Postdoctoral Researcher: Power Systems Modeling and Analysis

National Laboratory of the Rockies; Colorado; On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

National Laboratory of the Rockies in Golden, CO invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher in Power Systems Modeling and Analysis. The role focuses on developing and applying state-of-the-art power system models to inform long-term grid planning and reliability analyses.

Candidates should have a PhD in EE or related field, strong programming skills, and experience with data-driven modeling, forecasting, and scenario analysis.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent in EE or related field.
• Strong programming and data analysis skills.
• Experience with power system models and grid planning.

Responsibilities

• Develop and apply state-of-the-art power system models.
• Conduct data wrangling and market/ scenario analyses.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to inform planning and reliability analyses.
• Communicate results to internal and external stakeholders.

Skills

Power systems modeling

Data wrangling

Scenario analysis

Model development

Education

PhD in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

Python

MATLAB/Simulink

Data analysis tools

Job description

Posting Title

Postdoctoral Researcher: Power Systems Modeling and Analysis

Location

CO - Golden

Position Type

Postdoc (Fixed Term)

Hours Per Week

40

Working at NLR NLR is located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for energy systems research and development. Join the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts are accelerating energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. From our mission to our collaborative culture, NLR stands out in the research community for its commitment to an affordable and secure energy future. Spanning foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, we focus on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions. Our work helps strengthen U.S. industries, support job creation, and promote national economic growth. At NLR, you'll find a mission-driven environment supported by state-of-the-art facilities, multidisciplinary research teams, and strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories. We offer robust professional development opportunities, and a competitive benefits package designed to support your career and well-being.

Job Description

The Price Signals for Grid Services Group within the Grid Planning and Analysis Center (GPAC) at the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) is hiring a postdoctoral researcher to join a highly interdisciplinary and collaborative team of researchers developing and applying state-of-the art power system models to conduct leading-edge analyses. GPAC research staff contribute to an exciting portfolio of energy research and analysis, applying advanced modeling and simulation tools to optimally plan for, design, and analyze distribution and bulk power systems to ensure reliability, affordability, and security. We are researchers, engineers, software developers, modelers, physicists, product managers, thought leaders, system thinkers, and life-long learners. Our staff engage in different research projects and find ways to contribute uniquely based on our interests and skillsets.

Example types of ongoing research and analysis include

• Innovating new data, models, tools, and systems that are needed for the future grid
• Working directly with U.S. communities to support grid reliability, affordability, and security
• Examining the necessary grid services and market structures to support a reliable and affordable future grid
• Developing the design and integration of new technologies, loads, and systems

NLR is the nation's primary national laboratory for critical minerals, energy innovation, and energy security. We seek to bridge research with real-world applications to advance new energy materials and technologies that lower costs, boost the economy, strengthen security, and deliver abundant and reliable energy. We partner with DOE, other federal agencies, states, utilities, ISO/RTOs, communities, and technology developers on grid planning and analysis. Our work informs decision makers and utilities by developing and analyzing future grid scenarios that answer big questions about how the electric power system is transforming. Come join a team whose mission is to ensure a reliable, affordable, and secure energy system for the United States!

Job Duties and Responsibilities

We are looking forward to welcoming a new postdoctoral researcher with expertise in power systems modeling to our team to conduct research around the future of the US power system. This postdoc will support model design and code development for long-term energy systems planning and analysis capabilities, with a focus on energy demand forecasting, load profiles for different end-use sectors, equipment stock turnover, and end-use technology adoption modeling. The candidate may also have the opportunity to engage on projects covering a broader set of crucial drivers to power sector evolution, including affordability, reliability, electricity markets, and transmission infrastructure growth/investment. Broadly, the candidate will be responsible for a variety of tasks including model development, data wrangling, conducting scenario analysis, communicating results internally and externally.

Specific job duties may include:

• Contributing to the development and implementation of new advanced methods for capacity expansion modeling,
• Researching rules, trends, and issues in power system planning and operation-e.g., transmission planning, changes in electricity demand, large load growth-and consider how to implement them into electric sector models,
• Executing quality control methods,
• Researching, acquisition, organization, and analysis of large data sets,
• Developing new data architectures to generically and flexibly describe infrastructure systems,
• Collaborating with analysts on other