About the position

Position as PhD Research Fellow in Energy storage systems for a sustainable telescope is available at the Department of Technology Systems (ITS).

The purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree. Preferred starting date is 01.03.2021.

The fellowship period is for 3 years, devoted to research education.

Job description

Energy storage is a crucial tool for enabling the effective integration of renewable energy sources in the future energy system. The PhD candidate will perform modeling studies for a hybrid energy storage system including batteries and hydrogen storage. The system will be designed to provide energy to a new generation telescope to be built near the ALMA site (Chile). The project is supported by the EU-funded project called “Towards an Atacama Large Aperture Submillimeter Telescope (AtLAST)” (Horizon 2020, GA number 951815). This will be the first astronomical facility of this scale for which a full environmental sustainability study is implemented at the Design Study stage.

The energy usage for AtLAST requires a careful study on the combination of solar energy with the appropriate energy storage system in order to provide both the needed load for the operations of the infrastructure, and a sustainable solution. The candidate will perform original research using both actual data as well as appropriate simulation models. Analysis of individual components and their system integration in hybrid configurations will be performed. The models are based on thermodynamics, electrochemistry, and applied physics. The simulations will use empirical relationships for the different components (e.g. current–voltage characteristics, etc). Typical system model parameters are: (i) component sizes, (ii) system sizes (e.g., number of cells per module), and (iii) limits (e.g., min/max of voltages, currents, temperatures etc.). The study of the optimal hydrogen storage solution for the proposed infrastructure will include the option of using advanced metal hydride materials.

The PhD may provide answers to some of the following research questions:

• Which combination of components will be the most cost-effective solution in an energy system design, which allows AtLAST to be fully powered and sustained by renewable energy source?
• What is the optimum operation plan of the energy system, e.g. the start/stop and operating power of each system component in relation to the demand profile of AtLAST?
• How can the lifetime and performance of the single energy storage components (e.g. electrolysers, hydrogen storage tanks, fuel cells, and batteries) be maximized? How can the various components interact in the most efficient way?
• What is the suitability of different metal hydrides in respect to thermal integration with fuel cells? What is the metal hydrides behavior during hydrogen uptake and discharge and how it is influenced by factors including flow rate, temperature and hydrogen concentration distribution?

The PhD student will be located in the Energy Systems Section at ITS, where the candidate will be part of the project team consisting of associate professors Sabrina Sartori and Marianne Zeyringer, and a postdoc enrolled in the project. The candidate will also collaborate with the international partners of the EU project.

For more information regarding the Energy Systems section, Department of Technology Systems and the AtLAST project, please see:

https://www.mn.uio.no/its/english/about/organisation/section-for-energy-systems/

https://titan.uio.no/universet/2020/astronomy-sets-new-records-with-this-revolutionary-telescope

http://atlast-telescope.org

Qualification requirements

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has a strategic ambition of being a leading research faculty. Candidates for this fellowship will be selected in accordance with this, and expected to be in the upper segment of their class with respect to academic credentials.

Required qualifications:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in physics, chemistry, energy, engineering, computer science or a related topic
• Experience in modelling. Knowledge of one or more of the following tools will be an advantage: MATLAB/Simulink, COMSOL Multi-physics
• Background in energy storage systems modelling, with knowledge of batteries, fuel cells, electrolysers, hydrogen technology, metal hydrides
• Foreign completed degree (M.Sc.-level) corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system

Candidates must have defended their Master thesis before their starting date.

Desired qualifications:

• Background in energy is preferred
• Programming skills
• Experience in model development
• Experience in processing and analysing data

Grade requirements:

The norm is as follows:

• The average grade point for courses included in the Bachelor’s degree must be C or better in the Norwegian educational system
• The average grade point for courses included in the Master’s degree must be B or better in the Norwegian educational system
• The Master’s thesis must have the grade B or better in the Norwegian educational system
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English
• English requirements for applicants from outside of EU/ EEA countries

The purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree.

The fellowship requires admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. The application to the PhD programme must be submitted to the department no later than two months after taking up the position. For more information see:

http://www.uio.no/english/research/phd/

http://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/

Personal skills

• High interest in the topic
• Creativeness and proactiveness
• Ability to write in a structured, clear and concise manner

We offer

• Salary NOK 479 600 – 523 200 per year depending on qualifications and seniority as PhD Research Fellow (position code 1017)
• Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement
• A vibrant international academic environment
• Career development programmes
• Oslo’s family-friendly surroundings with their rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

How to apply

The application must include:

• Cover letter - statement of motivation and research interests
• CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work - scientific publications)
• Copies of the original Bachelor and Master’s degree diploma, transcripts of records and letters of recommendation
• Documentation of English proficiency
• List of publications and academic work that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee
• Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, please follow the link “Apply for this job”. Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please note that all documents should be in English (or a Scandinavian language).

Applicants may be called in for an interview.

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Research Fellowships at the University of Oslo.

No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo.

According to the Norwegian Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

The appointment may be shortened/given a more limited scope within the framework of the applicable guidelines on account of any previous employment in academic positions.

The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results etc.

Contact information

For further information, please contact:

• Associate Professor Sabrina Sartori at the Department of Technology Systems, e-mail: sabrina.sartori@its.uio.no

For technical questions regarding the recruitment system, please contact HR Adviser Therese Ringvold, e-mail: therese.ringvold@mn.uio.no

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