University of Agder

The University of Agder has more than 1400 employees and 13 000 students. This makes us one of the largest workplaces in Southern Norway. Our staff research, teach and disseminate knowledge from a variety of academic fields. Co-creation of knowledge is our common vision. We offer a broad range of study programmes in many fields. We are situated at two modern campuses in Kristiansand and Grimstad respectively.

We are an open and inclusive university marked by a culture of cooperation. The aim of the university is to further develop education and research at a high international level.

About the position

A 100 % position is available at the University of Agder, Faculty of Engineering and Science as a PhD Research Fellow in reliability-based optimization of floating wind turbines, affiliated to the Department of Engineering Sciences, University of Agder, for a period of three years. The position is located, at the present, at Campus Grimstad. The starting date is negotiable with the Faculty.

The Department of Engineering Sciences has more than 90 employees in scientific positions, and more than 1500 students at all levels. A variety of research is conducted within all the groups; Mechatronics, Renewable Energy, Civil Engineering and Industrial Economy, and we also welcome interdisciplinary projects within the department or with other research groups. This position will be associated with the Renewable Energy group. We have a broad international cooperation, and close collaboration with industrial partners and public services in the region. This is a benefit both for teaching and research. The partners contribute with assignments, competence and resources.

Responsibilities

The wind industry has developed rapidly in the past decades, moving from onshore to offshore. Today, larger offshore wind turbines are placed in deeper waters, and the floating wind technology can be the next wave in renewable energy. A typical floating wind turbine uses a floating foundation to support a wind turbine and a mooring system for station-keeping purposes. Although the first floating wind farm has already been launched in Europe, the development of floating wind technology still faces many technical and economic challenges. One challenge is to design a robust and cost-effective wind turbine system. A good design should address uncertainties in material properties, control actions, load effects, and various internal and external conditions during the design lifetime.

This PhD study will focus on performing reliability-based design optimisation of floating wind turbine systems. Advanced numerical simulation tools (finite element, multibody dynamics, and computational fluid dynamics codes), stochastic theory, optimisation methods, and meta-modelling techniques are expected to be applied during the study. The aim of this PhD study is to facilitate the development of future floating wind turbine systems.

Required qualifications

Further provisions relating to the positions as PhD Research Fellows can be found in the Regulations Concerning Terms and Conditions of Employment for the post of Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Research Fellow, Research Assistant and Resident.

Applicants must have an MSc (or equivalent) degree in civil engineering, marine technology, mechanical engineering, or wind engineering, especially within disciplines such as probabilistic design, optimisation methods, structural dynamics, hydro- and aero-dynamics, and automatic control, preferably with some experience regarding wind turbine technology. Research or engineering experience on marine operations or in offshore wind industry is considered an advantage.

Good knowledge of English, both written and oral, is also required.

A prerequisite for employment is that the candidate is to be admitted to UiA’s PhD programme at the Faculty of Engineering and Science.

Graduate degree in civil engineering or qualifications considered by the Faculty to be equivalent.

To be admitted into the PhD programme at the Faculty of Engineering and Science, the applicant must meet the following requirements.

Personal qualities

• motivation to do a PhD
• experience in the field
• cooperation skills
• liability to communicate with others
• experience in publishing is an advantage

Personal qualities and suitability for the position will be emphasised.

We offer

• professional development in a large, exciting and socially influential organisation
• a positive, inclusive and diverse working environment
• modern facilities and a comprehensive set of welfare offers
• membership of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund

More about working at UiA.

The position is remunerated according to the State Salary Scale, salary plan 17.515, code 1017 PhD Research Fellow, NOK 449 400 gross salary per year. A compulsory pension contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund is deducted from the pay according to current statutory provisions.

General information

A good working environment is characterised by its diversity. We therefore encourage all qualified candidates to apply for the position, irrespective of gender, age, disability or cultural background. The University of Agder is an IW (Inclusive Workplace).

The successful applicant will have rights and obligations in accordance with the current regulations for the position, and organisational changes and changes in the duties and responsibilities of the position must be expected. Appointment is made by the University of Agder’s Appointments Committee for Teaching and Research Positions.

More about the employment process.

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act § 25 (2), applicants may request that they are not identified in the open list of applicants. The University, however, reserves the right to publish the names of applicants. Applicants will be advised of the University’s intention to exercise this right.

Application

The application and any necessary information about education and experience (including diplomas and certificates) are to be sent electronically. Use the link "Apply for this job".

The following documentation must be uploaded electronically:

• Certificates with grades
• Master’s thesis
• References
• Academic work and R&D projects, as well as a list of these
• Project description with a maximum scope of x pages, including reference list. The outline should present and discuss possible research questions, theory perspectives, material, a progress plan, and methods within the given framework
• Any other relevant documentation

The applicant is fully responsible for submitting complete digital documentation before the closing date. We draw your attention to the fact that we cannot, unfortunately, include you in the assessment process if attachments are missing. All documentation must be available in a Scandinavian language or English.

Contact

For questions about the position:

• Associate professor Zhiyu Jiang, tel. +47 37 23 34 89, mobile +47 451 01 672, e-mail: zhiyu.jiang@uia.no
• Assistant Head of Department Tom Viggo Nilsen, tel. +47 37 23 32 55, e-mail: tom.v.nilsen@uia.no

Apply for this job