Project Researcher (PhD. Student) or Postdoctoral Researcher, Electricity Markets and Flexibility (Electrical Engineering) - 2 positions

University of Vaasa; Pohjanmaa; On-site; EUR 26,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fitness benefits

Occupational health services

Flexible working time

Job summary

The University of Vaasa invites applications for two Project Researcher or Postdoctoral Researcher roles within the Electricity Markets and Flexibility project. The positions are full‑time for three years, hosted in the School of Technology and Innovations (Electrical Engineering).

The project combines market design and data‑driven analysis to quantify the value of flexible demand and data centre interactions, with a strong emphasis on international collaboration.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or PhD in a relevant field.
• Strong proven interest in the research area of the project.
• Demonstrated quantitative and analytical skills, including programming or modelling experience.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Motivation to produce high-quality research outputs.
• Excellent communication skills in English.
• Experience with energy system, power system, or electricity market modelling, and with the associated software and programming environments.
• Experience with optimisation, simulation, econometrics, or data analysis applied to energy or market data.
• Knowledge of data centre operations, computing infrastructure, or ICT energy use (Theme B).
• Experience working with industry stakeholders.
• Prior research or publication experience.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the project’s activities.
• Conduct independent and collaborative research within one of the project’s research themes.
• Develop, apply, and document quantitative models and analyses of electricity markets, energy systems, or flexible demand.
• Collaborate with an interdisciplinary group of universities, research organisations, system operators, energy companies, technology providers, and data centre operators.
• Participate in data collection, analysis, and validation activities with industry stakeholders and policy makers.
• Lead and co-author high-quality scientific publications in international peer-reviewed journals.
• Support teaching or supervision tasks when applicable (according to university guidelines).
• Present research at academic conferences and project meetings.
• Produce a doctoral dissertation based on the research carried out within the project.

Skills

Quantitative analysis

Programming

Energy systems modelling

English communication

Team collaboration

Education

Master’s degree or PhD in a relevant field

Tools

Python

MATLAB

GAMS

Job description

The University of Vaasa is an inspiring and international community where we work together for a sustainable and responsible future. We combine expertise in business and technology in a unique way, tackling current challenges with determination and collaboration. As part of the Nordic region’s largest energy technology hub, we promote sustainable business, energy, and society. We educate future professionals who will create a fairer and more sustainable world.

The University of Vaasa is seeking two motivated and talented Project Researchers or Postdoctoral Researcher to join the Research Council of Finland-funded Electricity Markets and Flexibility project.

The positions are full-time and fixed-term for three (3) years. The preferred starting date is flexible but agreed together as soon as possible. The positions are located in the School of Technology and Innovations and under electrical engineering discipline. The positions are located in Vaasa.

Background

The Electricity Markets and Flexibility project investigates how electricity markets must be designed, and how demand-side flexibility must be mobilised, for a power system dominated by variable renewable generation to remain reliable and affordable.

The project combines quantitative modelling of markets and the wider energy system with empirical analysis of how flexibility is created, priced, and traded by market participants. A central objective is to understand the interaction between market design choices and the total cost of the energy system, and to quantify the value of flexible demand, including the rapidly growing load from data centres, to system operation, investment, and consumers.

The project will produce new knowledge on electricity market design, system-level cost assessment, and demand-side flexibility, as well as new datasets, modelling methods, and blueprints. The results can be directly utilised in the scientific community, but also to improve decision-making in the public and private sectors.

The two positions are divided between two closely connected research themes. Decided theme is chosen depending on the profiles of the selected candidates.

Theme A: Electricity market design and the cost of the whole energy system

Research on this theme addresses the design of wholesale, balancing, reserve, and capacity markets under high shares of variable renewable generation; price formation, scarcity pricing, and locational signals; network charging and cost allocation; and sector coupling with heat and transport. The work involves system-level modelling of investment and operation to assess how alternative market designs affect the total cost of the energy system, security of supply, and the distribution of costs and benefits among market participants.

