Postdoc in Data-driven (AI) Digital Twin modelling for Power Systems applying Power-2-X capacity

At the Faculty of Engineering and Science, AAU Energy, a position as Post Doc. is open for appointment from 1st September 2025 or soon after. The position is for 2 years, and it is funded in the new Danish Pioneer Center for Accelerating P2X Materials Discovery (CAPeX).

Aalborg University contributes to the knowledge building of the global society as well as the development of prosperity, welfare and culture of Danish society. This is accomplished through research, research-based education, public sector services and knowledge collaboration. AAU educates students for the future and activities are based on a dynamic and transformative collaboration with the surrounding community.

AAU Energy is a dynamic engineering research department in continuous growth and inspiring surroundings. AAU Energy has a very international environment and covers all areas of clean and sustainable energy systems of the future within electrical, thermal and mechatronic energy technology. AAU Energy has campuses in both Aalborg and Esbjerg, this position is located in Aalborg.

The mission is to be world leading in both research and research-based education of the energy engineers of the future. AAU Energy has approx. 300 employees of many nationalities, of which 25 are administrative staff. In addition, AAU Energy constantly has approx. 50-70 guest researchers from around the world.

Research and teaching are in the absolute world elite in the field of energy, and we have extensive and leading workshop and laboratory facilities, where research and innovation are carried out in direct collaboration with industry to a great extent.
The position is offered in relation to the research group “Power Electronic Control, Reliability, and System Optimization " and the Postdoc will be positioned to the section for “Applied Power Electronic Systems”.

CAPeX
The position is part of CAPeX which is a 13-year and 300 MDKK “Pioneer Center for Accelerating P2X Materials Discovery”, funded by Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science, the Danish National Research Foundation, the Carlsberg Foundation, the Lundbeck Foundation, the Novo Nordisk Foundation, and the Villum Foundation. CAPeX is hosted by the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and co-hosted by Aalborg University (AAU), and unites leading experts from DTU, AAU, University of Copenhagen, Aarhus University, and the University of Southern Denmark with international partners from Stanford University, Utrecht University, and the University of Toronto to form a truly Pioneering Center on P2X. You can read more about the CAPeX research themes and X-trails, our organization, and the other open PhD and postdoc cohort positions at http://www.capex-p2x.com.

The research area will be within modeling of electrical engineering systems applied in Power-2-X systems incl. power conversion and grid integration.

The aim is at the power system level to establish a chemistry-aware digital twin (DT) which is applying data driven models (AI-based) for Power-2-X systems. In the case of electrolyzers, simple voltage and current characteristics may be used to build and optimize equivalent electrical circuit based DT’s considering eg. the effect of temperature and degradation. It can be parametrically coupled to ongoing electro-chemical reactions enabling operational optimization for lifetime. For instance, adjusting power, voltage, frequency etc. during operation for balancing degradation.

The impact of power electronic converter front-end will be needed to be taken into account and the DT should cover large and small signal models as well as milli-seconds transition behavior to completely map the power system behavior. The DT should be able to model the impact of various design variables and manufacturing process parameters on the power-2-X system in order to guide the selection on material use, system design, manufacturing, and operation optimization.

The DT must be able in an efficient way to interface to Atomic-scale based digital twins eg. in electrolyzer systems and the related application areas in CAPeX. Therefore, it expects the DT models will be multi-domains and multi-timescales with defined interfaces at different levels, based on a combination of physics-based and data-driven approaches. Computation efficiency, accuracy, and compatibility (with different levels of models) are among the key performance metrics.

This specific Postdoc will be in close collaboration with DTU Energy and The European solar fuels consortium SUNERGY at Utrecht University; Netherlands – having co-supervisors from those two places as well as it can be expected for the Postdoc to be some time at those two locations.

Qualifications
Ideal qualifications, but we value potential too:

• Appointment as Postdoc presupposes scientific qualifications at PhD–level or similar scientific qualifications. The research potential of each applicant will be emphasized in the overall assessment. Appointment as a Postdoc cannot exceed a period of four years in total at Aalborg University
• Motivation and potential for research activities. Ability to work independently and in a team. Be innovative and creative. Keep an open mind. Be international oriented
• Expertise within the following topics will be an advantage: Multi-physics Modelling, Electrochemical engineering, Power Electronics, Electrical engineering, Meso-scale modelling, Electrolyzer technology , Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence
• Expertise with the following engineering tools and programming languages can be an advantage but not limited to: ANSYS, MATLAB, PLECS, others
• Excellent English language skills (both oral and written). Publications in international journals/conferences will be valued

How to apply  
Your application must include the following: 

• Application, stating reasons for applying, qualifications in relation to the position, and intentions and visions for the position 
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) 
• Diplomas (master's degree diploma and PhD diploma) 
• List of publications, with an indication of the attached publications that you wish to be taken into account in the assessment. You may attach a maximum of ten publications. If you are applying for a position at The Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH), you must submit a co-author statement, see template for co-author statement 
• Documentation of teaching qualifications. Depending on which faculty you are applying for employment, please see guidelines for teaching portfolio at The Technical Faculty of IT and Design, The Faculty of Engineering and Science and The Faculty of Medicine or guidelines for teaching portfolio at The Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. If this is not enclosed, the applicant must enclose the reasons for this 
• Dissemination qualifications, including participation on committees or boards, participation in organisations etc. 
• Additional qualifications in relation to the position 
• References/recommendations 

You can read more about the requirements for your application here.    

The application must be submitted via Aalborg University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aalborg University's website.  

Aalborg University wants to reflect the surrounding society and has diversity as a core value. Therefore, everyone, regardless of personal background and orientation, is encouraged to apply for the position. 

Do you have any questions? 
If you have any questions about the position, you are more than welcome to contact Professor Frede Blaabjerg: fbl@energy.aau.dk and HR AAU Energy: hr@energy.aau.dk.

Further information 
Read more about our recruitment process here   

The appointment process at Aalborg University involves a shortlisting process. You can read more about the shortlisting and appointment process here.  

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. 

Salary and terms of employment  
The employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities (the Appointment Order) and the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (in Danish) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities (in Danish). 

Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the state (AC collective agreement) (only in Danish) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities (only in Danish).