Postdoctoral Researcher: Power System Operation and Optimization
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
**Posting Title**
Postdoctoral Researcher: Power System Operation and Optimization
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**Location**
CO - Golden
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**Position Type**
Postdoc (Fixed Term)
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**Hours Per Week**
40
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**Working at NREL**
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.
Join a team of world-class scientists, engineers, and visionaries dedicated to shaping the world’s energy future through cutting-edge research and innovation. From our vision to our NREL community, we are unique in the research community. We are focused on impact. From our work in basic sciences to systems engineering, analysis, demonstration, and deployment, we are focused on solving market-relevant problems that result in advanced, secure, reliable, and affordable energy systems. We are trusted clean energy leaders, developing cost-saving solutions that make U.S. industries more competitive, and support job creation and economic growth across rural and urban communities.
At NREL, we offer a unique, mission-driven work environment with cutting-edge facilities and multidisciplinary research teams. NREL's environment offers strong partnerships with industry, academia, and other national laboratories, as well as professional development opportunities and a competitive benefits package for employees.
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**Job Description**
The Grid Automation and Controls Group of the Power Systems and Engineering Center (PSEC) at NREL is looking for an exceptional Ph.D. graduate to support research in the operation, control, modeling, and simulation of the power grid, while the power grid is transitioning to a low-carbon and high-renewable grid.
We are looking for a power system researcher who has solid background on power system modeling, operation, and optimization. Ideal candidate is expected to have research experience focusing on distribution grid and distributed energy resources (DERs), which covers at least one of the following topics:
+ Developing DER optimization schemes or data-driven controls for grid reliability and resilience
+ Developing grid automation and control schemes, such as volt-var control, inverter control
+ Developing dynamic simulation models and familiar with hardware-in-the-loop experiments
Ideal candidate is also expected to have a proven record of publishing research work in prestigious journals.
The successful candidate will work on multiple projects, and collaborate with both internal researchers and external partners.
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**Basic Qualifications**
Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.
*** Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.**
**Additional Required Qualifications**
+ Relevant Ph.D. or Ph.D. candidate in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science or related fields.
+ Experience in distributed energy resource modeling, optimization, and control
+ Experience in power system modeling and optimization
+ Experience in at least one of the power system software tools including OpenDSS, PSCAD, PSS/E
+ Proficiency in Matlab or Python programming
**Preferred Qualifications**
+ Familiar with microgrid, grid resilience, grid cybersecurity
+ Familiar with market participation, virtual power plant.
+ Familiar with T&D coordination
+ Proficiency in commercial/open-source optimization solvers and packages (e.g., GAMS, Gurobi, CPLEX)
+ Software development experience is a plus. Experience with software development in Python, C++, or other programming languages.
+ Excellent writing and verbal communication skills.
+ Track record in strong scientific publications
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**Job Application Submission Window**
The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.
**Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)**
Job Profile: Postdoctoral Researcher / Annual Salary Range: $74,900 - $123,600
NREL takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.
**Benefits Summary**
Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short-term disability insurance*; pension benefits*; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; personal time off (PTO) and sick leave; and paid holidays. NREL employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement.
***** Based on eligibility rules
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The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is a leader in the U.S. Department of Energy’s effort to secure an environmentally and economically sustainable energy future. With locations in Golden and Boulder, Colorado, and a satellite office in Washington, D.C., NREL is the primary laboratory for research, development, and deployment of renewable energy technologies in the United States.
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If you are offered employment at NREL, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.
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