong drive, critical thinking, and an eagerness to learn.

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree.

Approval and Enrolment

The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education.

Assessment

The assessment of the applicants will be made by Associate Professor Søren Juhl Andersen, Professor Henrik Bredmose from DTU as well as Professor Oliver Buxton from Imperial College London.

We offer

DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms

The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Please see DTU’s salary structure for scientific staff: www.inside.dtu.dk/en/human-resources/during-employment/salary/salary-structures

Starting date will be coordinated in mutual agreement, but no later than February 1st 2027. The position is full‑time. The start date will also depend on the enrollment as a PhD student.

The period of employment is 3 years.

You can read more aboutcareer paths at DTU here.

Further information

Further information may be obtained from Søren Juhl Andersen, [e-mail], tel. [phone].

You can read more at www.wind.dtu.dk

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open‑source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.

DTU Wind and Energy Systems is about taking the technology to the next level. About creating an impact for people and society through research and innovation. About collaborating with the entire energy sector to develop the most effective technology on the planet. We have more than 451 staff members of which 60% are researchers, 20 professors, 107 PhDs, 26 % women, spanning 48 nationalities. We work every day on our mission to lead by scientific excellence and impact driven research that enables a sustainable, large‑scale deployment of wind energy and the development of an integrated and resilient energy system.

DTU – For the benefit of society since 1829 is one of Europe's leading elite technical universities. Through research and education at an international top level, we create solutions to the major societal challenges of our time and help secure Europe's global leadership in sustainable technological development. Since Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU almost 200 years ago, our mission has remained the same: We develop and create value through the natural and technical sciences for the benefit of society. DTU has 13,800 students, 1,600 PhD students, and 6,500 employees. We work in an international environment and have an inclusive, stimulating, and informal work culture. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland and collaborates with the best universities around the world.

Location

Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark