PhD Position in Electrical Engineering under the MSCA Doctoral Network: FITNESS

OFFER DESCRIPTION

Open call for applications for a position as a PhD student Open call for applications for a position as a PhD student to study the operation and planning of the electrical distribution network in a decentralized way, considering TSO-DSO interaction, P2H, demand response, storage devices and electric vehicles. These topics are investigated within the FITNESS (GA 101168796) project funded under the call for proposals MSCA Doctoral Networks 2023 - HORIZON-MSCA-2023-DN-01.

This research will be conducted within the framework of the FITNESS project (GA. 101168796), funded under the MSCA Doctoral Networks 2023 - HORIZON-MSCA-2023-DN-0 call.

About FITNESS

FITNESS is a Doctoral Network at the intersection of power distribution optimization, electricity markets, communications, and control systems. It aims to develop new methodologies for active distribution network services in the smart grid era.

As the first training network dedicated to this challenge, FITNESS brings together 4 Beneficiaries and 6 Associated Partners from 7 EU countries, ensuring a pan-European, multi-sectoral approach involving universities, research centers, and SMEs.

The project will train a new generation of researchers through: Doctoral Candidate (DC) projects; courses and workshops focused on hands-on, collaborative learning and transferable skills; mobility and knowledge transfer within a network of top European researchers.

Salary and appointment terms:

The gross salary is based on the conditions established by the MSCA-DN call and will be adjusted according to the country coefficient, family charge and social taxes for each DC situation.

MINSAIT will establish an employment contract with the employee, which under Spanish legislation includes two types of taxes that must be paid by the employer and the employee, respectively, and in two different stages, that will be retained from the total EU funding:

• Employer’s share of social Security Contribution (cuota patronal) – A percentage of 33,18% (2024) that will be retained from the total allowance as calculated in the budget.
• The Contribution to the Social Security System and the Personal Income Tax, to be deducted before receiving the net salary. The percentage retained  depends on personal and familiar circumstances of the predoctoral researcher.

Working time: Full time. The dedication to the contract will be complete, so it will be incompatible with any other employment contract and with the receipt of any amount that is of a salary nature not linked with the project.

• Required documentation:

Curriculum Vitae/CV, include references (if any).

Certified copies of the bachelor's and master's degrees and academic transcripts

Motivation letter: maximum 1/2 page where you introduce yourself and present your qualifications; you may include also your previous research fields and main research results. Please emphasize your future goals career-wise.

Copy of the passport.

Family record document, if applicable.

Signed Honour Declaration
 

Requirements

Research Field: Engineering » Electrical engineering

Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications required for candidates:

1. A master’s degree in electrical engineering, computer science or similar.
2. Knowledge of power systems operation, planning, and economics.
3. Strong skills in mathematical programming and optimization theory.
4. Strong programming skills in implementing optimization problems using programming languages such as GAMS (or MATLAB, Python, Julia), and optimization solvers like CPLEX and Gurobi.
5. Fluency in communicating and reporting in English.

Specific criteria for Marie Sklodowska-Curie DNs

• Not having been awarded a title of PhD (Applicants who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will not be considered eligible.)
• Not having resided or carried out your main activity in Spain, for more than 12 months within the last 3 years.

The contract for the PhD candidate is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the industrial engineering doctorate programs at UCLM.

Selection procedure and scoring criteria:

Criterion 1. Academic and/or scientific-technical career of the candidate (up to 50 points).

- Subcriterion 1.a): Scientific and technical contributions (up to 45 points). The candidate's academic record and other curricular merits will be assessed, as well as their suitability for the tasks to be performed based on their training and professional experience.

- Subcriterion 1.b): Mobility and internationalisation (up to 5 points). The relevance and impact on the candidate's research career of stays in national and international centres and/or in the industrial sector will be assessed, taking into account the prestige of the entity hosting the stay and the activity carried out therein.

Criterion 2: Adequacy of the candidate to the research activities to be developed (up to 50 points).

Additional comments

For further inquiries contact javier.contreras@uclm.es

Deadline for apply: 20/05/2025