Theme B: Power system flexibility in data centres

Research on this theme addresses large data centres as controllable electricity loads. Topics include temporal and spatial shifting of computing workloads, the use of on-site energy storage and backup capacity, thermal flexibility and waste heat recovery, participation in wholesale, balancing, and reserve markets, grid connection and connection agreements, and the techno-economic and business case assessment of flexible operation. The work spans the modelling of data centre flexibility potential and its valuation from the perspectives of the operator, the system operator, and society.

Your role

You will play a key role in the project team and actively participate in the implementation of different activities within the research project. The role emphasises the ability to conduct high-quality research and interact with different national and international stakeholders. Your work will contribute directly to project deliverables and high-quality academic publications.

Key responsibilities in the position:

• Contribute to the project’s activities.
• Conduct independent and collaborative research within one of the project’s research themes.
• Develop, apply, and document quantitative models and analyses of electricity markets, energy systems, or flexible demand.
• Collaborate with an interdisciplinary group of universities, research organisations, system operators, energy companies, technology providers, and data centre operators.
• Participate in data collection, analysis, and validation activities with industry stakeholders and policy makers.
• Lead and co-author high-quality scientific publications in international peer-reviewed journals.
• Support teaching or supervision tasks when applicable (according to university guidelines).
• Present research at academic conferences and project meetings.
• Produce a doctoral dissertation based on the research carried out within the project.

The position may also include other tasks to be agreed upon separately. All tasks are agreed in more detail in the Annual Work Plan. The annual working time is 1612 hours.

Requirements

We expect the selected person to have the ability and motivation for doctoral studies and to complete a doctoral degree.

To be eligible for a full PhD student position, the candidate is required to participate in a separate application process which is arranged at least twice a year in order to be admitted and enrolled as a doctoral student at the University of Vaasa. For more information about eligibility and the application process, please visit the Graduate School's website: Doctoral education | University of Vaasa (uwasa.fi)

Required:

• You have a master’s degree or a PhD in a relevant field.
• Strong proven interest in the research area of the project.
• Demonstrated quantitative and analytical skills, including programming or modelling experience.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Motivation to produce high-quality research outputs.
• Excellent communication skills in English.
• Experience with energy system, power system, or electricity market modelling, and with the associated software and programming environments.
• Experience with optimisation, simulation, econometrics, or data analysis applied to energy or market data.
• Knowledge of data centre operations, computing infrastructure, or ICT energy use (Theme B).
• Experience working with industry stakeholders.
• Prior research or publication experience.

We offer

We offer an exciting opportunity to join a high-profile Research Council of Finland funded project as a Project Researcher or Postdoctoral Researcher for three years. The position provides excellent opportunities for international collaboration with leading experts in the field, access to industry-driven case studies, real-world data, and state-of-the-art modelling tools. For the Project Researcher position, the successful candidate will be expected to apply for and pursue a doctoral degree in Electrical Engineering through the University of Vaasa’s Doctoral Programme following a separate application process. You will benefit from comprehensive training in research methods, doctoral studies, and professional development, while working in a supportive and inspiring research environment within the University of Vaasa’s vibrant research community.

We promote the overall well-being of our employees at work by, among other things, offering fitness and cultural benefits, extensive occupational health care services, and versatile opportunities for continuous learning. Flexible working time arrangements and the possibility of partial remote work also support the balance of work and free time.

The salary will be based on both the job requirement and the employee’s personal performance in accordance with the Finnish University Salary System. The monthly salary of a Project Researcher (PhD Student) is based on job demand levels 2-4 (€ 2331-2907) and Postdoctoral Researcher on level 5 (€ 3366). An additional personal salary component is included based on work performance.

Further information about the position:

The employment is subject to a 6 month probationary period.

Inquiries about the online application system: careers (a) uwasa.fi

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The University of Vaasa’s 7,000 students and 700 employees enjoy Finland’s most beautiful campus by the sea. Together, we form a thriving and diverse university community where everyone feels they belong. Working with us means meaningful tasks, flexible working arrangements, comprehensive occupational health services, and employee benefits that support well-being and recovery. Our campus offers modern workspaces and inspiring meeting areas for smooth collaboration. The international HR Excellence in Research award reflects our commitment to high-quality HR practices. Learn more about us: https://www.uwasa.fi/en/open-positions